DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake rowing team beat the Creighton Bluejays
on Saturday in the annual fall showdown between the teams held on the Des Moines River. Drake won the varsity 8+ and the 2
ndvarsity 8+ races to win the trophy for the second straight year.
"We battled back today as the girls rode well and followed the game plan we put together," said head coach
Charlie DiSilvestro. "Really proud of their performance today against a tough team in Creighton. This is a great rivalry. Its always nice to have a long standing race that means so much to the team and our alums and its always exciting to keep the trophy for another year."
This was the 23
rd time the teams have met in the long standing end of the fall duel. The teams competed in three official races with Creighton taking the varsity 4+ race. The weather was absolutely perfect for the teams and the many supporters, who came out to watch and cheer on the Bulldogs, including Drake President Marty Martin.
"It was a great morning with ideal conditions for the teams and the fans. We really appreciated all the support we had this morning from everyone especially from president Martin and our director of athletics
Sandy Hatfield Clubb. It was great for president Martin to come out and see a win for his first race," DiSilvestro said.
The teams staged sprint races on a 1,500-meter course between the Des Moines Boathouse and the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Following the three scored races, the teams staged two exhibition races with 3
rd varsity/novice 8+ and a novice 8+ sprints to close the morning.
Drake claimed the trophy in 2014 while Creighton won it in 2013. This was the final fall race for the Bulldogs. Drake's spring schedule will be posted to
www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com at a future date.
"We will now shift training modes and focus on the indoor phase, where we will work on improving strength especially through lifting and do a lot on the ergometer machines," DiSilvestro said. Then will get back on the water at winter training camp in Tampa, Fla. in mid January, 2016."
