JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Drake University rowing team has spent its spring break training in sunny and warm Jacksonville. As part of the trip Drake along with its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference mates, Jacksonville University and Stetson University, staged a three-team race on Thursday afternoon (March 19) on the St. Johns River.
Jacksonville, the preseason conference favorite, swept the day's four races. Drake finished second behind the Dolphins and in front of Stetson in the varsity 8 and second varsity 8 races. Jacksonville won the varsity four race against Drake.
“We are really proud of how team reacted yesterday,” commented head coach Charlie DiSilvestro on his team's first completion of the season. “Racing two of the teams of the caliber in Jacksonville and Stetson is a tough first race and to hang with them early on is great for us. Right now learning is so important and what I'm happy with is how we got better as the day went on. Going forward we know what we need to do to improve and we will continue to grow as we get more and more time on the water.”
Drake closes its spring break trip with a stop in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday to race the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide will compete in four races, starting at 9 a.m. on the Black Warrior River.
“Saturday is going to be another tough race against a strong Alabama team,” DiSilvestro said. “This is one of the toughest years we have had with great opponents every race, but it will help us prepare for conference by racing against these top teams every step of the way.”
Drake, Jacksonville and Stetson Race Results
St. Johns River – Jacksonville, Fla.
Varsity 8:
Jacksonville - 5:50.77
Drake (Jacque Nowers (Ames, Iowa) cox, Gabrielle Brodek (Hampden, Maine), Alex Lueck (West Allis, Wis.), Sarah Frantik (Oswego, Ill.), Haley Abrams (Byron, Minn.), Tristina Meister (Mitchell, Neb.), Sarah Larson (Watertown, S.D.), Grace Hof (Cape Town, South Africa), Bri Varela (Olathe, Kan.)) - 6:09.30
Stetson - 6:23.02
2nd Varsity 8:
Jacksonville - 6:14.29
Drake (Miranda Peterson (Duluth, Minn.) cox, Jessica Rebischke (Lakeville, Minn.), Lauren Claydon (Eagle, Colo.), Elaine Fickau (Mukwonago, Wis.), Shelley Hunter (Fontana, Calif.), Erin Sawasky (Pewaukee, Wis.), Sadie Robb (Norwood, Iowa), Julie Shipley (St. Louis, Mo.) - 6:40.51
Varsity Four:
Jacksonville - 6:50.17
Drake (Peterson cox, Ashley Beall (Irvine, Calif.), Mackenzie Allison (Duluth, Minn.), Hailey Paulson (Madison, Wis.), Cindy Roche (Clermont-Ferrand, France) - 7:23.92
Round 2 of Eights:
Jacksonville - 2V8 5:56.35
Jacksonville - 1V8 6:06.55
Drake - 6:17.85
Stetson - 6:25.23
