April 15, 2006
Novice Eight Wins at Hopkins
Varsity Eight Races in Boston

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- A first-place finish in the novice eight highlighted the performance of the 15th-ranked Washington College women's rowing team at the Johns Hopkins Invitational today in Baltimore, MD. While the rest of the team competed at Hopkins, Washington's varsity eight raced against sixth-ranked Tufts in Boston, MA.

Washington's novice eight won at the Johns Hopkins Invitational in 6:45. Loyola was second in 6:49, while Mary Washington was third in 6:55. 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 sophomore Becca Kain (Hagerstown, MD/St. James School) was the bow.

The Shorewomen's "A" boat was second in 7:30 in the novice four final at Hopkins, while the "B" boat was fifth. Maryland won the race in 7:22, Hopkins was third in 7:33, and St. John's (MD) was fourth in 7:43. Holthaus also served as coxswain of the Shorewomen's "A" boat in the novice four, which was first in its heat to advance to the finals. Freshman Elizabeth Thorpe (Davis, CA/Davis) sat stroke, freshman Laura Powell (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) was in the three seat, freshman Julia Rorer (North Wales, PA/Springside) sat in the two seat, and freshman Elizabeth Andrews (Round Hill, VA/Loudon) was the bow.

Sophomore Laura Messerly (Highland, MD/River Hill) was the coxswain of the Shorewomen's "B" boat in the novice four, which was second in its heat to advance to the final. Freshman Ruby Tuesday Griffiths (Wilmington, DE/Cab Calloway School of the Arts) sat stroke, freshman Maura McLoughlin (Babylon, NY/Babylon) sat in the three seat, freshman Amy Windsor (Florence, NJ/Holy Cross) was in the two seat, and freshman Kisato Takenaka (Tsubata-machi, Japan/Kanazawa Izumigaoka) was the bow.

Washington placed fourth in the finals of the varsity four at the Johns Hopkins Invitational in 7:28 after finishing second in its heat. Hopkins' "A" boat was first in 7:13, Loyola's "A" was second in 7:20, Loyola's "B" was third in 7:25, and Hopkins' "B" was fifth in 7:59. Junior Erin Koster (Tranquility, NJ/Newton) was the coxswain of the Shorewomen's varsity four. Junior Blair Haring (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) sat stroke, sophomore Laura Ratz (Annapolis, MD/Annapolis) was in the three seat, senior Betsy Davis (Pitman, NJ/Pitman) was in the two seat, and sophomore Courtney Jensen (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) was the bow.

The Shorewomen's varsity eight lost two races against Tufts in Boston. The Shorewomen fell to Tufts' second varsity eight, finishing in 6:55.6 to the Jumbos' 6:48.1, and then lost to Tufts' varsity eight, finishing in 7:00.94 to the Jumbos' 6:42.70. 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.

The Shorewomen will host the Mother and Son Regatta next Saturday on the Chester River.