The Drake rowing team had a successful day with the squad split between the Shelton Duel in Shelton, Conn. and the Upper Midwest Championships in Omaha, Neb.
Drake's varsity eight crew of Jacque Nowers (Ames, Iowa) (cox), Katie Serbin (Hannibal, Mo.), Maggie Benhart (St. Charles, Iowa), Brittany Michael (Pleasant Hill, Iowa), Jessica Nightser (Council Bluffs, Iowa), Bailey Berg (Eau Claire, Wis.), Andrea Piekarczyk (Downers Grove, Ill.), Emily Householter (Wheaton, Ill.) and Monica Worsley (Cary, Ill.) finished in fifth place Sunday. The order of finish was Fairfield, Marist, Iona, Robert Morris, Drake and Sacred Heart.
Drake's varsity four crew of Nowers (cox), Serbin, Benhart, Michael and Nightser placed third in its race Sunday. The top finishers were Iona, Fairfield and Drake.
In Omaha, Neb. Drake's novice and junior varsity crews competed against a mix of scholarship, non-scholarship and club teams. Teams from Kansas State, Kansas, Wichita State, Saint Louis, St. Thomas, Nebraska and the host's Creighton all participated Sunday.
The Bulldogs varsity four + boat of Brianna Varela, Justine Choe, Megan Friel, Brittney Smith and Kristina Vann had the top finish of the day as they placed second. Full results are available below.
“Every race we are getting better,” said Drake head coach Charlie DiSilvestro. “Anytime out on the water is good for us and we hope to have more uninterrupted water practice time back home from here on out. We are very excited to host in a few weeks and we have some great activities planned on and off the water with a few special boat christenings.”
Drake returns to action at its annual spring regatta, the Drake Invitational, on Saturday, April 20 on the Des Moines River. A full morning of activities is planned so be sure to check back at a later date for full details.
2013 Upper Midwest Championships Results
Varsity 4+ A (3rd)
Hannah Hennessy (cox) (Morris, Ill.)
Alex Lueck (West Allis, Wis.)
Brianna Leinon (Sussex, Wis.)
Kelsey Leahy (Madison, Wis.)
Sarah Laughlin (Arlington Heights, Ill.)
Varsity 4+ B (2nd)
Bri Varela (cox) (Olathe, Kan.)
Justine Choe (Morton Grove, Ill.)
Megan Friel (Minooka, Ill.)
Brittney Smith (Duluth, Minn.)
Kristina Vann (Batavia, Ill.)
Novice 4+ (4th)
Bri Varela (cox)
Tristina Meister (Mitchell, Neb.)
Stephanie Boylan (Greenleaf, Wis.)
Kelsey Pfeifer (Whitefish Bay, Wis.)
Ashley Beall (Irvine, Calif.)
Varsity Eight + (4th)
Hannah Hennessy (cox)
Alex Lueck
Brianna Leinon
Stephanie Boylan
Mallory Bonstrom
Kelsey Leahy
Sarah Laughlin
Kristina Vann
Brittney Smith
