April 17, 2005
Both Washington Varsity Eights
Are Winners at Knecht Cup

CAMDEN, NJ -- The 12th-ranked Washington College women's rowing team competed at the Knecht Cup held yesterday and today in Camden, NJ. Washington won both the Women's Division III Varsity Eight and Women's Division III Second Varsity Eight races.

Washington won the Women's Division III Varsity Eight race in 7:02.2, beating out second-place Marietta by three seconds. Marietta is currently ranked first in the NCAA's Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings. Mary Washington finished third, Bryn Mawr was fourth, and Vassar, ranked 15th in the nation in Division III, was fifth.

The Shorewomen won the Women's Division III Second Varsity Eight race in 8:01.90. Washington led the entire race, getting a quick start off the stake boat and building an eight-second lead by the 1000-meter mark. The Shorewomen finished three boat-lengths ahead of Mary Washington, which finished in a distant second place in 8:21.70. Marietta was third in 8:35.60.

Washington College head coach Mike Davenport has been impressed by the performances of his varsity eights this season. "This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us, but our rowers have shown nothing but character and guts this season," remarked Davenport.

The Shorewomen finished second in the Women's Division III Frosh/Novice Eight in 7:54.65.

Washington finished fifth in its heat in the Women's Division III Varsity Four in 9:35.0.

Senior Courtney Ackerman (Marriotsville, MD/Liberty) served as the coxswain of Washington's first varsity eight. Senior Jennifer Bockmiller (Westminster, MD/Westminster) sat stroke, senior Beth Rideout (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) was in the seven seat, junior Katherine Wilson (Devon, PA/Conestoga) was in the six seat, sophomore Amy Uebel (Martinsville, IN, Martinsville) was in the five seat, junior Cassie Ann Slentz (Penn Yann, NY/Penn Yan Academy) was in seat four, freshman Laura Ratz (Annapolis, MD/Annapolis) was in seat three, sophomore Megan Walburn (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) was in seat two, and senior Sam Hastler (Bel Air, MD/ John Carroll) was the bow.

Junior Katie Cooper (Annapolis, MD/Archbishop Spalding) was the coxswain of Washington's second varsity eight. Junior Jeanne Seeberger (Baltimore, MD/Notre Dame Prep) sat stroke, sophomore Meg Chapman (Meriden, NH/Lebanon) was in the seven seat, sophomore Blair Haring (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) was in the six seat, junior Betsy Davis (Pitman, NJ/Pitman) was in the five seat, junior Leslie Meredith (Fort Bragg, NC/Lake Braddock, VA) was in seat four, junior Stephanie Gerwitz (Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion) was in seat three, sophomore Jeanne Clark (Pound Ridge, NY/Fox Lane) was in seat two, and senior Sarah Kuhlmann (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) was the bow.

Freshman Ashleigh Genevich (Avon Grove, PA/Avon Grove) was the coxswain of the Shorewomen's novice eight. Freshman Hayley Taylor (Tyaskin, MD/Geneva Academy) sat stroke, freshman Kelly Spiver (Towson, MD/Loch Raven) was in the seven seat, freshman Katie Juromski (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) was in the six seat, freshman Marian Robbins (Cambridge, MD/Cambridge-South Dorchester) was in the five seat, freshman Ashton Kluttz (Middle River, MD/Roland Park Country) was in the four seat, freshman Laura Messerly (Highland, MD/River Hill) was in the three seat, sophomore Erin Jones (Crofton, MD/Arundel) was in the two seat, and freshman Courtney Jensen (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) was the bow.

Sophomore Erin Koster (Tranquility, NJ/Newton) was the coxswain of the Shorewomen's varsity four, while sophomore Kristen Kulik (Bel Air, MD/Fallston) sat stroke, sophomore Dani Harlan (Prince Frederick, MD/Calvert) sat in the three seat, junior Sarah Riklin (Bethesda, MD/Walter Johnson) sat in the two seat, and junior Emily Richardson (Whiteford, MD/North Harford) was the bow.

The Shorewomen return to action Saturday at the Atlantic Collegiate League Sprints regatta in Carlisle, PA.