LEWISBERRY, Pa. - Highlighted by a second-place finish in the petite final by the first varsity eight, the Catholic University women's rowing team totaled 40 points to finish seventh at the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC) Championships Saturday at Gifford Pinchot State Park.
Competing in their first-ever conference championship in their inaugural season, the Cardinals finished just eight points shy of a top-5 finish as Franklin & Marshall came in fifth with 48 points and Adrian College placed sixth with 44.
Washington College won its seventh consecutive MARC championship with 69 points while Johnson & Wales finished second with 59, just one point ahead of Stockton. St. Mary's College of Maryland was fourth with 51 points. With their win, the Shorewomen will make their seventh consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship May 31 through June 1 at the Indianapolis Rowing Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Catholic's first varsity eight began the day by finishing fifth in their heat with a time of 8:46.93. Washington College crossed the line first with a mark of 7:57.75 while Johnson & Wales was second (8:10.00) and Adrian was third (8:36.36). The top three teams in each heat advance to the grand final while the rest go to the petite final.
In the petite final, Bryn Mawr finished first in a time of 7:43.28 while the Cardinals were second at 7:52.15. As a result, the first varsity eight earned 30 points for placing eighth overall.
The Cards' second varsity eight finished third in their heat with a mark of 10:06.24 before coming in fifth in the grand final in a time of 8:34.26 to garner 10 points. Washington College won the grand final with a time of 7:55.73.
Following the conclusion of the weather-shortened event, the conference announced its annual awards. Freshman Hannah Martin was named to the All-MARC Novice Team, becoming the first student-athlete in program history to earn all-conference honors.
Catholic wraps up its inaugural season May 10-11 at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Second Varsity Eight
Coxswain: Anna Paviglianiti, Stroke: Meg Higgins, 7: Christine Faber, 6: Sarah Wagner, 5: Hannah Martin, 4: Emma Patterson, 3: Michelle Kilmer, 2: Meghan Walsh, Bow: Glynn Bradley
Novice 8
Coxswain: Maria Letizia, Stroke: Julianna Okupski, 7: Irene Taylor, 6: Emmie Chase, 5: Kara Scarangella, 4: Isabel Buckley, 3: Katie Hoban, 2: Suzanne Coale, Bow: Sarah Beretich
