Syracuse University
BIG EAST Challenge
Orange Repeat At BIG EAST Rowing Challenge; Sanford Named Conference Coach of the Year
4/28/2002 4:21:38 PM | Women's Rowing
WORCESTER, Mass. - The Syracuse University women's rowing team won the overall title at the BIG EAST Rowing Challenge on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. on Sunday, April 28. Syracuse head rowing coach Kris Sanford was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year. The Orange boats turned in four first-place finishes in five races.
The Orangewomen's varsity eight and junior varsity repeated as conference champions, while the novice eight and novice four earned SU's first conference titles in those races. In the varsity four race Syracuse A and B finished second and third to Notre Dame. Overall, Syracuse collected 117 points, edging Notre Dame, which had 109 points. Boston College placed third with 87 points.
The rowing challenge title came down to the varsity eight race. The 13th-ranked Orangewomen crossed the finish line in 6:43.0, six seconds ahead of Notre Dame's 10th-ranked varsity eight. Boston College placed third in 6:56.0. Erin Gallagher (Upper Darby, Pa./ Archbishop Pendergast HS) coxed the varsity eight, while two-time first-team All-American Jillian Kott (Round Hill, Va./Kent School) served as the stroke. Bonnie Chapman (Gainsville, Fla./Eastside HS) was in the bow seat. Nicole Garofalo (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool HS), Kelly McGrorey (West Chester, Pa.), Libby Graves (Holden, Mass./St. Mark's), Rachael Kirchhoff (Juneau, Alaska/Juneau-Douglas HS), Alicea Kochis (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck HS) and Shannon Mercurio (Saranac Lake, N.Y./Corcoran HS) rowed in seats two through seven, respectively.
For Sanford, it is her third coaching award in the last twelve months. Last season she was named BIG EAST, Mid-Atlantic Region and Eastern Sprints Coach of the Year.
The Orangewomen's next race is for the Orange Plus Cup. SU races Massachusetts and Villanova at home, on Onondaga Lake, on Saturday, May 4.
AGATE: Overall 1. Syracuse 117 2. Notre Dame 109 3. Boston College 87 Varsity Eight 1. Syracuse 6:43.0 2. Notre Dame 6:49.0 3. Boston College 6:56.0 Junior Varsity Eight 1. Syracuse 7:04.1 2. Notre Dame 7:04.7 3. Boston College 7:21.9 Varsity Four 1. Notre Dame 7:27.4 2. Syracuse-A 7:33.1 3. Syracuse-B 7:38.9 Novice Eight 1. Syracuse 7:16.8 2. Notre Dame 7:20.2 3. Georgetown 7:26.8 Novice Four 1. Syracuse 8:21.0 2. Rutgers 8:31.6 3. Georgetown 8:36.3
