DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University rowing team began its fall season on the Des Moines River at the Head of Des Moines Regatta Saturday, Sept. 24.
 
"Today was a very exciting day for our team," head coach Charlie DiSilvestro said. "The weather was beautiful, and our pair started out with a great silver medal performance. Our two collegiate eights raced down the course and had amazing rows. We were disappointed that there wasn't other collegiate competition, but it was a chance for our novices to see what regattas are like. The varsity racers got back into racing mode."
 
Lily Evan-Cook and Sara Wilson competed in the women's open pair and earned a silver medal out of five competitors with a time of 22:00.31.
 
The two Drake boats in the women's collegiate eight were impressive. Jenna Smyth (coxswain), Lindsay York, Kiernan Blanchard, Zoe Zillgitt, Alana Rater, Cayden Anderson, Bella Wolfe, Ilse Fredrickson, and Selah Bourgeois turned in a time of 19:35.40 followed by Savannah Smith (coxswain), Emily Peck, Annika Fredeen, Lillian Bitker, Molly Hohner, Maggie Poltrock, Rachel Weiss, Mary Jonas, and Jess Seelinger
 
"We learned a lot today and we have a lot to build on for our next regatta in two weeks," DiSilvestro said.
 
Drake rowing's next regatta will be the Head of the Rock in Rockford, Ill., on Oct. 9.