Bulls Have Impressive First Day At Dad Vail Regatta

Lightweight Eight wins race, two boats finish in second

Sarah McCann

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The University at Buffalo rowing team had an excellent first day at the Dad Vail Regatta on Friday as they look to defend their title as overall point champions. Due to weather conditions, the races today were 1,500 meter time trials, but that didn’t prevent the Bulls from a first place finish and two second place finishes. In all, four of the five UB boats moved into tomorrow’s semifinal and finals round.

UB’s Lightweight Eight boat finished first of eight boats in the semifinals and has already moved on to tomorrow’s grand final for the Dennis Kamrad Trophy. The UB boat, which consists of coxswain Sarah McCann, Margaret Surrena, Gina Giammichele, Breana Limina, Andrea Patterson, Emily Marshall, Cornelia Willis, Amanda Harwood and Taylor Drozenski finished in a time of 5:17.92, edging out Berkley which finished in 5:18.14. Also making the finals was Bucknell, Lafayette, Georgia Tech and Tulsa.

Sam Masucci

UB’s Varsity Eight boat finished its day in second place out of 30 crews. The boat of coxswain Alison Sheehan, Lauren Sexton, Melina DiCosimo, Tara Rudkoski, Bridget Yannes, Ashley Hanhurst, Sasha Bailey, Sam Masucci and Cathleen Streicher finished in 4:34.44, about four seconds behind Grand Valley State. The Bulls did finish above many notable crews, including fellow CAA members Drexel, Delaware and George Mason. The Bulls will now race in tomorrow second semifinal where the top two boats head to the finals. In UB’s semifinal heat will be Drexel, Fordham, Purdue, Temple and George Mason.

Lindsay DiCosimo

Also finishing in second place was the Junior Varsity Eight, which finished second of 14 teams in its semifinal round. The boat of coxswain Britt Marshall, Kate Garofalo, Amanda Garbacz, Lindsay DiCosimo, Francisca Nwoke, Brittany Ronald, Alana Sharpe, Megan Bayley and Patricia Arcuri finished in 5:12.82, which was just over two seconds behind UMass. The Bulls will now be part of tomorrow’s finals for the Coleman D. Boylan Trophy. Also in the finals will be Connecticut, Purdue, UMass, San Diego and North Carolina.

Also advancing to tomorrow’s semifinals is the Novice Eight boat, which finished 10 of 32 teams. The Novice Four boat failed to qualify for the semifinals, but finished an impressive 19th of 54 crews.

The Dad Vail Regatta continues tomorrow with races beginning at 7:00 am.