WOMEN'S ROWING

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

BUFFALO, NY ­ The University at Buffalo crew squad presented its team awards for the 2002-03 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at Samuel's Grande Manor.

Head coach Meg Barnes made the following presentations: Dawn Kavanaugh (Grand Island, NY/Nardin Academy) was selected as the Top Newcomer; Jessica Ecke (Ridge, NY/Longwood) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Victoria Kolomiets (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) received the Coach's Award; and Deanna Knighton (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

The Top Newcomer Award is presented to the individual student-athlete who distinguishes herself as the most talented new player on the team or the individual who accomplishes the greatest achievements as a first-year player. Kavanaugh coxswained the novice eight teams which took first at the Seneca Cup and second at the Knecht Cup and New York State Championships. She also coxswained the second varsity eight to a fourth place finish at the Metro Cup. During the fall season, she coxswained both the novice eight A entry that finished first and the fifth-place novice four boat at the 2002 Frostbite Regatta.

The Most Improved Player Award is presented to the student-athlete who has made the greatest stride or improvement in her performance from the previous season or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Ecke started the spring season as the bow seat rower for the second varsity eight teams at the Knecht and Seneca Cups. She then moved to the bow seat of the first varsity eight to win a silver medal at the New York State Championships and finish fourth in the grand finals of the Metro Cup. She will serve as a team captain for the 2003-04 season.

The Coach's Award is selected by the head coach and is given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the team virtues as defined by the head coach. The recipient is one who stands out in dedication, commitment, unselfishness and enthusiasm towards helping the team improve. Kolomiets closed her UB career with the varsity eight, winning a gold medal at the Seneca Cup and a silver at the New York State Championships. She also helped the varsity eight to a fourth place finish at the Metro Cup. In the fall season, she won a gold medal in the varsity eight entry at the Head of the Ohio Regatta.

The Most Valuable Player Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through her skills and leadership. Knighton won a gold medal at the Seneca Cup and a silver medal at the New York State Championships with the varsity eight crew in the fifth seat. She finished fourth with the varsity eight in the grand finals of the Metro Cup and was part of the petite final-winning varsity eight squad at the Knecht Cup. During the fall season, she was with the varsity eight boat that won gold at the Head of the Ohio and took third at the Frostbite Regatta. Along with Ecke, Knighton will serve as a team captain for the 2003-04 season.

UB crews won four medals at the New York State Championships, including a gold medal by the novice four squad and three silvers from the novice eight and both varsity eight teams. The Bulls also tied for third among 10 Division I rowing programs from the Northeast at the Metro Cup in Camden, NJ. UB's varsity four squad placed third in the championship final while its two varsity eight entries placed fourth in their championship races. The novice eight crew won the consolation final.