Pioneer women heading to ECAC Invitational this weekend
Marietta ranked second in NCAA Regional poll

May 10, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women’s rowing team travels to Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts, for 14th annual Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) National Invitational Rowing Championships Saturday and Sunday (May 13-14). The event, hosted by the Quinsigamond Rowing Association (QRA), will feature the top crews in the eastern part of the United States.

Marietta is ranked second in the Mid-Atlantic Region according to the latest NCAA poll. The poll is used to select the participants for the upcoming NCAA DIII National Championships. The championship field will consist of six teams and two at-large Eights. The selection committee will meet on Tuesday (May 16) to pick the field.

The Pioneers are making their first trip to the ECAC championships after competing at the Dad Vail Rowing Championships for most of its history. Both Marietta’s Varsity Eight and Varsity Four received invitations to race this weekend.

"This move is part of the program's long-term plan to elevate ourselves to a level of national prominence," said Head Coach Karen Glowacki. "It was a very tough decision. We have had a long and proud history at the Dad Vail. However, as the landscape of women's collegiate rowing has changed, the requirements for reaching the highest level have also changed. We made the move to the ECAC because the high quality of Division III varsity competition."

13 of the nation's top 15 crews, plus the next five vote getters are in this year's ECAC field.

"Selections for the NCAA National Championships over the last few years have been very telling," added Glowacki. "Other than a west coast team, without exception, the other programs selected have raced at the ECAC. This is a big step for the Pioneer Navy and one which is likely to be very challenging, but we improve by accepting a challenge, taking a risk and going after it. I'm very proud of the ladies for committing to this challenge and for their hard work in the pursuit of excellence."

The Varsity Eight, which includes coxswain Shauna Payne (Huron), stroke Lindsay Letterle (Glenshaw, Pa.), Amanda Chuderewicz (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area), Laurel Lindamood (Marietta), Sotiria Anagnostou (Mishauvaka, Ind./Culver Academy), Meg Foraker (New Lexington/Culver Academy), Kim Becker (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.), Meredith Hay (South Berwick, ME/Marshwood) and bow Anjouli Dapice (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic), earned the 15th seed in the 23-boat field.

The Pioneers will race in heat two (Saturday at 4:24 p.m.) against second-seeded Ithaca (N.Y.), seventh-seeded William Smith (N.Y.), 10th-seeded Bates (ME), 18th-seeded Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Mass.) and 23rd-seeded Hamilton (N.Y.).

The Varsity Eight will be facing two of the last four national champions in their heat Saturday afternoon (Ithaca and William Smith). Reigning national champion Trinity is also in the field for the V8.

"The event is a veritable "Who's Who" of Division III rowing and we're excited!" said Glowacki. "The ladies have been focused and moving the boat really well in the last two weeks, continuing to gain speed since the ACLS. We're in the process of putting the final polish on technique and race plan and we're all looking forward to some fast racing against top crews this weekend. Though seeded 15th, our goal is to crack the top ten."

Heat one (Saturday at 4:12 p.m.) will featured top-seeded Williams as well as Holy Cross (Mass.), Ohio State, Mary Washington (Va.) and the US Coast Guard (Conn.). Heat three (Saturday at 4:36 p.m.) matches-up third-seeded Trinity (Conn.) with Colby (ME), Washington (Mo.), New Hampshire, St. Lawrence (N.Y.), and Franklin Pierce (N.H.). The fourth heat (Saturday at 4:48 p.m.) will feature fourth-ranked Tufts (Mass.), Smith (Mass.), Mt. Holyoke (Mass.), Vassar (N.Y.), Wellesley (Mass.) and Skidmore (N.Y.).

Semi finals of the Varsity Eight are scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m. with finals set for 5 p.m. The Grand Final will be raced at 5:50 p.m.

The Pioneer’s Varsity Four, which consists of coxswain Saira Khan (Galloway Twp., N.J./Absegami), stroke Brittany Durand (Danielson, Conn./Pomfret), Krista Tkacz (Egg Harbor Twp./N.J.), Sarah Henry (Lancaster/Fairfield Union) and bow Caroline McNulty (Akron/St. Vincent-St. Mary), was seeded tenth in its competition.

Marietta will race second-seeded Connecticut College, third-seeded Trinity (Conn.), sixth-seeded Simmons (Mass.) and New Hampshire in the second heat Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Top-seeded Penn State (Pa.) will take on Hamilton (N.Y.), Middlebury (Vt.), Holy Cross (Mass.) and Franklin Pierce (N.H.) in the first heat at 10:20 a.m. The Petite Final is slated for later that day at 4:10 p.m. with the Grand Final to be raced at 4:20 p.m.

"The Varsity Four is facing solid competition in a strong field at the ECAC," said Glowacki. "The ladies are racing their final event of the year this weekend, and intend to finish the season with a bang. Injury, illness and inexperience have plagued them this spring and, finally healthy (and more experienced!), they are really looking forward to racing to their potential. The boat has put together some great rows during the last two weeks. Coach Emily Crandall and I are looking forward to watching them turn it loose on Sunday."