Women's rowing competes at 15th annual Marietta Invitational
Varsity 8+ places fourth in Grand Final

April 4, 2009
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women’s rowing program hosted the 15th annual Marietta Invitational Saturday (April 4) on the Muskingum River. 11 crews descended on the Lindamood-Van Voorhis Boathouse for the Pioneers’ lone home regatta of the season, making it the largest event in the history of the Invitational. [Complete Results]

Head Coach Kelly Harris’ team competed in two of the invitational’s events on Saturday. The Pioneers took fourth in the Varsity 8+ and then placed eighth in the Varsity 4+.

Marietta’s Varsity 8+, which sat freshman stroke Kelli Barnette (Parkersburg, W.Va./South), freshman Elizabeth Bratton (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Basil Academy), senior Amanda Chuderewicz (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler Area), junior Caitlin Piotrowski (Dublin/Dublin Jerome), sophomore Katherine Thomas (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel Area), sophomore Megan Stuhlfauth (Hainesport, N.J./Merion Mercy Academy), senior Krista Tkacz (Egg Harbor Twp, N.J.), sophomore bow Miki Abitante (Columbia, Md./Atholton) and junior coxswain Lauren Talasnik (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest), placed runner-up in its morning heat after crossing the line in 6:02.77. The Pioneers then rowed a time of 5:56.6 in the Grand Final, which placed them fourth overall. Grand Valley “A” won the race in 5:32.2, while Grand Valley “B” was second with a time of 5:49.5. Northwestern placed third after covering the course in 5:52.67. Penn State was fifth with a time of 5:57.2.

The Pioneers’ Varsity 4+, which featured sophomore stroke Brooke Exley (Phoenixville, Pa.), Bratton, sophomore Michelle Tarracciano (Williston, Vt./Champlain Valley Union), freshman bow Jessica Amato (Shelby) and freshman coxswain Sara McDaniel (Laura/Milton-Union), captured eighth place in its race, which was an 10-boat time trial. Marietta covered the course in 7:03. Once again, Grand Valley posted the top to finishers. Its “A” shell was first with a time of 6:24, edging out its “B” boat, which finished in 6:25.

The Pioneers are back in action on Friday (April 10) when they compete at the Knecht Cup in Camden, N.J. The racing will conclude on Saturday (April 11).