North Carolina
Knecht Cup
Tar Heels Race At Knecht Cup
April 15, 2013 | Women's Rowing
The North Carolina rowing team took on a challenging, 70-school field in racing Saturday and Sunday at the Knecht Cup on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J. The Tar Heels' best finish came from the novice eight, which took third in Sunday's grand final, but all of the team's boats benefited from the high level of competition.
For complete Knecht Cup results, click here.
The varsity eight raced only in the heats on Saturday. With a time of 6:57.42, the Tar Heels fell just short of third, the spot they needed to advance to the semifinals and have a shot at making a final on Sunday. The lineup for the varsity eight remained the same as in last week's racing: Allie Davis (coxswain), Kathryn McCormick, Sarah Priest, Alex McClelland, Jasmine Dennis, Lucie Kloak, Morgan Koder, Emily Leidolf and Maria Santoyo.
"I'm really proud of the varsity eight and the way they raced," UNC coach Sarah Haney said. "They had a very tough heat and just missed advancing. In three of the other heats we would have advanced, so that part was frustrating.
"But we did everything we needed to do. The boat that beat us by .6 seconds beat us by seven seconds last weekend. We're closing the gap against teams that have beaten us this season and in previous years."
The second varsity eight was third in its heat to advance on Saturday then fourth in its semifinal to earn a spot in the petite final. The Tar Heels took sixth in that race on Sunday, finishing in 7:20.35. That lineup was Carie Mastrianni (coxswain), Katie Burger, Katherine Summerton, Amanda Truesdell, Lindsay Newman, Chelsea Gustafson, SB Ritch, Claire Wardius and Julie Peterson.
"The second varsity had a great weekend and kept coming together," Haney said. "We felt like we were in the correct final, and it was a really fast final. Even though we were sixth, we were proud of the race."
The Carolina varsity four raced in the third final on Sunday, finishing fifth. UNC gained a spot in that final by taking third in its heat and fifth in its semifinal, both on Saturday. Racing in that boat were Elizabeth Ayers (coxswain), Sarah Giles, Ali Margherio, Amanda Stewart and Steph Henrich. "The varsity four didn't have its best race in the final, but they had a good weekend and I'm proud of how they've been progressing," Haney said.
The novice eight finished second in its heat on Saturday to advance to the semifinals, and then won its semifinal to earn a spot in the top final. In the novice eight grand final on Sunday, Carolina finished in 7:04.10, behind Wisconsin and Boston College and ahead of Drexel, Alabama and Bucknell. A total of 29 novice eight crews started the heats on Saturday.
"I'm really proud of the way they came together and rowed," novice coach Chelsea Pemberton said. "They were calm and collected under pressure, against their toughest competition of the year by far. This is excellent preparation for the ACC Championship and a good gauge on where we are right now."
The UNC lineup was Kylee Wooten (coxswain), Lauren Colberg, Addie Schoenberger, Victoria McGee, Jessica Cooper, Bridget Taylor, Ashley Long, Elise Widman and Emmy Johnson.
The second novice eight raced just once, taking third in its final on Sunday with a time of 7:56.85. That lineup was Jessie Lamoreaux (coxswain), Emory Byrd, Liz Marshall, Simone Biggers, Tatianna Blount, Danielle Joe, Chelsea Townsend, Kate Griffin and Reghan Horman.
Next up for the Tar Heels is the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, set for May 12 in Clemson, S.C.
UNC Results at Knecht Cup (Cherry Hill, N.J. • April 13-14)
Varsity 8
Heat: 4th, 6:57.42 (top 3 in each of the six heats to semifinal)
Lineup: Allie Davis (coxswain), Kathryn McCormick, Sarah Priest, Alex McClelland, Jasmine Dennis, Lucie Kloak, Morgan Koder, Emily Leidolf, Maria Santoyo.
Second Varsity 8
Heat: 3rd, 7:15.12 (top three plus fastest three to semifinal)
Semifinal: 4th, 7:08.07 (first two to grand final, next two to petite final, 5 and 6 to third final)
Petite final: 6th, 7:20.35
Lineup: Carie Mastrianni (coxswain), Katie Burger, Katherine Summerton, Amanda Truesdell, Lindsay Newman, Chelsea Gustafson, SB Ritch, Claire Wardius, Julie Peterson
Varsity 4
Heat: 3rd, 8:09.14 (first two plus next six fastest times to semifinal)
Semifinal: 5th, 7:59.56 (first two to grand final, next two to petite final, 5 and 6 to third final)
Third final: 5th, 8:09.76
Lineup: Elizabeth Ayers (coxswain), Sarah Giles, Ali Margherio, Amanda Stewart, Steph Henrich.
Second Varsity 8
Heat: 3rd, 7:15.12 (top three plus fastest three to semifinal)
Semifinal: 4th, 7:08.07 (first two to grand final, next two to petite final, 5 and 6 to third final)
Petite final: 6th, 7:20.35
Lineup: Carie Mastrianni (coxswain), Katie Burger, Katherine Summerton, Amanda Truesdell, Lindsay Newman, Chelsea Gustafson, SB Ritch, Claire Wardius, Julie Peterson
Novice 8
Heat: 2nd, 7:11.45 (top three plus next 3 fastest times to semifinal)
Semifinal: 1st, 7:04.18 (top two to grand final, next two to petite final)
Grand Final: 3rd, 7:04.10
Lineup: Kylee Wooten (coxswain), Lauren Colberg, Addie Schoenberger, Victoria McGee, Jessica Cooper, Bridget Taylor, Ashley Long, Elise Widman, Emmy Johnson.
Second Novice 8
Final: 3rd, 7:56.85
Lineup: Jessie Lamoreaux (coxswain), Emory Byrd, Liz Marshall, Simone Biggers, Tatianna Blount, Danielle Joe, Chelsea Townsend, Kate Griffin, Reghan Horman
Players Mentioned
