On April 26, 2012, the Drake University rowing team captured the 2012 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship held on Lake Mercer in Windsor, N.J. The Bulldogs scored 33 points to edge Marist by two points to win their first MAAC championship in school history. Results from three races (Varsity 8, Varsity 4 and second Varsity 8) were used to calculate the overall winner.
 
The win was even more impressive for the program, which had only joined the MAAC as an associate member in 2009 and first competed in the championship in 2010, because it was just its second appearance in the championship. The 2011 MAAC championships were cancelled due to inclement weather.
 
"I told the team today it is very rare to be the first group to do something great at your university," said longtime Drake head coach Charlie DiSilvestro of his team's historic win that day. "They can now say they were the first to win a conference championship for Drake rowing. It might not sink in yet but in the future it will be a great memory for them."
 
Susan Goullette, Kat Moore, Maggie Benhart, Madi Perington, Brittany Michael, Jessica Nightser, Emily Householter, Sarah Travis and Jacque Nowers (coxswain) clocked a time of 6:52.8 in the Varsity 8 race and tied with Marist. Video replay declared Drake the winner and they earned 18 points towards the title. Marist settled for 15 points, so the win pushed the Dogs to the conference title.
 
"The Varsity 8 race today was one of the best races I have ever seen," DiSilvestro said. "Timing really plays a part of rowing and I'm so proud of how the team competed together. The conference championship came down to the last stroke of the very last race and we came out on top today against Marist, who is a great team with great tradition. We were lucky today to come out on top but it is a perfect way to end the season."
 
Justine Choe, Megan Friel, Andrea Piekarczyk, Brittney Smith, Kristina Vann, Brianna Leinon, Megan Bannister, Mallory Bonstrom and Hannah Hennessy (coxswain) finished in a time of 7:22.4 in the second Varsity 8 race, which was good for second place behind Marist (7:18.3).
 
Wenel Jais-Cross, Brianna Leinon, Hannah Powers, Megan Friel and Monica Worsley (Coxswain) took second place in the Varsity 4 race with a time of 8:17.8.
 
DiSilvestro was recognized by his fellow MAAC head coaches by being named the 2012 MAAC Women's Rowing Coach of the Year.