University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Head of the Mississippi
Gophers Shine at Head of the Mississippi
10/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
The University of Minnesota rowing team hit the water for the first time Sunday as it competed in the Head of the Mississippi at East River Flats Park. The Gophers' performances in their five events were a bright spot on a brisk day on the river, as the squad placed first in four of the five races in which it competed.
"It's always fun to put on the uniform and go out and race, especially with the great crowds and the other teams out here," head coach Wendy Davis said. "With us being the only Division I team competing, the Head of the Miss serves as more of an intrasquad event for us, but I think everyone handled themselves really well and it was great way to kick off the year."
Minnesota had three boats taking part in the first event of the day, the women's open 2x, with the team of McKenzie Lukacs and Lisa Weeks defeating the field of 11 boats with a time of 19:36.00, which was six seconds ahead of the boat from the Minneapolis Rowing Club. Lynn Hodnett and Jessica Flakne rounded out the top-three with a time of 20:04.00, while Madison Koch and Kersten Schwanz finished fifth in 20:45.00.
Senior Anna Swanson was the Gophers' lone competitor in the women's open 1x and crossed the finish in third place with a time of 23:30.00.
In the women's collegiate 4+, Minnesota finished 1-2 with the boat of Armonia Balch, Sara Scarbro, Brianna Boileau, Anna Greene and Catherine Ahrens taking home top honors with a time of 20:52.00. Meredith Kelly, Erica Fealko, Bee Lovick, Lauren Gonsalves and Joyce Jollands followed in second place in 21:45.00.
Minnesota's three novice boats were each competing in their first collegiate competition, finishing 1-2-3 in the women's collegiate freshman 8+ event.
The highlight of the day came in the final race for the Maroon and Gold, the women's collegiate 8+, as two of the Gophers' varsity boats raced each other hard down to the line, as just one second separated Minnesota's first and second place finishers. The boat of Sarah Schneider, Madison Koch, Lynn Hodnett, Sara Scarbro, Mari Sundbo, Anna Greene, Lauren Miller, McKenzie Lukacs and Joyce Jollands got the win in 19:10.00, with Maighdlin Schaughnessy, Lisa Weeks, Rebecca Braak, Brianna Boileau, Jessica Flakne, Haley Bagley, Kersten Schwanz, Catherine Ahrens and Erica Fealko finishing in 19:11.00. The Gophers earned the sweep in the event with Breanna Ten Eyck, Anna Swanson, Sonia Dunkelbarger, Bee Lovick, Lauren Gonsalves, Caleigh Hensley, Anna Cruse, Emily Stock and Allison Martinez placing third in 20:29.00.
The Head of the Mississippi marked the only home event for Minnesota this season. The Gophers will next travel to Rockford, Ill., to compete in the Head of the Rock on Oct. 12, and will face its first NCAA Division I competition of the year.
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Players Mentioned
