May 14, 2006
Novice Eight Fifth Overall at ECAC's
Varsity Eight Places 16th Overall

WORCESTER, MA -- The 13th-ranked Washington College women's rowing team advanced to the grand final and finished fifth of 18 boats overall in the novice eight at the ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships this weekend in Worcester, MA. The Shorewomen's effort in the novice eight marks the first time that any Washington College boat - men's or women's, varsity or novice - has reached a grand final at the ECAC Championships. Washington also finished 16th of 23 boats overall in the varsity eight.

The Shorewomen's novice eight finished second in its heat to Williams College to advance to the grand final. In the grand final, Washington finished fifth in 7:19.445. Williams won the grand final in 7:00.272.

Freshman Danielle Holthaus (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) served as coxswain of the Shorewomen's novice eight. Freshman Jenna Lapointe (Newark, DE/Newark) sat stroke, freshman Kali Beth Erstein (Spring Lake, NJ/Manasquan) was in the seven seat, freshman Jamie Beaber (Littleton, CO/Littleton) was in the six seat, freshman Carol Funck (Etters, PA/Red Land) sat in the five seat, freshman Megan Jasion (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) was in the four seat, freshman Emily Bands (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) sat in the three seat, freshman Allie LaVigne (West Boylston, MA/West Boylston) was in two seat, and freshman Abby Withers (Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) was the bow.

The Shorewomen's varsity eight finished fourth of six boats in its Saturday heat in 7:13.741. On Sunday, the varsity eight was second in its semifinals in 7:05.586 to advance to the third-level final. In the third-level final, the Shorewomen were fourth in 7:04.994. Vassar won the third-level final in 6:55.942.

Senior Katie Cooper (Annapolis, MD/Archbishop Spalding) served as the coxswain of the Shorewomen's varsity eight. Senior Leslie Meredith (Fort Bragg, NC/Lake Braddock, VA) sat stroke, senior Katherine Wilson (Devon, PA/Conestoga) was in the seven seat, junior Erin Jones (Crofton, MD/Arundel) sat in the six seat, junior Jeanne Clark (Pound Ridge, NY/Fox Lane) was in the five seat, junior Amy Uebel (Martinsville, IN/Martinsville) was in the four seat, sophomore Hayley Taylor (Tyaskin, MD/Geneva Academy) was in the three seat, sophomore Kelly Spicer (Towson, MD/Loch Raven) sat in the two seat, and junior Megan Walburn (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) was the bow.