Varsity lightweight women win season opener
Swindler Cove Park, NY - The Iona College women's rowing team rowed in the Manhattan College Invitational Regatta on the Harlem River today, with the women's varsity eight finishing third of five boats.
After some confusion at the start of the race, the eight of Melissa Van Gelder, Cara Rahon, Colleen Ryan, Jen Dolan, Rachel Smith, Lauren DiGrazia, Veronica Costa, and Danielle Rubino coxed by Amanda O'Sullivan could not catch up to local rival Fordham as the Rams took the top two spots.
The varsity lightweight four of Rahon, Van Gelder, Abby Carrel-Thomas, and Vanessa Hansen coxed by O'Sullivan put forth a dominant performance to win their event.
The varsity four of Ryan, Dolan, Smith, and DiGrazia coxed by Samantha Garrity was one of four teams to advance to the final and went on to finish second.
The junior varsity four, a mixture of three novice rowers (Carolyn Ecke, Mary Buckley, and Tara Marsigliano), and two varsity members (rower Lisa ONeill and coxswain Garrity), overcame their inexperience to put in a competitive performance and finish second of three boats.
The novice four of Laura Harap, Ashley Dodd, Victoria Arrigo and Carolyn Ecke coxed by Michelle Steinberg also put forth a solid effort after dealing with a late change to the lineup.
The Gaels will be back in the water at the MAAC Championships on April 22.
--GAELS--
