WOMEN'S ROWING

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Rowing Announces Team Award Winners

Tara Rudkoski

Brittany Aiello

Head coach Rudy Wieler presented freshman Tara Rudkoski (Merrick, NY/Calhoun) with the Top Newcomer, junior Brittany Aiello (Lancaster, NY/Clarence) with the Most Improved, senior Katie Barnum (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) with the Coaches' Award, and sophomore Lauren Sexton (Niagara Falls, Ontario/St. Paul) with the Most Outstanding.

Katie Barnum

With no previous rowing experience, Rudkoski walked onto a loaded UB squad and immediately began contributing. At the Head of the Ohio, Rudkoski competed in two boat, helping her boat place second in the Freshman Novice Four and first in the Novice Eight event. She was also a part of a crew who took top honors in the Novice Eight event at the Head of the Fish. The field consisted of 31 strong boats, as the UB eight was able to topple runner-up Syracuse by a 28 second margin. Rudkoski worked her way up to a spot in the Second Varsity Eight boat in the spring season with her most recent success coming in the ECAC Metro Cup, where the Bulls placed second of eight boats.

Aiello was another newcomer to UB, having transferred from Geneseo. Her experience competing with the West Side Rowing Club allowed her to see time on the water in the Varsity Four events in the fall season. By competing in all five events in the fall, Aiello was listed in the beginning of the spring season in the Varsity Eight boat. In the bow seat, Aiello was a member of the eight-boat that took its second consecutive Harvey Cup title in a quad meet against Colgate, UConn, and Eastern Michigan.

Lauren Sexton

A four-year member of the Bulls squad, Barnum proved her dedication as a valued member of the Lightweight team. At the end of April, UB's lightweight eight crew was ranked as high as seventh in the nation according to USRowing, garnering its highest-ever national ranking in the club's two-year history. Barnum has helped steer the boat to success, taking top honors at the Head of the Fish and the ECAC Metro Cup.

Sexton has been a featured member of the Varsity Eight squad since her freshman year. At the Head of the Genesee on Oct. 8, Sexton and the rest of her varsity eight boat seized top American honors in a field of 35 entries. The squad beat out perennial national favorites Cornell, Syracuse, and Harvard Radcliffe in one of the biggest rowing upsets in school history in a time of 31:27.06. Another member of the Harvey Cup championship boat, Sexton helped guide the team to a ninth-place finish at the Knecht Cup.

The Bulls finish their season at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, PA this weekend.