First Varsity Eight on to A/B Semifinals
5/27/2016 8:36:00 PM | Women's Rowing
Orange first varsity eight places second in repechage
GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The Syracuse University women's rowing first varsity eight crew finished in second place in its repechage at the 2016 NCAA Championship on Friday afternoon at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, advancing to Saturday's A/B semifinals. The first varsity eight boat can finish no lower than 12th place and still has a chance at a national title.
"You always hope to come to one of these regattas and perform above your seed," head coach Justin Moore said. "It doesn't always happen. It's a big stage. There is a lot of pressure. The competition is just fierce."
"Coming off the high strokes at the beginning, they hit the best rhythm they have ever hit," commented Moore. "You could tell the boat was moving. When they drew level with Yale in the second 500, we knew that was a really good sign. I just sat there marveling at those guys coming down, watching the last 500. I was just praying that nothing bad was going to happen. Sure enough, they come across the line. They felt really good about what they are doing and feel like they have even better racing in them."
With its finish on Friday afternoon, Syracuse has already guaranteed its best finish in the first varsity eight competition at an NCAA Championship since 2002. The Orange top boat finished in sixth place at the 2001 NCAA Championship, which is the best finish in program history.
The Orange first varsity eight crew, the No. 16 seed entering the weekend, covered the 2,000-meter course in 6:27.139 in its afternoon repechage. In the process, the team beat out No. 10 seed Yale and No. 14 seed Duke to claim a spot in the A/B semifinals.
"We moved Deirdre Fitzpatrick down into the stroke seat and Kari Tomeny into the sixth seat," stated Moore. "The crew is racing at an incredibly high level. We are maximizing the talent we have in the boat. Those two seniors are really leading this crew in an exceptional way. It's not easy to perform well race after race. They are doing it. I am really grateful that the two of those guys are in this program and are sitting in those seats. We really wouldn't be where we are without those two seniors."
The second varsity eight and first varsity four boats both narrowly missed the cut for the A/B semifinals. SU finished in fourth place in its repechage in the second varsity eight, while the fourth varsity four placed third in its repechage. Both crews will compete in C/D semifinals on Saturday morning.
"It's a big trip traveling from Syracuse to the West Coast," added Moore. "We don't want this be a reward for a good season. We want this to be an opportunity to compete against the best teams in the country. Thus far, all three boats have done a tremendous job of competing with the nation's best crews."
Syracuse will return to the water at 11:36 a.m. EST on Saturday as the first varsity eight competes in the first A/B semifinal. The second varsity eight will race at 12 p.m. EST in the first C/D semifinal, while the first varsity four will start at 12:48 p.m. EST in the first C/D semifinal.
NCAA Championship Lineup
Gold River, Calif.
1V8
C - Vasiliou, Fitzpatrick, Lee, Tomeny, Taylor, McCann, Caldwell, McQuay, Johnson
2V8
C - Spraggins, Gill, Tobias, Konishesky, Ratcliff, Hughes, Richards, Adams, Allen
1V4
C - Menillo, Thornton, Jones, Warnecke, Dorner
"You always hope to come to one of these regattas and perform above your seed," head coach Justin Moore said. "It doesn't always happen. It's a big stage. There is a lot of pressure. The competition is just fierce."
"Coming off the high strokes at the beginning, they hit the best rhythm they have ever hit," commented Moore. "You could tell the boat was moving. When they drew level with Yale in the second 500, we knew that was a really good sign. I just sat there marveling at those guys coming down, watching the last 500. I was just praying that nothing bad was going to happen. Sure enough, they come across the line. They felt really good about what they are doing and feel like they have even better racing in them."
With its finish on Friday afternoon, Syracuse has already guaranteed its best finish in the first varsity eight competition at an NCAA Championship since 2002. The Orange top boat finished in sixth place at the 2001 NCAA Championship, which is the best finish in program history.
The Orange first varsity eight crew, the No. 16 seed entering the weekend, covered the 2,000-meter course in 6:27.139 in its afternoon repechage. In the process, the team beat out No. 10 seed Yale and No. 14 seed Duke to claim a spot in the A/B semifinals.
"We moved Deirdre Fitzpatrick down into the stroke seat and Kari Tomeny into the sixth seat," stated Moore. "The crew is racing at an incredibly high level. We are maximizing the talent we have in the boat. Those two seniors are really leading this crew in an exceptional way. It's not easy to perform well race after race. They are doing it. I am really grateful that the two of those guys are in this program and are sitting in those seats. We really wouldn't be where we are without those two seniors."
The second varsity eight and first varsity four boats both narrowly missed the cut for the A/B semifinals. SU finished in fourth place in its repechage in the second varsity eight, while the fourth varsity four placed third in its repechage. Both crews will compete in C/D semifinals on Saturday morning.
"It's a big trip traveling from Syracuse to the West Coast," added Moore. "We don't want this be a reward for a good season. We want this to be an opportunity to compete against the best teams in the country. Thus far, all three boats have done a tremendous job of competing with the nation's best crews."
Syracuse will return to the water at 11:36 a.m. EST on Saturday as the first varsity eight competes in the first A/B semifinal. The second varsity eight will race at 12 p.m. EST in the first C/D semifinal, while the first varsity four will start at 12:48 p.m. EST in the first C/D semifinal.
NCAA Championship Lineup
Gold River, Calif.
1V8
C - Vasiliou, Fitzpatrick, Lee, Tomeny, Taylor, McCann, Caldwell, McQuay, Johnson
2V8
C - Spraggins, Gill, Tobias, Konishesky, Ratcliff, Hughes, Richards, Adams, Allen
1V4
C - Menillo, Thornton, Jones, Warnecke, Dorner
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
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