Two Boats Advance to A/B Semifinals
5/26/2017 7:58:00 PM | Women's Rowing
Second varsity eight and first varsity four advance to A/B semifinals
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The second varsity eight and first varsity four crews of the No. 12 Syracuse women's rowing team both remain in the hunt the for a national title. Each boat finished in second place in their evening repechages on Friday, advancing to the A/B semifinals at the 2017 NCAA Championship.
It marks the first time that multiple Orange crews have moved on to the top-level semifinals at the NCAA Championship since the 2002 season.
"We had major lineup shuffles after a really challenging lead-up to NCAAs," head coach Justin Moore said. "To still see two of the three boats advance into the A/B semifinals and announce themselves as top-12 crews in the country is a great sign of growth and development of the program. It is a great reward for the hard work the women have put in the entire season."
The second varsity eight boat, the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Crew of the Year, covered the 2,000-meter course at Mercer Lake in 6:29.573, more than six seconds ahead of third-place Northeastern. With a trip to the A/B semifinals secure, Syracuse can finish no worse than 12th overall in the second varsity eight competition. The Orange second varsity eight boat was named the 10th-overall seed heading into the annual national championship regatta, the team's best seeding among its three competitors.
"What is making us proud is they are developing a boat-wide mentality," stated Moore. "It is not about any single individual. They really have embraced and created a fun environment to train in."
In the first varsity four repechage, Syracuse edged out conference-foe Notre Dame for a second-place finish and the final spot in Saturday morning's top-level semifinals. The Orange defeated the Fighting Irish by less than two seconds. The first varsity four crew has already outperformed its seeding, as it entered Friday's races as the 15th-overall seed and can finish no worse than 12th place.
"They have been working with this lineup and it has been showing some speed in training," added Moore. "We were able to unleash it on the race course today. New lineup, two freshmen in the stern pair, a gutty junior, and a really gutty senior. They just rowed with great passion and courage."
The Syracuse first varsity eight boat, the three-time ACC Crew of the Week, placed fifth in its repechage on Friday evening and will take part in the C/D semifinals. The Orange still have an opportunity to outperform their seeding in the first varsity eight competition, as the boat held the 14th-overall seed entering the event.
"We are on track to outperform our seed," commented Moore. "They carried the flag for the program for a large portion of the season. The women just want to represent the University incredibly well. Today, when they did not have the race they wanted to, to advance into the A/B semifinals; I was unbelievably proud of them. They put their disappointment behind them and were phenomenal teammates."
Syracuse will first return to the water at 8:12 a.m. for the first varsity eight C/D semifinal. The second varsity eight crew will race at 9:24 a.m., while the first varsity four boat will compete at 10:12 a.m.
2017 NCAA Championship – Friday, May 26 – Sunday, May 28
1V8+ - Spraggins, McCann, Gill, Jones, Pearce, Taylor, Caldwell, Holzman-Klima, Johnson
2V8+ - Mennillo, Lee, Andolfatto, Dorner, Richards, Preston, Konishesky, Tobias, Horridge
1V4+ - Rodriguez, Hudson, Aemisseger, Hughes, Humphrey
Spares – Habjan, Rubenstein
It marks the first time that multiple Orange crews have moved on to the top-level semifinals at the NCAA Championship since the 2002 season.
"We had major lineup shuffles after a really challenging lead-up to NCAAs," head coach Justin Moore said. "To still see two of the three boats advance into the A/B semifinals and announce themselves as top-12 crews in the country is a great sign of growth and development of the program. It is a great reward for the hard work the women have put in the entire season."
The second varsity eight boat, the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Crew of the Year, covered the 2,000-meter course at Mercer Lake in 6:29.573, more than six seconds ahead of third-place Northeastern. With a trip to the A/B semifinals secure, Syracuse can finish no worse than 12th overall in the second varsity eight competition. The Orange second varsity eight boat was named the 10th-overall seed heading into the annual national championship regatta, the team's best seeding among its three competitors.
"What is making us proud is they are developing a boat-wide mentality," stated Moore. "It is not about any single individual. They really have embraced and created a fun environment to train in."
In the first varsity four repechage, Syracuse edged out conference-foe Notre Dame for a second-place finish and the final spot in Saturday morning's top-level semifinals. The Orange defeated the Fighting Irish by less than two seconds. The first varsity four crew has already outperformed its seeding, as it entered Friday's races as the 15th-overall seed and can finish no worse than 12th place.
"They have been working with this lineup and it has been showing some speed in training," added Moore. "We were able to unleash it on the race course today. New lineup, two freshmen in the stern pair, a gutty junior, and a really gutty senior. They just rowed with great passion and courage."
The Syracuse first varsity eight boat, the three-time ACC Crew of the Week, placed fifth in its repechage on Friday evening and will take part in the C/D semifinals. The Orange still have an opportunity to outperform their seeding in the first varsity eight competition, as the boat held the 14th-overall seed entering the event.
"We are on track to outperform our seed," commented Moore. "They carried the flag for the program for a large portion of the season. The women just want to represent the University incredibly well. Today, when they did not have the race they wanted to, to advance into the A/B semifinals; I was unbelievably proud of them. They put their disappointment behind them and were phenomenal teammates."
Syracuse will first return to the water at 8:12 a.m. for the first varsity eight C/D semifinal. The second varsity eight crew will race at 9:24 a.m., while the first varsity four boat will compete at 10:12 a.m.
2017 NCAA Championship – Friday, May 26 – Sunday, May 28
1V8+ - Spraggins, McCann, Gill, Jones, Pearce, Taylor, Caldwell, Holzman-Klima, Johnson
2V8+ - Mennillo, Lee, Andolfatto, Dorner, Richards, Preston, Konishesky, Tobias, Horridge
1V4+ - Rodriguez, Hudson, Aemisseger, Hughes, Humphrey
Spares – Habjan, Rubenstein
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