2012 WVU Rowing Guide by Joe Swan

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.......................................................................... Table of Contents & Credits 2........................................................................................... In the Spotlight 3......................................................................................Community Service 4.......................................................................................................Facilities 6.......................................................................... Strength and Conditioning 8.......................................................................................... Athletic Training 10..................................................................................BIG EAST Conference 12................................................................................ Henley Royal Regatta 13............................................................................................... Rowing 101 14...........................................................................Student-Athlete Support 18...............................................................................................Campus Life 22.............................................................................Mountaineer Excellence

COACHING STAFF

26 ............................................................................Head Coach Jimmy King 27 .............................................................................Q & A with Jimmy King 28 ............................................................Associate Head Coach Tina Griffith 29.........................................................................Assistant Coach Meg Ayers 30 ............................................................................................ Support Staff

MOUNTAINEER PROFILES

32 ....................................................................................................... Roster 33........................................................................................ Cartwright/Doss 34......................................................................................... Fisher/Gribbons 35..........................................................................................Hirsch/Hurlbert 36..............................................................................................Kelly/Knecht 37..............................................................................Kramer/Leach/McCarty 38........................................................................... Meale/Mehrtens/Purych 39....................................................................................... Rencken/Roberts 40.......................................................................................... Rosen/Schrand 41............................................................................................Shaver/Shular 42................................................................................... Spencer/Thompson 43................................................................................... Verwey/Widecrantz 44................................................................................................Newcomers

2012 PREVIEW

46 ........................................................................................ Season Preview 48 ................................................................................................Quick Facts

2011 REVIEW

50 ............................................................................................Season Recap 51 ................................................................................................Fall Results 52 ...........................................................................................Spring Results

RECORD BOOK

54.............................................................................................Regatta Visits 54...................................................................................All-Time Opponents 55....................................................................................Awards and Honors 57................................................................................ Henley Royal Regatta 58.........................................................................................All-Time Results 64............................................................................................Letterwinners

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

68......................................................................President James P. Clements 69................................................................. Director of Athletics Oliver Luck 70................................................................................................Senior Staff 71............................................................................................ Head Coaches 72.....................................................................................Media Information

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Credits: The 2012 West Virginia University rowing guide has been published by the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Managing Editor: Joe Swan Editor: Tim Goodenow Author: Julie Brown Page Layout & Design: BlaineTurner Advertising, Inc., Tim Goodenow Cover Design: BlaineTurner Advertising, Inc. Photographers: All-Pro Photography by Dale Sparks, Bill Barrett, Bob Beverly, John Bright, Tad Davis, M.G. Ellis, Pete Emerson, Dan Friend, Jeff Geissler, Tim Goodenow, David Green, Mike Hardy, Cordell Hoffer, Julia Lucas, Shannon McNamara, Dan Nagy, Brian Persinger, Steve Prunty, Chuck Scheer, Steve Smith, Martin Valent, WVU Athletic Archives, WVU Photographic Services, Alison Toffle, David Zicherman. Contributors: Andria Alvarez, Lisa Ammons, Grant Dovey, Michael Fragale, Katie Kane, Brian Kuppelweiser, Cheryl Maust, Shannon McNamara, Bryan Messerly, Mike Montoro, Abby Norman, Ashleigh Pollart, Amy Prunty, John Riedesel, Gina Sporio, Daniel Whitehead. ÂŠ 2012 West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics The indicia depicted are registered trademarks of West Virginia University. West Virginia University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT Choosing to become a Mountaineer is special. Without a professional sports team in the state, folks across the state and throughout the region love West Virginia University athletics. No school helps its student-athletes more than the people at WVU. Mountaineers have the unique opportunity to represent themselves, their teammates and their university to news media, alumni, friends, family and the general public. Your interaction with these groups is also part of your educational process. If you take advantage of these opportunities, it can have a positive effect, not only on your career as a student-athlete at West Virginia, but also on your life after you have donned the Old Gold and Blue.

COMMUNITY SERVICE Representing West Virginia University, the city of Morgantown and the state of West Virginia in a charitable manner is important to the WVU rowing team. Besides training and studying everyday as part of their student-athlete duties, the Mountaineers are always ready and willing to give back to those who make Morgantown a kind-hearted and goodnatured community. “We do various community service activities as a team through the course of the year, ranging from roadside clean-up, to helping improve the watershed areas, and spending time at senior centers,” says coach Jimmy King. “Many of the students also have individual projects, such as volunteering for the local Big Sister program and participating in various local charitable events. “We were also able to help in the Haiti relief fund as a team through WVU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which held a benefit one afternoon.” King and his Mountaineer student-athletes are proud of their efforts in being involved in the community. “It’s very important that we are involved in the community because we are beneficiaries of tremendous support on a myriad of levels. “The residents of Morgantown and the surrounding areas are great supporters of Mountaineer athletics and we all continually reap the benefits of that support. As members of such a privileged group, being active in the community is a way we can give back to show our appreciation.”

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FACILITIES The West Virginia University Boat House is located in Morgantown’s Wharf District along the Monongahela River – just a two-minute walk from the WVU Visitors Center. Constructed in 2007 below the the Caperton Trail, the attractive, climatecontrolled facility houses the WVU Fleet that includes (5) eights, (4) pair/ doubles, (3) fours and (3) singles. “Our boathouse is situated in the Wharf District of Morgantown and just a short walk along the Caperton Rail Trail from the WVU Visitors Resource Center,” says coach Jimmy King. “We’re fortunate to have a climate-controlled facility where the students can quickly warm up after chilly morning rows in the spring, or cool down following hot afternoon rows in the early fall.” The WVU Boat House has dressing facilities and locker room space, and the dock can easily allow (3) eights to launch simultaneously. The Monongahela River, commonly referred to as “the Mon”, provides an idyllic rowing venue for the Mountaineers. A series of locks and dams along the Mon create a pooling affect so that a minimum navigable depth of nine feet is maintained year-round. From the boathouse, which sits just below the Morgantown Lock and Dam, the next lock and dam is located a little more than 10 miles downriver in Point Marion, Pa. The name Monongahela is derived from a Native American term loosely meaning “river of falling banks” and/or “river of high bluffs”. True to its name, the Mon flows well below its banks and is largely sheltered from prevailing winds by the surrounding bluffs. As such, the WVU crews are often fortunate to train on calm water with little flow. In the spring of 2009, West Virginia University served host to its first-ever spring regatta on the Mon featuring Dayton, Duquesne and George Mason. The race ended at the Edith Barill Riverfront Park in nearby Star City. “With over 200 feet of dock space, we’re able to quickly launch and land our crews without delay in order to maximize our training time,” says King. “The real jewel of our training area is the Monongahela River, which affords us miles of largely sheltered water on which to row.”

WEST VIRGINIA ROWING

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING Athletic excellence and strength and conditioning go hand-in-hand at West Virginia University. Long regarded as one of the nation’s finest strength programs, the strength and conditioning coaches at WVU ensure that all student-athletes are kept at the peak of their total fitness capabilities. “The strength and conditioning facilities provide our team with many options to suit our needs depending on the time of year,” says coach Jimmy King. “Facilities are located in immediate proximity of whatever cross training we might do, such as runs on the track, hills or the stadium stairs so that we can maximize use of our time. We have a very dynamic strength coach who not only devises training plans specifically for our sport, but also is responsive and adaptive as needed to the individual needs of our rowers and coxswains.” To keep athletes in tip-top condition, West Virginia offers a variety of training areas and a vast array of strength programs. Each athlete also is educated on correct dietary habits and essential vitamins and minerals necessary to be an elite athlete. For rowers, the abdominal and low back regions are the units that tie the upper and lower extremities’ power together. In order to have excellent maneuverability and transfer of power, an athlete must have superior balance and strength in this core region. Rigorous conditioning designed to elicit physiological changes in the body’s bioenergetics systems occur four times a week with the emphasis on anaerobic and rowing aerobic conditioning. Equipped with excellent amenities and staffed by some of the finest strength coaches in the nation, athletes who come to West Virginia know that they are in good hands when it comes to fitness.

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ATHLETIC TRAINING The West Virginia athletic training program looks to get its student-athletes back on the field in a timely manner while providing quality health care for its student-athletes and coaches. The scope of the athletic training services encompass various domains, which including injury recognition, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, education and counseling that will enable the athlete to maintain an optimal quality of life beyond the span of athletic competition. Multiple athletic training rooms are available for student-athletes furnished with the latest in technology and equipment. The athletic training staff will work in conjunction with the team physicians and athletic administration to ensure the student-athletes receive quality care throughout their careers at WVU.

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BIG EAST CONFERENCE The 2011-12 academic year is the 33rd in the history of The BIG EAST Conference as the unique consortium marches on competing at the highest level with integrity and sportsmanship. The BIG EAST has gone through membership changes since its birth, but the 2011-12 year marks the conference’s seventh straight with the same 16-member group, making for the nation’s largest Division I-A conference. The conference’s goals have always been the same. The outstanding performances of the student-athletes at BIG EAST schools are evidence of the league’s proud tradition of success. The league has always been able to boast that many of its best students are also its best athletes. BIG EAST institutions reside in nine of the nation’s top 35 largest media markets, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Pittsburgh, Hartford, Cincinnati and Milwaukee. With its newest members, BIG EAST markets contain almost one-fourth of all television households in the U.S. Since opening its doors in 1979, the league has won 31 national championships in six different sports and 133 student-athletes have won individual national titles. While the membership has both increased and changed, the focus of the BIG EAST has not wavered. The conference reflects a tradition of broad based programs, led by administrators and coaches who place a constant emphasis on academic integrity. Its student athletes own significantly high graduation rates and their record of scholastic achievement notably show a balance between intercollegiate athletics and academics. John Marinatto, who had served as senior associate commissioner, moved into the Commissioner’s chair in 2009 and has continued to steer the conference on its path of success. The league has long been considered a leader in innovative concepts in promotion and publicity, particularly regarding television. Those efforts have resulted in unparalleled visibility for BIG EAST student athletes. The conference has enjoyed longstanding relationships with CBS, ESPN, Inc. and ABC. The BIG EAST has its headquarters in Providence where the conference administers to more than 5,500 student-athletes. The 2012 BIG EAST Rowing Championships will take place on May 13 on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.

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HENLEY WOMEN’S REGATTA: A ROYAL FINISH Take five women who never rowed prior to college, give them an experienced coach and boat and this is the fairytale story of the West Virginia women’s rowing team in 2001. After a successful showing in the program’s debut season, the Varsity 4+ did something outstanding – qualify for rowing’s most prestigious event – the Henley Women’s Regatta. When the four team of Tina Griffith, Risha Kelley, Erin Nisbet, Noelle Dodge and coxswain Christine DeRienzo finished first at the Dad Vail Regatta, the nation’s largest collegiate race, the team was selected to represent the United States at Henley. The Mountaineers were selected to attend the big race by the organizers of Dad Vail not only for their first-place finish, but also because they felt WVU had the best chance of winning in England, even though no team that the committee had selected had ever made it past the second round. The team was excited to travel to England and represent West Virginia and the U.S. at such a prestigious international regatta. In the town of Henley, rowing is the premier sport and is the center of the town’s attention. “The town of Henley was great,” associate head coach Tina Griffith said. “You didn’t have to explain to everyone what rowing was, like you do here, and the town isn’t really big. It is just one big mass of rowers and people who hold it in high regard. It was definitely a different feel. “ The regatta began in 1839 and has been held each year since, except during the World Wars. It started as an afternoon event, but is now held over the course of five days with more than 500 teams competing in 17 events. Because the Henley began before either the England Rowing Association or the International Rowing Federation were created, the Royal Regatta features a longer course and a different style of racing. The women’s course is one mile and 550 yards, which is slightly longer than the distance of 2,000 meters that the team was familiar rowing. The women only raced one team at a time, with the winner advancing to the next round. “The race format is completely different there than it is in normal races,” Griffith said. “Here, you race in heats, like sprints in track, but there it was one-on-one each race, like a bracket. It was more personal and you got to do a lot more racing. Each time it felt like there was more on the line, only one was surviving, not the top three.” WVU’s four team started the competition strong, sailing though the first, second and third rounds, before eventually losing in the finals to Oxford Brookes University (England). Although the team was eliminated, they broke the course record and made it farther than any other team the Dad Vail committee had selected. “I was very grateful for the opportunity, and it was exciting, but it was mainly another opportunity to prove ourselves,” Griffith said. “To be honest, it really didn’t matter the competitor, we just wanted to race and win, and that is one big reason why I think we did so well.” Attending the Henley was a royal finish to the team’s Cinderella year and an experience they will never forget. The team not only made a mark in the program’s first season; they set the bar for future Mountaineers in seasons to come.

Rowing 101 THE BOAT: Bow: The forward section of the boat and the first part of the boat to cross the finish line. Also the person in the seat closest to the bow. Bow coxed Boat: A shell in which the coxswain is near the bow instead of the stern. It’s hard to see the coxswain in this type of boat, because only her head is visible. Having the coxswain virtually lying down in the bow reduces wind resistance, and weight distribution is better. Button: A wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the oarlock. Coxswain: Person who steers the shell and is the on-the-water coach for the crew. Deck: The part of the shell at the bow and stern that is covered with fiberglass cloth or a thin plastic. Ergometer: Rowers call it an “erg.” It’s a rowing machine that closely approximates the actual rowing motion and allows the rower to measure her “strokes per minute” and the distance covered. Gate: The bar across the oarlock that keeps the oar in place. Lightweight: Refers to the rowers, not the boats; there is a maximum weight for each rower in a lightweight event as well as a boat average. Oar: Used to drive the boat forward Port: Left side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of the movement. Power 10: A call for rowers to do 10 of their best, most powerful strokes. It’s a strategy used to pull ahead of a competitor. Repechage: The second-chance race which ensures that everyone has two chances to advance from preliminary races since there is no seeding in the heats. Rigger: The triangular shaped metal device that is bolted onto the side of the boat and holds the oars. Run: The run is the distance the shell moves during one stroke. You can figure it by looking for the distance between the puddles made by the same oar. Shell: Can be used interchangeably with boat. Slide: The set of runners for the wheels of each seat in the boat. Starboard: Right side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of movement. Stern: The rear of the boat; the direction the rowers are facing. Stretcher or Footstretcher: Where the rower’s feet go. The stretcher consists of two inclined footrests that hold the rower’s shoes. The rower’s shoes are bolted into the footrests. Stroke: The rower who sits closest to the stern. The stroke sets the rhythm for the boat; others behind her must follow her cadence. StrokeCoach: A small electronic display that rowers attach in the boat to show the important race information like stroke rate and elapsed time. Swing: The hard-to-define feeling when near-perfect synchronization of motion occurs in the shell, enhancing the performance and speed. THE STROKE: Catch: The point, at the end of the recovery, when the blade is placed into the water for the beginning of the next stroke. Drive: The part of the stroke when the blade is in the water and the rower is pulling on the handle/pressing with the legs. Recovery: The time between the release and the catch, when the oar is not in the water. Feather: To gradually turn the blade so that it goes from parallel to the water to perpendicular (square) with the water just before the catch. COXSWAIN COMMANDS: Back-it: Means to have the rowers place their blades at the release position, squared, and push the oar handle toward the stern of the boat. This motion causes the shell to move backwards. Blades-down: This command is used to tell the rowers to place their blades back on the water. Check-it-down: Tells the crew to square their blades and drag them across the surface to the water. Used to slow and stop the shell quickly. Ease-up, Firm-up: These commands tell the rowers to reduce the pressure on the oar, or apply more pressure as needed. Heads, ready, up: Tells the rowers to press the boat above their heads. Hold-Water: Tells the rowers to stop rowing and square their blades immediately; dragging them across the surface of the water to slow and stop the boat quickly! Let-it-run: This tells the rowers to stop rowing. Paddle: This tells a crew to row with just enough pressure to move the boat. Roll-it: Tells the crew to flip the boat over, together, from heads. Way-enough: Tells the rowers to stop rowing. The synonym is “let it run.”

WEST VIRGINIA ROWING

STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT West Virginia University offers a variety of services and programs to help student-athletes maximize their academic potential. Department staff members work with coaches, on campus student service providers and faculty to help student-athletes meet the unique demands of the classroom, the sporting arena and the personal-social challenges they face as developing adults. While many of the headlines center on the Mountaineers’ accomplishments on the playing field, West Virginia athletes have also made some noteworthy strides in the classroom. Some of those strides include a string of eight consecutive years where the department has had at least one first team Academic All-American. To help its student athletes achieve academic success, one of the nation’s finest facilities resides in the WVU Coliseum – The Athletic Academic Performance Center. Coliseum Academic Performance Center – WVU Coliseum • 8,000-square foot facility providing individual and group study areas • State-of-the-art computer labs • Provides a quiet atmosphere and is open six days a week • The latest in fingerprint technology used when signing in • Center can be utilized around the student-athlete’s schedule • Center cost $1.3 million and opened in October of 2007 • Facility gift was provided by former Mountaineer great Jerry West and his wife, Karen, and the Robbins family WVU’s Academic Support Services Provides • Team educational counselors • Tutoring services • Priority registration for student-athletes • Post-eligibility assistance Tutoring Service Facts • More than 75 tutors provide student-athletes with assistance in their classes • Upperclassmen, graduate students and community members serve as tutors in their area of specialty • Tutoring services are provided for all student-athletes regardless of scholarship status NCAA Certification West Virginia University received unconditional recertification in April 2010 from the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification, recognizing that the University’s athletic program is in “substantial conformity with operating principles” adopted by Division I schools. The purpose of athletics certification is to ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments, the NCAA said.

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STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT Graduation Rates West Virginia University’s graduation rate for student-athletes has been impressive, to say the least, over the past seven years. The ratio of student-athletes graduating to the general student body has increased almost every year. The graduation rate for student-athletes is based upon the number of students who entered the University receiving athletic scholarship aid in a given academic year, and their progress over six years. The most recent figures are based upon the progress of student-athletes who entered WVU during 2002-03. APR The West Virginia University women’s soccer team, men’s basketball team and women’s cross country team received public recognition in the spring of 2010 by the NCAA for their latest multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. These teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport. Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear APR. The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) provides a forum for the “voice of the student-athlete” on WVU’s campus. SAAC membership provides feedback to administration about how to better WVU athletic programs. They offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. CHAMPS/Life Skills The many challenges that today’s college student-athletes face, both on and off the playing field, are unmatched in the history of higher education. Unfortunately, many students are not well prepared to face these challenges or encounter life issues that undermine health and success in college. To prepare student-athletes for the demands of college life and beyond, the NCAA developed the CHAMPS (Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success)/Life Skills program. In the spring of 1995, the West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics initiated its own CHAMPS/Life Skills program. WVU was one of only 170 schools selected by the NCAA to participate in their national pilot program. Five programming “commitment” areas viewed as critical to personal growth are part of WVU’s model. They are: 1) academic excellence, 2) personal development, 3) career development, 4) athletic excellence and 5) community service.

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CAMPUS LIFE Virginia University is a leading 21st century land-grant institution that is improving people’s lives through teaching, ð West discovery and outreach. WVU colleges and schools offer 193 degree programs from the bachelor’s through the doctoral and first-professional ð 13levels.

ð WVU students receive $317 million annually in grants, loans, work study, fee waivers and scholarships. campus offers one of the nation’s safest college environments — Reader’s Digest ranked it 18th among 135 U.S. ð WVU’s colleges and universities and gave WVU an ‘A’ for its strong commitment to safety. American institute for Economic Research named Morgantown one of America’s “Best College Towns.” Kiplinger’s ð The Personal Finance magazine listed the city 29th among “50 Smart Places to Live.” and job opportunities were among the factors Men’s Journal magazine cited in naming Morgantown the ð Recreational nation’s third-best small city. Sporting News named Morgantown one of its “Best Sports Cities.” Careerbuilder.com ranked the city as one of the “25 Best Cities to Find a Job.”

main Morgantown location includes three distinct campuses—Downtown, Evansdale and the Health Sciences ð WVU’s campus. The Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system — named top people-mover in the nation - has shuttled people among the campuses since the U.S. Department of Transportation built it 30 years ago.

Student Recreation Center offers a six-lane lap pool and a leisure pool; a 20-person whirlpool; seven courts for ð The basketball, volleyball, and badminton; fitness machines and free weights covering 17,000 square feet; and a 50-foot climbing wall.

ð WVU has produced 25 Rhodes Scholars, more than any other school in the BIG EAST Conference. FBI chose WVU as its national leader for biometrics research. WVU is the academic arm of the FBI’s Biometric Center of ð The Excellence. WVU School of Medicine’s Rural Medicine Program is ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s top 10 graduate programs in ð The the field. More than two dozen WVU graduate programs are ranked by the publication as among the nation’s best.

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CAMPUS LIFE WVU: A Brief Profile WVU is one of only 11 schools in the country that are land-grant, doctoral research universities with a comprehensive medical school. Students: WVU’s main campus fall 2011 enrollment was 29,617. Alumni: The new Erickson Alumni Center is a gathering place for WVU’s more than 175,000 alumni worldwide. Degree Programs: WVU offers 193 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degree programs. Division Campuses: Potomac State College of WVU; WVU Institute of Technology Health Sciences Center Divisions: Charleston Division, Health Sciences Center, Charleston, W.Va.; Eastern Division, Health Sciences Center, Martinsburg, W.Va. Major Academic Divisions: Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Economics, College of Creative Arts, School of Dentistry, College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, Honors College, College of Human Resources and Education, Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, College of Law, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Potomac State College of WVU, WVU Institute of Technology Visitors Resource Center: Located on the Morgantown Waterfront, the Visitors Resource Center features unique, cutting-edge displays and traditional West Virginia hospitality. Operating hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. (closed Sundays and most University holidays). Guided tours with friendly knowledgeable student guides M-F at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sat. at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., except home football Saturdays. Phone: 304-293-3489. Visit: http://visit.wvu.edu Admission Information: Information is available from the Office of Admissions and Records, PO Box 6090, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6090; or call 304-293-2121 or visit WVU on the web: http://www.wvu.edu; E-mail: go2wvu@mail. wvu.edu Mountaineer Parents Club Helpline: Receive information or share comments by calling 1-800-WVU-0096. Someone will respond within one business day if possible.

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WVU ATHLETICS 2010-11 BY THE NUMBERS Team Record Baseball: 28-27 Cross Country: 5th place at BIG EAST Championships & 5th place at NCAA Regionals Men’s Basketball: 21-12, 11-7 BIG EAST (NCAA 3rd Round) Women’s Basketball: 24-10, 8-8 BIG EAST (NCAA 2nd Round) Football: 9-3, 5-2 BIG EAST (Share of regular-season conference title) (Champs Sports Bowl Game) Gymnastics: 13-10, 10-4 EAGL (6th place at NCAA Regionals) Rowing: 7th BIG EAST Men’s Soccer: 11-8-2, 5-4-0 BIG EAST (NCAA 2nd Round) Women’s Soccer: 18-5-1, 9-1-1 BIG EAST (BIG EAST Champions) (NCAA Sweet 16) Men’s Swimming and Diving: 4-2, 4th BIG EAST (3 NCAA qualifiers) Women’s Swimming and Diving: 2-7, 3rd BIG EAST (1 NCAA qualifier) Women’s Tennis: 8-14 Rifle: 11-2, 5-1 GARC (2nd NCAA); GARC Postseason Champions (NCAA Air Rifle Champions) Ranked No. 1 all season; Nicco Campriani was the NCAA Air Rifle Champion Women’s Track: Indoor: 5th BIG EAST, 18th NCAA; Outdoor: 2nd BIG EAST, 20th NCAA Volleyball: 15-15, 5-9 BIG EAST Wrestling: 9-6, 4-2 EWL, 5 NCAA qualifiers NCAA Individual Champions Nicco Campriani, NCAA Air Rifle First Team All-Americans Keri Bland, Indoor Track, NCAA Nicco Campriani, Rifle, National Rifle Association (NRA) (smallbore and air rifle) Chelsea Carrier, Indoor Track, NCAA Chelsea Carrier, Outdoor Track, NCAA John Flowers, 2011 Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America Team Kaitlyn Gillespie, Cross Country, USTFCCCA Kate Harrison, Outdoor Track, NCAA Robert Sands, Football, Sporting News Rachel Viglianco, Rowing, National Strength and Conditioning Association Petra Zublasing, Rifle, National Rifle Association (NRA) (air rifle)

Team Champions Women’s Soccer, BIG EAST Rifle, GARC BIG EAST Champions Rachael Burnett, Women’s Swimming (500 Free, 400 IM) Taylor Camp, Men’s Swimming (100 Fly) Chelsea Carrier, Women’s Indoor Track (pentathlon, 60m hurdles), Women’s Outdoor Track (long jump, 100m, 400m hurdles) Kate Harrison, Women’s Outdoor Track (10,000-meter run) Mandie Nugent, Women’s Swimming (200 Fly) Jessica O’Connell, Women’s Indoor Track (3,000m) April Rotilio, Women’s Outdoor Track (400-meter dash) EAGL Champions Amy Bieski, Gymnastics (uneven bars) GARC Champions Nicco Campriani, Rifle (air rifle, smallbore, & combined score) BIG EAST Individual Awards Rachael Burnett, Women’s Swimming, 2011 co-BIG EAST Women’s Most Outstanding Swimmer Kerri Butler, Women’s Soccer, 2010 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Player Kerri Butler, Women’s Soccer, 2010 BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament team Chelsea Carrier, Women’s Track, 2011 BIG EAST Indoor Most Outstanding Field Athlete Chelsea Carrier, Women’s Track, 2011 BIG EAST Outdoor Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet Meghan Lewis, Women’s Soccer, 2010 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player Meghan Lewis, Women’s Soccer, 2010 BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament team Bry McCarthy, Women’s Soccer, 2010 BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team Blake Miller, Women’s Soccer, 2010 BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team Megan Mischler, Women’s Soccer, 2010 BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team Mandie Nugent, Women’s Swimming, 2011 co-BIG EAST Women’s Most Outstanding Swimmer Liz Repella, Women’s Basketball, 2010-11 BIG EAST ScholarAthlete Sport Excellence Award Frances Silva, Women’s Soccer, BIG EAST all-Rookie Team Rachel Viglianco, Rowing, 2010-11 BIG EAST ScholarAthlete Sport Excellence Award BIG EAST Women’s Staff of the Year, Women’s Outdoor Track

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WVU ATHLETICS 2010-11 BY THE NUMBERS Major Awards Amy Bieski, Gymnastics, EAGL Gymnast of the Year Amy Bieski, Gymnastics, EAGL Outstanding Senior of the Year Nicco Campriani, Rifle, GARC Shooter of the Year Nicco Campriani, Rifle, GARC Senior of the Year Nicco Campriani, Rifle, GARC Scholar-Athlete Liz Repella, Women’s Basketball, Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Finalist Red Brown Cup Award Nicco Campriani, Rifle Liz Repella, Women’s Basketball Fred Schaus Captain’s Award Keri Bland, Track and Field Chris Neild, Football

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

[ 2012 ROWING ] 25

Jimmy King

[ head coach • fifth season • bucknell, ‘90 ]

THE KING FILE COACHING EXPERIENCE WEST VIRGINIA, 2007-PRESENT • Fifth season as head coach • Five BIG EAST Championship appearances • Nine medal-winning performances • Varsity 8+ • Eight top three finishes • Varsity 4+ • Eight top three finishes GEORGETOWN, 1997-2007 Assistant Coach • Helped coach the men’s heavyweight squad • Day-to-day running of the women’s heavyweight program • Helped institute the lightweight program in 1999 U.S. NATIONAL TEAM, 2001 Coach for Lightweight Women’s Pair • Silver medalists at the FISA World Rowing Championships • Gold medalists at the U.S. Rowing Championships GEORGE WASHINGTON, 1996-1997 Head Coach, Varsity Men BUCKNELL, 1990-1996 Head Coach (1992-1996) Assistant Coach (1990-1992) EDUCATION BUCKNELL, 1990 • Bachelor’s degree in sociology (concentration in legal studies) ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY • Coached Rachel Viglianco to Academic All-America Second Team and NSCA All-America honors • Coached Shannon Gribbons to All-Mid Atlantic Region first-team honors • Coached Kim Benda to BIG EAST Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete honors • Three All-BIG EAST performers • 13 CRCA National Scholar-Athletes

Jimmy King enters his fifth season at the helm of the West Virginia University rowing program. King has made tremendous strides with the team since taking over leadership responsibility prior to the 2007-08 season. Each season has seen steady improvement since then, with one of the most successful seasons coming this past racing year. In 2010-11, King guided the team to several medals and top 10 finishes in both spring and fall regattas. During the fall season opening at the Head of the Ohio regatta in Pittsburgh, King coached the Varsity 8+ and one doubles shell to a gold medal, while coaching a second doubles shell to a silver medal. In addition, he led the Mountaineers to top 10 finishes in the Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ events at the prestigious Head of the Schuylkill Regatta the following weekend. Furthermore, he saw the Varsity 4+ ‘A’ crew medal for the third year in a row at the Head of the Occoquan, improving upon past year’s results by taking home silver. Other notable performances included a silver medal finish by the Varsity 8+ at the Occoquan Sprints, a fifth-place finish at the Knecht Cup Regatta (only the second time in program history the Mountaineers have qualified for the Grand Finals) and a sixth-place finish at the BIG EAST Championships (the first time since 2005 the Varsity 8+ has reached the Grand Finals at BIG EAST). King’s success with the team is not limited to the water, as he also stresses the importance of academics. The 2010-11 season saw the emergence of the program’s second Academic All-American as senior Rachel Viglianco earned the honor twice, being named to the CoSIDA Capital One All-America Women’s at-Large second team and the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s All-America team. In addition, five rowers were honored by the CRCA as National Scholar-Athletes, with junior Shannon Gribbons being named to the all-Mid Atlantic Region first team. Gribbons became the first rower from WVU to earn that honor. The 2009-10 season served as the foundation for success as King developed the athletes that would lead the team the following season. Notable results included a third-place finish from the Varsity 8+ at the Head of the Ohio, and a first-place finish at the second annual Head of the Mon in the fall racing season. The spring season brought a first-place effort from the Varsity 8+ at North Carolina, a second-place finish at George Mason, a first-place finish in the petite final at the BIG EAST Championships and a second-place finish in the petite finals at the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship.

26 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

King was also instrumental in implementing the second Head of the Mon in the fall of 2009, a home regatta for the Mountaineers that included competition from Dayton, Duquesne and George Mason. Additionally, four members of the team were honored as CRCA National Scholar-Athletes, with Kimberly Benda earning BIG EAST Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete honors. In his first two seasons as head coach, King saw great success with the Varsity 4+. Those years saw the crew place third and second at the Head of the Ohio, respectively, as well as earning a first-place finish at the Head of the Occoquan, a first-place finish at Dayton, a second-place finish at the Knecht Cup and a first-place finish in the petite finals at the BIG EAST Championships. In addition, the Varsity 4+ crew placed fourth at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta. Prior to his time with WVU, King spent the previous 10 years as the assistant rowing coach at Georgetown. There, he was responsible for directing the men’s heavyweight squad, and for the day-to-day running of the women’s heavyweight program. While at Georgetown, King also provided administrative support to the part-time coaches of the women’s lightweight program, having helped institute the lightweight program for the Hoyas in 1999. In 2001, while coaching the heavyweight squad at Georgetown, King served as coach of the U.S. National Team Lightweight Women’s Pair, which won the gold medal at the U.S. Rowing Championships in the Elite 2- and Lightweight 2-, and a silver medal at the FISA World Rowing Championships in the Women’s L2-. Before coaching at Georgetown, King served as coach for the men’s varsity crew squad at George Washington during 1996-97. He also served as the assistant coach and head coach of the men’s and women’s crew teams at Bucknell from 1990-96. King has also served as a coach for the Navy Rowing Camp each year since 2005. A six-day summer camp for girls ages 13-18, the camp places emphasis on technique development and personal improvement. He is a member of the CRCA and the U.S. Rowing Organization, where he is currently certified at level II. He also served as President of the BIG EAST Coaches Association in 2010 and 2011, and previously served as Vice President of the BIG EAST Coaches Association from April 2004-April 2006. King is a 1990 graduate of Bucknell, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in legal studies.

WVU Rowing Q&A

[ a sit down with coach jimmy king ] The team has made great strides under your leadership since you were appointed head coach four years ago. As you prepare for your fifth year with the team, what are some strategies and plans you’ve made to ensure the team continues to be successful? One of the things we’ve talked about this year is that the standards for what we do in workouts, whether on land or on water, have been raised. What used to be considered good is no longer good enough. The change in those standards is a reflection of and a credit to the students on our team and their ongoing efforts to raise the competitiveness of WVU Rowing. Rowing is a sport that has seen growth at the collegiate level in recent years, but it’s still relatively unknown in certain areas. What is this program doing for the sport to help it gain more attention throughout the state and local region? Locally we assist the community rowing club, Monongahela Rowing Association, and the WVU Men’s Crew Club as we can throughout the year. Regionally our fall racing season annually begins in Pittsburgh at the Head of the Ohio so that we maintain a presence in that area. And this year the University of Charleston hosted the inaugural Head of the Kanawha in October. When their head coach, Jim Bucklew, asked if we would attend I eagerly agreed for primarily two reasons: 1) An opportunity to support the efforts of the only other collegiate rowing program in the state; 2) An opportunity for some of our students from that area to race in front of family and friends as well as give our program some exposure within the state other than in Morgantown--and in the shadow of the state capitol no less! Many athletes who join collegiate rowing programs do so having little knowledge of the sport in the beginning. How are you able to show athletes coming out of high school that there is an opportunity for them to continue competing in athletics at the Division I level? Our Associate Head Coach, Tina Griffith, is in charge of our novice squad including recruitment. She does a fantastic job of alerting incoming students about the opportunity to row by means of MIX announcements, setting up a table with video and flyers at the Freshman Picnic and for a week at the rec center to talk with any interested students, and then by holding two interest meetings, one on the downtown campus and one on Evansdale. The students on the varsity squad also help with all oncampus recruiting efforts. What kind of student-athletes are you looking for to help build the program and continue its tradition of success? To begin with, we are definitely in search of the full embodiment of the “student-athlete.” Academic success is continually stressed in our program and quite frankly, the self-discipline and work ethic required for success in one applies to the other as well. And while there are certain physical characteristics that are advantageous in rowing, those do not matter if the work ethic and drive to improve and succeed aren’t present. What are some of the goals the program has set for the future? As one of the younger NCAA sports, rowing has been and continues to evolve under the NCAA umbrella. Whereas in recent times regional regattas have been the regular-season end for teams not advancing to the NCAA championship, conference championships are increasingly occupying that last weekend of regular-season racing in preparation for the implementation of conference automatic qualifiers in 2013. Our obvious goal, regardless of automatic qualifiers (AQs), is to position ourselves to win the conference championship, but to do that we need to continue increasing the depth and competitiveness of our program across the three NCAA crews: 1st Varsity 8+, 2nd Varsity 8+, and Varsity 4+. Our intermediate goals then focus on improving the standing of each of our crews at the conference championship each year as well as our team standing.

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Coach Jimmy King The team has excelled in academics over the past five years, earning All-American, National Scholar Athlete and all-BIG EAST honors to name a few. How do you stress to the team that just as much energy and time needs to be placed into academics as well as athletics? Fortunately with the team we’ve had over the past few years, we haven’t had to go out of our way as coaches to stress that importance. I think the message comes across in the individual talks the coaches have with the students throughout the year regarding everything--training, academics, and life. And to go back to an earlier point, I believe that the success we’re seeing in academics and in rowing isn’t exclusive of one another and isn’t a coincidence. This year’s team will be graduating one of the largest classes of seniors the program has seen with 10. How have they contributed to the team over the past four years, and what are you expecting from them in terms of leadership and performance this season? Some of those seniors began as a novice in either their sophomore or junior years at WVU, so there’s actually a wide range of experience among the senior class. We expect leadership to come from throughout our team regardless of class, but there is a greater expectation placed upon the older members to know how things are to be done, such as certain workouts, and what’s considered acceptable behavior among our team. Considering their time within the program, they are expected to help the younger members learn how to be good Mountaineers. Where performance is concerned, we continually emphasize “improvement”--improvement week to week, month to month, and year to year. As seniors, the coaches expect them to perform at their best relative to their previous years, but because they are seniors and regardless of whether they have been on the team two years or four years, there’s certainly a bit of added desire on both sides. The rowers and coxswains are striving to make their last season the best yet and the coaches certainly want them to achieve their goals so that they leave the program feeling good not only about what they have accomplished individually, but what they have helped our team accomplish collectively.

[ 2012 ROWING ] 27

Tina Griffith

[ associate head coach • ninth season • west virginia, ‘03 ]

GRIFFITH FILE COACHING EXPERIENCE WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, 2002-PRESENT Associate Head Coach, 2009-PRESENT Assistant Coach, 2002-2009 • Novice 4+ • First-place finish at 2011 Knecht Cup • Fifth-place finish at 2011 Dad Vail Regatta • BIG EAST Boat of the Week Honors (2011) • Eight top three finishes • Novice 8+ • Four top-three finishes EDUCATION WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY • Bachelor’s degree in psychology (2003) • Master’s degree in athletic coaching education (2005) • Doctorate degree in physical education teacher education (anticipated 2012) ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY • Four-year member of varsity rowing team • Team captain • First-place finishes in Varsity 4+ at San Diego Crew Classic (2003) and Knecht Cup (2003) • Second-place finishes in Varsity 4+ at Henley Women’s Regatta (2001) and Head of the Charles (2002)

Tina Griffith enters her second season as associate head coach for the West Virginia rowing program and her ninth season overall with the team. Griffith is primarily responsible for the Novice team. In addition, she also serves as a recruiting coordinator and assists with the day-to-day operations of the program. Since taking over coaching responsibilities for the novice crew in 2002, Griffith and her studentathletes have seen constant growth and improvement. Most recently, the 2010-11 season brought forth great results as Griffith coached the Novice 4+ to a first-place finish at the Knecht Cup Regatta and BIG EAST Boat of the Week Honors. Additionally, the Novice 4+ placed fifth out of 45 crews at the Dad Vail Regatta, the best finish of the day for West Virginia. Previous seasons have also brought forth impressive outcomes. In 2009-10, Griffith coached the Novice 4+ to a second-place finish in the petite finals at the Knecht Cup, while also leading the Novice 8+ to top 10 finishes at the Knecht Cup, BIG EAST Championships and the ECAC Regatta. From 2005-07, Griffith coached the novice squad to consistent top-three finishes. In 2005-06, the Novice 4+ finished first at the SIRA Regatta, second at the Murphy Cup, and third at both the BIG EAST Championships and the Dad Vail Regatta. In 2006-07, the Novice 4+ placed second at the BIG EAST Championships, while the Novice 8+ placed second at the George Washington Invitational. In her first season with the novice crew, Griffith showed tremendous leadership and talent as she coached the second Novice 8+ to a first-place finish at both the Knecht Cup and the SIRA Regatta, and to a second-place finish at the BIG EAST Championships. In addition, the Novice 4+ also placed first at the Knecht Cup.

28 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

Previous to her time coaching at West Virginia, Griffith was a four-year varsity member and captain of the Mountaineer squad. She was a member of the Varsity 4+ that won at the Dad Vail Regatta in 2001, leading to an invitation to the prestigious Women’s Royal Henley Regatta in England, where the crew placed second overall, behind Oxford Brookes University (England). Griffith and her teammates also placed second at the Head of the Charles in the fall of 2002, and first at both the San Diego Crew Classic and the Knecht Cup in the spring of 2003. The West Liberty, W. Va., native earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology (2003) and a master’s degree in athletic coaching education (2005) from West Virginia University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE).

Meg Ayers

[ assistant coach • second season • west virginia, ‘05 ]

AYERS FILE COACHING EXPERIENCE WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, 2006-08, 2010-PRESENT • Assistant Coach, 2011-PRESENT • Interim Assistant Coach, 2010-11 • Volunteer Assistant, 2008-10 • Assistant Coach, 2007-08 • Graduate Assistant, 2006-07 MONONGAHELA ROWING ASSOC., 2006-2008 GREATER DAYTON ROWING ASSOC., 2000-2004 • “Learn-to-Row” coach • Taught basic fundamentals of rowing, including core techniques EDUCATION WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, 2005 • Bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise physiology (2005) • Master’s degree in athletic coaching education (2007) ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, 2002-06 • Four-year member of varsity rowing team • Three-time team captain • Earned top 10 ranking at U.S. Rowing Nationals in singles and doubles events • CRCA All-Mid Atlantic Region second team • NSCA All-American

Meg Ayers has been a part of the WVU rowing program for the last nine seasons, but joined the Mountaineer staff as assistant coach in 2011-12. A native of Dayton, Ohio, she most recently served as interim assistant coach throughout the 2010-11 season. In that role, she assisted with recruiting, developing the skills of the varsity squad, developing the skills of the coxswains, coaching the novice squad in the basic fundamentals of rowing and organizing and facilitating practices and functions. Previously, Ayers served as the Mountaineers’ assistant coach from 2007-08. She also served as a volunteer assistant (2008-10) and as a graduate assistant (2006-07). In addition to her duties at WVU, Ayers also served as the “Learn-to-Row” coach with the Monongahela Rowing Association (2006-08) and the Greater Dayton Rowing Association (2000-04). As coach, she was responsible for teaching the basic fundamentals of rowing, including core techniques and water survival skills, to participants ranging from youth to seniors. A three-time team captain throughout her four-year Mountaineer career (2002-06), Ayers earned a top 10 ranking at the U.S. Rowing Nationals in both the single and double events in 2002. She also was named to the 2006 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association second team Mid-Atlantic all-Regional Rowing Team, and was a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American.

Ayers graduated from WVU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise physiology. She earned her master’s degree in athletic coaching education in 2007.

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[ 2012 ROWING ] 29

Support Staff

[ the team behind the team]

Allison Hetrick

Nicole Lowery

Jerry Handley

Athletic Trainer

Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer

Strength Coach

Paul Downey

Bubba Schmidt

Scott Herdzik

Director, Student-Athlete Academic Services

Equipment Manager

Assistant Equipment Manager

Dr. Matt Lively

Julie Brown

Cindy Smith

Medical Director

Sports Communications

Administrative Assistant

30 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

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[ 2012 ROWING ] 31

2012 Roster

[ alphabetical • state • class ] Name Year Hometown Alexandra Basil Fr. Wellsburg, W.Va. Sarah Cartwright Sr. Kearneysville, W.Va. Rachel Cokeley So. Harrisville, W.Va. Virginia Cunningham Fr. Hurricane, W.Va. Lisa Deklau Fr. Gambrills, Md. Brianna Dendler Fr. Galloway, N.J. Brittany Doss Sr. Cross Lanes, W.Va. Elizabeth Duarte Fr. Morgantown, W.Va. Kaitlyn Eason Fr. Dauphin, Pa. Mallory Fisher So. Hartly, Del. Shannon Gribbons Sr. Port Elgin, Ontario Sarah Hansard Sr. Charlestown, W.Va. Amanda Hirsch Sr. Mars, Pa. Jessica Hurlbert So. Stanley, Va. Jessica Kelly Sr. Wexford, Pa. Rebecca Knecht Sr. Ellicott City, Md. Kelly Kramer Fr. Lakewood, Ohio Morgan Leach So. Virginia Beach, Va. Caitlin Madamba Fr. Mays Landing, N.J. Jeannine McCarty Sr. Vineland, N.J. Hilary Meale Jr. Morgantown, W.Va. Christina Mehrtens So. Hillsborough, N.J. Enya Messersmith Jr. Spring Grove, Pa. Rachelle Purych Jr. Victoria, British Columbia Danika Rencken Jr. Hollis, N.H. Courtney Rice Jr. Leonardtown, Md. Tamyra Roberts So. Vineland, N.J. Mollie Rosen So. Bethesda, Md. Bethany Sapen Fr. Harrisburg, Pa. Courtney Schrand So. Virginia Beach, Va. Melinda Sharon So. Hopkinton, Mass. Melissa Shaver Sr. Gainesville, Va. Ellen Shular Jr. Orchard Pa.rk, N.Y. Jenelle Spencer Sr. Sidney, British Columbia Rebecca Swope Fr. Salem, Ohio Alyssa Thompson Sr. Lincoln University, Pa. Karen Verwey So. Te Puke, New Zealand Danielle Widecrantz Jr. Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Head Coach: Jimmy King Associate Head Coach: Tina Griffith Assistant Coach: Meg Ayers

By State/Country New Jersey: Virginia: Pennsylvania: West Virginia: British Columbia: Maryland: Delaware: New Hampshire: New York: New Zealand: Ohio: Ontario: By Class Seniors: Juniors: Sophomores: Freshmen:

4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1

10 5 8 1

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High School Brooke HS (W.Va.) Jefferson HS (W.Va.) Ritchie County HS (W.Va.) Hurricane HS (W.Va.) Arundel HS (Md.) Absegami HS (N.J.) Nitro HS (W.Va.) Morgantown HS (W.Va.) Central Dauphin East (Pa.) Smyrna HS (Del.) Saugeen District SS (CAN) Jefferson HS (W.Va.) North Allegheny HS (Pa.) Pa.ge County HS (Va.) North Allegheny HS (Pa.) Centennial HS (Md.) Magnificat HS (Ohio) First Colonial HS (Va.) Holy Spirit HS (N.J.) Vineland HS (N.J.) Morgantown HS (W.Va.) Hillsborough HS (N.J.) Delone Catholic (Pa.) St. Andrew’s HS (CAN) Hollis Brookline HS (N.H.) Leonardtown HS (Md.) Vineland HS (N.J.) Walter JOhionson HS (Md.) Central Dauphin (Pa.) First Colonial HS (Va.) Tolland HS (Conn.) Battlefield HS (Va.) Orchard Pa.rk HS (N.Y.) Stelly’s Secondary School (CAN) United Local (Ohio) Avon Grove Charter School (Pa.) St. Peter’s School (NZ) Egg Harbor Township HS (N.J.)

Sarah Cartwight

Brittany Doss

[ senior• kearneysville, w.va. • jefferson ]

[ senior• cross lanes, w.va. • nitro ]

At West Virginia (2010-11): •Second-year coxswain •Led Varsity 8+ to a gold medal at the Head of the Ohio, and to a silver medal at the Occoquan Sprints •Led second Varsity 8+ to a first-place finish at the Frostbite Regatta •Guided Varsity 4+ to a bronze medal finish at the BIG EAST Championships, and to a fifth-place finish at the Head of the Schuylkill

At West Virginia (2009-10): • Member of the novice squad • Contributed as coxswain Prep: • Attended Jefferson High Personal: • Daughter of Randy Cartwright • Has four sisters • Birthday is Nov. 11 • Majoring in business and marketing • Member of Beta Gamma Sigma – International Honors Society for Business • Recipient of Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship, Promise Scholarship, Kaiser Aluminum Scholarship and Geico Achievement Award Scholarship • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll • (1x) Dean’s List • (5x) President’s List

with Sarah

Cartwright

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Member of second Varsity 8+ that took first at Frostbite Regatta, and second in the petite finals at the BIG EAST Championships • Member of Varsity 4+ ‘B’ crew at the Knecht Cup

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At West Virginia (2009-10): • Member of the novice squad • Earned the team most improved award (Novice) • Captured fifth-place finish in the Novice 8+ Grand Finals event at the Knecht Cup Prep: • Attended Nitro High • Member of the varsity soccer team • First Team all-state (2007-08) • Forward of the Year (2008) • Kanawha Valley Player of the Year • Holds the record for most goals scored in the Kanowha Valley, and third-most goals in the state • Participated in the North-South honors game Personal: • Daughter of Martin and Sherry Doss • Has one brother • Birthday is May 14 • Majoring in psychology • Member of Sigma Kappa Phi Honor Society

y Doss

with Brittan

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Lasagna & Sushi…but not together Favorite musician … John Mayer & The Goo Goo Dolls Favorite movie … I Am Sam Favorite athlete … Mary Whipple

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Tacos Favorite musician … KiD CuDi Favorite movie … Mean Girls Favorite athlete … Mia Hamm

FILL-INS I would never be caught …without a water bottle My greatest rowing moment was … winning a Bronze Big East Medal in 2011 My pre-race rituals include … one last review of the race plan and course map…and coffee of course. I chose WVU because … the large student body and statewide support for athletics

FILL-INS My greatest rowing moment was … my novice year and coming in third overall at ECACs. My pre-race rituals include … listening to my iPod One coach King saying I’ll never forget is … Never give up in the third half of the race I chose WVU because … it fit my lifestyle and it was close to home

QUOTE I ADMIRE “To accomplish great things, we must not act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” – Antole France

QUOTE I ADMIRE “The difference between the possible and the impossible lies in a person’s determination.”

[ 2012 ROWING ] 33

Mallory Fisher

Shannon Gribbons

[ sophomore • hartley, del. • smyrna ]

[ senior• port elgin, ontario • saugeen district ]

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Contributed as coxswain • Led Varsity 8+ to a fifth-place finish at the Knecht Cup; only the second time WVU has ever raced in the Grand Finals at the Knecht Cup Regatta • Led Varsity 8+ to a second-place finish in the petite finals at the Dad Vail Regatta, and to a sixth-place finish at the BIG EAST Championships • Led Novice 8+ to a fifth-place finish at the Occoquan Sprints

Prep: • Attended Smyrna High • Earned second team All-Henlopen Conference honors in field hockey Personal: • Daughter of Frank Fisher and Dawn Casey • Has two brothers and three sisters • Birthday is June 4 • Majoring in exercise physiology • Member of Phi Sigma Theta Honor Society

with Mallory

Fisher

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Lasagna Favorite musician … Ke$ha Favorite movie … The Hangover Favorite athlete … Jacoby Ellsbury

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Member of Varsity 8+ that took first at the Head of the Ohio, seventh at the Head of the Schuylkill, second at the Occoquan Sprints, first at the Frostbite Regatta, fifth at the Knecht Cup Regatta, sixth at the BIG EAST Championships, and second in the Petite Finals at the Dad Vail Regatta • Captured a third-place finish at the Head of the Ohio in open doubles competition • Named all-Mid Atlantic Region first team – first rower from WVU to earn the honor • Received team Iron Mountaineer Award for second consecutive year • Voted team MVP At West Virginia (2009-10): • Member of the Varsity squad • Captured bronze medal in the Varsity 8+ event at the Head of the Ohio, and finished in fourth place in the Varsity 4+ event at the second annual Head of the Mon • Received team ERG Hammer Award (Varsity) representing best 2,000 meter ERG score • Received team Iron Mountaineer Award At West Virginia (2008-09): • Member of the Novice 8+ boat • Rowed to a second-place finish at the SIRA Championship Regatta petite finals in the Novice 8+ with a time of 7:37.9 • Finished fifth (7:21.64) in the grand finals at the BIG EAST Championships • Member of WVU’s first novice boat in program history to qualify for the semi-finals at the Dad Vail Regatta with a time of 5:15.43 - finished sixth (7:21.64) in the semi-final round • Placed sixth at the Murphy Cup (7.23:68) At West Virginia (2007-08): • Member of the WVU track and field team • Finished in fifth place in the 1,500-meter race at the 2007 NCAA Track and Field Championships Prep: • Attended Saugeen District Secondary • Awarded Female Athlete of the Year as a junior and senior • Two-time MVP on high school track and field team • Placed ninth in the 1,500-meter race at Canadian junior nationals and 15th at senior nationals Personal: • Daughter of Patrick and Penelope Gribbons • Has one brother and two sisters • Birthday is Aug. 27 • Majoring in chemical engineering • WVU Honors College • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll • Dean’s List and President’s List

n with Shanno

Gribbons

FAVORITES Favorite Food…… Raspberries and my dad’s seafood Favorite musician ……Blue Rodeo Favorite movie …The Guardian Favorite athlete……Wayne Gretzky FILL-INS I would never be caught… wearing UGG boots. My greatest rowing moment was … the support and warm welcome I received from my teammates and coaches my novice year. My pre-race rituals include … trunk rotations. Lots of them.

Shannon Gribbons

34 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

QUOTE I ADMIRE Success isn’t final, failure isn’t fatal. Courage is what counts.

Amanda Hirsch

Jessica Hurlbert

[ senior• mars, pa. • north allegheny ]

[ sophomore• stanley, va. • page county ]

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Captured a third-place finish in the women’s junior varsity 8+ race at the Occoquan Sprints • Helped row second Varsity 8+ to a secondplace finish in the petite finals at the BIG EAST Championships, and to a fourth-place finish in the petite finals at the Knecht Cup • Competed in the semi-finals of the V2- at the Dad Vail Regatta At West Virginia (2009-10): • Member of the Varsity 4+ boat • Finished third in the Varsity 4+ event at the BIG EAST Championships At West Virginia (2008-09): • Member of the varsity squad • Saw limited competition

At West Virginia (2010-11): coaches • Captured first place in the Novice rowers 4+ ‘A’ boat at the Knecht Cup; preview honored as a member of the BIG review EAST Boat of the Week for Knecht records Cup performance wvu • Captured a third-place finish in media the second Varsity 8+ at the Occoquan Sprints, and a fourthplace finish in the petite finals at the Knecht Cup • Rowed to a sixth-place finish in Varsity 4+ ‘A’ boat at the BIG EAST Championships Prep: • Attended Page County High • Varsity soccer and cross country team captain during both junior and senior years Personal: • Daughter of Dan and Sally Hurlbert • Has one brother • Birthday is June 8 • Majoring in exercise physiology

Prep: • Attended North Allegheny High • Graduated with academic and athletic colors • Honor roll student Personal: • Daughter of Frank and Lori Hirsch • Has two brothers • Birthday is Aug. 23 • Enrolled in multidisciplinary studies

with Jessica

Hurlbert

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Oreos and milk Favorite musician … Sammy Adams Favorite movie …Troy Favorite athlete … Steve Prefontaine

a Hirsch

with Amand FAVORITES Favorite Food … Breakfast sandwiches

Favorite musician … I like everything with a beat that I can dance to Favorite movie … Remember the Titans Favorite athlete … My cousin, Allison Schmitt FILL-INS I would never be caught …Missing class or practice My greatest rowing moment was … Finishing third at Big East My pre-race rituals include … Music during warm-ups One coach King saying I’ll never forget is … “HELLO, KIDDIES.” I chose WVU because …It feels like my home, it’s where I belong QUOTE I ADMIRE “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you have always imagined.”

Amanda Hirsch

[ 2012 ROWING ] 35

Jessica Kelly

Rebecca Knecht

[ senior• wexford, pa. • north allegheny ]

[ senior• ellicott city, md. • centennial ]

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Finished in third place in open doubles competition at the Head of the Ohio • Finished third at the Occoquan Sprints, fourth in the petite finals at the Knecht Cup and second in the petite finals at the BIG EAST Championships in the second Varsity 8+ • Member of Varsity 4+ that placed seventh and Varsity 8+ that placed seventh at the Head of the Schuylkill At West Virginia (2009-10): • Member of the varsity squad

Prep: • Attended Centennial High • Earned academic and athletic honors • Member of CSC Soccer Club Team Personal: • Daughter of Joseph and Lois Knecht • Has two sisters • Birthday is April 5 • Majoring in sport and exercise psychology

At West Virginia (2008-09): • Competed as one of four freshmen on the varsity squad • Member of the Varsity 8+ boat at the Head of the Mon, Knecht Cup, SIRA Regatta, BIG EAST Championships and Dad Vail Regatta • Rowed to a first-place finish in the Varsity 8+ in the petite finals at the BIG EAST Championships • Rowed to a second-place finish at the SIRA Championship Regatta petite finals in the Novice 8+ with a time of 7:37.9 • Finished fourth at the second annual Head of the Mon Prep: • Attended North Allegheny High Personal: • Daughter of Charles and Rita Kelly • Has one sister • Birthday is Feb. 9 • Majoring in sport and exercise psychology • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

with Jessica

Kelly

a Knecht

with Rebecc

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Spaghetti and meatballs Favorite musician … Lil Wayne Favorite movie … Remember the Titans Favorite athlete … Serena Williams

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Peanut butter and jelly sandwich Favorite musician … John Mayer Favorite movie …Stand By Me or Harry Potter Favorite athlete … Ray Lewis and Hope Solo

FILL-INS I would never be caught … missing practice My greatest rowing moment was … taking third place at the Stotesbury Regatta in high school

FILL-INS I would never be caught … making a fool of myself…..yeah right My greatest rowing moment was … so far, making varsity after being injured at the end of my novice year My pre-race rituals include … don’t have a consistent ritual besides eating a good breakfast I chose WVU because … of the overall atmosphere of the school and the school spirit

My pre-race rituals include … listening to music One coach King saying I’ll never forget is … you have so much to say on what happens on this team I chose WVU because … of my major QUOTE I ADMIRE “I hated every minute of training, but I said don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

36 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

QUOTE I ADMIRE “Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” - Dan Gable

Kelly Kramer

Jeannine McCarty

[ freshman• lakewood, ohio • magnificat ]

[ senior• vineland, n.j. • vineland ]

Prep: • Attended Magnificat High • Four-year member of high school swim team and club rowing team • Won Most Improved Award in 2010, and the Coaches Award in 2011 for swim team • Earned Most Valuable Rower in 2010 • Four-year academic high honor roll member • Campus Ministry hospitality minister • Member of SADD club

Personal: • Daughter of Brian and Regina Kramer • Has one brother and one sister • Birthday is May 12 • Majoring in engineering

Morgan Leach [ sophomore • virginia beach, va. • first colonial ] At West Virginia (2010-11): • First-year coxswain • Led crew to a first-place finish in the Novice 4+ ‘A’ boat at the Knecht Cup; honored as a member of the BIG EAST Boat of the Week for Knecht Cup performance • Also led Varsity 4+ at the Occoquan Sprints and the Head of the Schuylkill, and to a sixth-place finish at the BIG EAST Championships • Led Novice 4+ to a fifth-place finish at the Dad Vail Regatta Prep: • Attended First Colonial High • Member of the rowing team under coach Lester Fabiszewski • Competed at SRAA nationals in 2007, 2008 and 2010 • Placed 10th in the Varsity 8+ event at nationals in 2008 • Academic Principal’s List • National Honor Society • Mu Alpha Theta Personal: • Daughter of Mark and Linda Leach • Has one sister • Birthday is July 25 • Majoring in occupational therapy • Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll • Dean’s List

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Member of Varsity 8+ squad that took gold at the Head of the Ohio, and seventh at the Head of the Schuylkill

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

At West Virginia (2009-10): • Earned bronze medal at the Head of the Ohio, and captured firstplace at the second annual Head of the Mon in the Varsity 8+ • Won gold at the Frostbite Regatta, and won silver at the Knecht Cup in the Varsity 4+

At West Virginia (2008-09): • Member of the Novice 8+ squad • Rowed to a second-place finish at the SIRA Championship Regatta petite finals in the Novice 8+ with a time of 7:37.9 • Finished fifth (7:21.64) in the grand finals at the BIG EAST Championships • Member of WVU’s first novice boat in program history to qualify for the semifinals at the Dad Vail Regatta with a time of 5:15.43 - finished sixth (7:21.64) in the semi-final round • Placed sixth at the Murphy Cup (7:23.68) Prep: • Attended Vineland High • Captain of high school rowing and soccer teams • Member of first boat in Vineland High history to compete at the Scholastic Nationals and finals of the Statesburg Regatta in 2007 • Rowed to third-place finish at the New Jersey state regatta in 2007 Personal: • Daughter of John and Jean McCarty • Has two brothers and one sister • Birthday is Sept. 30 • Majoring in exercise physiology • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

ramer

with Kelly K FAVORITES Favorite Food … Pesto pasta Favorite musician … Maroon 5 Favorite movie …The Italian Job Favorite athlete … Daniel Gibson

with Morgan

Leach

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Ice Cream Favorite musician … Jamie Grace, Natalie Grant Favorite movie … The Blind Side Favorite athlete … Tim Tebow

e McCarty

with Jeannin

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Pizza Favorite musician … Nickelback Favorite movie … Dirty Dancing, Lion King and Saving Private Ryan Favorite athlete … Mia Hamm from when I was younger and played soccer

[ 2012 ROWING ] 37

Hilary Meale

Rachelle Purych

[ junior• morgantown, w.va. • morgantown ]

[ junior • victoria, b.c. • st. andrew’s ]

Christina Mehrtens [ sophomore • hillsborough, n.j. • hillsborough ] At West Virginia (2010-11): • Captured first place in the Novice 4+ ‘A’ boat at the Knecht Cup; honored as a member of the BIG EAST Boat of the Week for Knecht Cup performance • Helped row the Varsity 4+ ‘A’ boat to a sixthplace finish at the BIG EAST Championships • Member of the Novice 4+ that finished fifth at the Dad Vail Regatta Prep: • Attended Hillsborough High • Captain of basketball and volleyball teams senior year Personal: • Daughter of Joseph and Bernadette Mehrtens • Has two brothers and three sisters • Birthday is Sept. 17 • Majoring in pre-physical education teaching

38 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

eale

with Hilary M FAVORITES Favorite Food … Buffalo chicken dip Favorite musician … Keith Urban Favorite movie … Remember the Titans Favorite athlete … Misty May-Treanor

hrtens

ina Me with Christ FAVORITES Favorite Food … Potatoes (made in any way) Favorite musician … Regina Spektor Favorite movie … Disney movies Favorite athlete … Katie Hoff

e with Rachell FAVORITES Favorite Food … Anything buffalo Favorite musician … Justin Bieber Favorite movie …Horror or documentaries Favorite athlete … Adam Kreek

Purych

Danicka Rencken

Tamyra Roberts

[ junior• hollis, n.h. • hollis brookline ]

[ sophomore• vineland, n.j. • vineland ]

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Captured first place in the Novice 4+ ‘A’ boat at the Knecht Cup; honored as a member of the BIG EAST Boat of the Week for Knecht Cup performance • Helped row second Varsity 8+ to a thirdplace finish in the JV race at the Occoquan Sprints, a fourth-place finish in the petite finals at the Knecht Cup and to a secondplace finish in the petite finals at the BIG EAST Championships • Placed fifth in the Novice 4+ at the Dad Vail Regatta Prep: • Attended Hollis Brookline High • Captain of tennis and basketball teams during senior season • Nashua Telegraph first team All-Star for basketball, tennis and field hockey (2008) • All-State honorable mention – basketball (2008) • Semifinalist in state singles tournament (2009) • Member of AAU state championship basketball team (2006-07) • AAU State Tournament all-tournament basketball team (2007) Personal: • Daughter of Larry and Monica Rencken • Father played football and mother played basketball at Eastern Washington • Has one brother • Birthday is Sept. 20 • Majoring in nursing

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Participated as a member of the Varsity 4+ at the Occoquan Sprints and the Knecht Cup • Placed sixth in the Varsity 4+ at the BIG EAST Championships • Finished fifth in the Novice 4+ at the Dad Vail Regatta

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

Prep: • Attended Vineland High Personal: • Daughter of Brenda Roberts • Has one sister • Birthday is Oct. 17 • Majoring in speech pathology

a Roberts

with Tamyr

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Peanut butter and jelly Favorite musician … John Legend Favorite movie … The Phantom of the Opera Favorite athlete … Anyone who plays for the fun of the sport and enjoyment of the game!

a Rencken

with Danick FAVORITES Favorite Food … Steak Favorite musician … Nicki Minaj Favorite movie …Bridesmaids Favorite athlete … Roger Federer

Danicka Rencken

[ 2012 ROWING ] 39

Mollie Rosen

Courtney Schrand

[ sophomore • bethesda, md. • walter johnson ] [ sophomore • virginia beach, va. • first colonial ] At West Virginia (2010-11): • Helped row the Varsity 4+ ‘B’ crew to a bronze medal finish at the BIG EAST Championships • Member of the Varsity 4+ at the Occoquan Sprints and the Knecht Cup • Placed fifth in the Novice 4+ at the BIG EAST Championships

Prep: • Attended Walter Johnson High

Prep: • Attended First Colonial High • Member of rowing team under Lester Fabiszewski • Competed at SRAA (Scholastic Rowing Association of America) Nationals in 2007, 2008 and 2010 • Member of varsity swim team • Academic Principal’s List • National Honor Society • Mu Alpha Theta

Personal: • Daughter of Larry and Cathy Rosen • Is an only child • Birthday is Feb. 4 • Majoring in elementary education

Personal: • Daughter of Jim and Lori Schrand • Has one brother and one sister • Birthday is May 16 • Majoring in elementary education • Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes • WVU Honors College • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll • Dean’s List

osen

with Mollie R FAVORITES Favorite Food … rice and pasta Favorite musician … Kid Cudi Favorite movie …Larry Rosen Favorite athlete … Michael Jordan

chrand

ey S with Courtn FAVORITES Favorite Food … Ice cream Favorite musician … Third Day Favorite movie … The Goonies Favorite athlete … Natalie Coughlin

Courtney Schrand

40 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

Melissa Shaver

Ellen Shular

[ senior• gainesville, va. • battlefield ]

[ junior • orchard park, n.y. • orchard park ]

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Member of the varsity squad At West Virginia (2009-10): • Placed second in the open 2- at the Head of the Mon • Took second in the Varsity 4+ against Georgetown At West Virginia (2008-09): • Member of the Novice 8+ boat • Rowed to a second-place finish at the SIRA Championship Regatta petite finals in the Novice 8+ with a time of 7:37.9 • Finished fifth (7:21.64) in the Novice 8+ in the grand finals at the BIG EAST Championships • Member of WVU’s first novice boat in program history to qualify for the semi-finals at the Dad Vail Regatta with a time of 5:15.43 - finished sixth (7:21.64) in the semi-final round • Placed sixth at the Murphy Cup (7:23.68) Prep: • Attended Battlefield High • Member of the Virginia Honor Band (2004-08) Personal: • Daughter of Michael Shaver and Selina Kern-Lugo • Has one sister • Birthday is Dec. 12 • Majoring in sociology • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll • Nickname is Twitch

with Melissa

Shaver

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Deer meat, seafood, and red meat Favorite musician … Willie Nelson Favorite movie … Moulin Rouge, How To Train Your Dragon, and Sweet Home Alabama Favorite athlete … Kristen Clever

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Contributed as coxswain • Led the Varsity 4+ ‘A’ crew at the Knecht Cup At West Virginia (2009-10): • Member of the novice squad • Voted MVP of novice squad

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

• Captured fifth-place finish in the Novice 8+ Grand Finals at the Knecht Cup Prep: • Attended Orchard Park High • Member of National Honor Society Personal: • Daughter of Don and Grace Shular • Has two brothers • Birthday is Oct. 17 • Majoring in forensic and investigative science and biology • Member of WVU Honors College • Sigma Alpha Lambda Community • BIG EAST Academic All-Star

hular

with Ellen S FAVORITES Favorite Food … Pasta Favorite musician … Jack Johnson Favorite movie …Seven Pounds Favorite athlete … Iikka Backstrom

FILL-INS I would never be caught … without my license My greatest rowing moment was … when I was a novice and we placed 3rd in our first race and we had no idea until we were on the bus My pre-race rituals include … listening to some heavy rock and stretching One coach King saying I’ll never forget is …Keep pushing, Twitch! I chose WVU because …the first time I ever visited WVU I fell in love with the atmosphere and the people QUOTE I ADMIRE “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” - Jerry West “Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

[ 2012 ROWING ] 41

Jenelle Spencer

Alyssa Thompson

[ senior• sidney, b.c. • stelly’s secondary ]

[ senior• lincoln university, pa. • avon grove ]

At West Virginia (2010-11): • Member of the varsity squad At West Virginia (2009-10): • Member of the novice squad Prep: • Attended Avon Grove Charter • Member of National Honor Society

Personal: • Daughter of Allen and Cheryl Thompson • Has one brother • Birthday is Sept. 5 • Majoring in English • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

Prep: • Attended Stelly’s Secondary • Honor roll student Personal: • Daughter of Ray Spencer and Heather Drysdale • Has one brother • Birthday is Jan. 26 • Enrolled in multidisciplinary studies • BIG EAST Academic All-Star • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll • Dean’s List

hompson

pencer

S with Jenelle

T with Alyssa

FAVORITES

Favorite Food … Hibachi chicken

Favorite Food … Chicken parm

Favorite musician … Drake

Favorite musician … All music

Favorite movie … Grease

Favorite movie … How to Lose a Guy in 10 days

Favorite athlete … Tim Tebow FILL-INS FILL-INS

My greatest rowing moment was … winning a bronze metal when I was not

I would never be caught …with a unibrow

My greatest rowing moment was … making the ‘A’ final in the Varsity 8+ at

My pre-race rituals include … listen to music

One coach King saying I’ll never forget is … you guys determine the success

the 2011 Knecht Cup

supposed to be in the boat due to injury

My pre-race rituals include … listening to music

One coach King saying I’ll never forget is … never be complacent

I chose WVU because … of my major

I chose WVU because … it was the right fit for me

42 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

of this team

Karen Verwey

Danielle Widecrantz

[ soph. • te puke, new zealand • st. peter’s ] [ junior • egg harbor township, n.j. • egg harbor ] At West Virginia (2010-11): • Member of Varsity 8+ that took gold at the Head of the Ohio, second at the Occoquan Sprints, seventh at the Head of the Schuylkill, first at the Frostbite Regatta, fifth at the Knecht Cup Regatta, sixth at the BIG EAST Championships and second in the Petite Finals at the Dad Vail Regatta • Also won silver at the Head of the Ohio in open doubles competition • Member of Varsity 4+ that placed seventh at the Head of the Schuylkill Prep: • Attended St. Peters High • Member of the North Island U18 rowing team in 2008 • Also a member of the Waikato Interprovincial Team in 2009 • Competed at New Zealand Club Nationals in 2010; placed second in women’s 4- race, and fourth in senior open eight event • Earned rowing colours from 2006-09

At West Virginia (2009-10): • Member of varsity squad • Finished fourth in the Varsity 8+ at the second annual Head of the Mon Prep: • Attended Egg Harbor Township High • Rowed for Coach Dan Welsh • Team captain during senior year • Placed second in the senior 4+ race at the Stotesbury Regatta • Took third in senior 4+ event at Scholastic Nationals

Personal: • Daughter of Cor and Christine Verwey • Has three brothers and one sister • Birthday is Sept. 2 • Majoring in criminology and investigations • BIG EAST Academic All-Star

with Karen

At West Virginia (2010-11): coaches • Finished third in the women’s rowers junior Varsity 8+ race at the preview Occoquan Sprints review • Member of Varsity 8+ that placed records first at the Frostbite Regatta wvu • Member of Varsity 4+ that placed media seventh at the Head of the Schuylkill • Captured fourth-place finish in the petite finals at the Knecht Cup Regatta • Finished in second-place finish in the second varsity 8+ at the BIG EAST Championships • Competed in the V2- at the Dad Vail Regatta

Personal: • Daughter of Robert and Martha Widecrantz • Has four brothers • Birthday is Oct. 29 • Majoring in elementary education • BIG EAST Academic All-Star

Verwey

FAVORITES Favorite Food … Feijoa Ice cream Favorite musician … Six60, I Am Giant Favorite movie …The Castle Favorite athlete … Richard Kahui

e Widecrant

with Daniell FAVORITES Favorite Food … Jambalaya Favorite musician … Bach Favorite movie …Titanic Favorite athlete … Shannon Gribbons

Danielle Widecrantz

[ 2012 ROWING ] 43

Newcomers [ 2012 novice roster ]

Alexandra Basil Fr. • Wellsburg, W.Va. Brooke High

Rachel Cokeley So. • Harrisville, W.Va. Ritchie County High

Virginia Cunningham Fr. • Hurricane, W.Va. Hurricane High

Lisa Deklau Fr. • Gambrills, Md. Arundel High

Brianna Dendler Fr. • Galloway, N.J. Absegami High

Elizabeth Duarte Fr. • Morgantown, W.Va. Morgantown High

Kaitlyn Eason Fr. • Dauphin, Pa. Central Dauphin East High

Sarah Hansard Sr. • Charlestown, W.Va. Jefferson High

Caitlin Madamba Fr. • Mays Landing, N.J. Holy Spirit High

Enya Messersmith Jr. • Spring Grove, Pa. Delone Catholic High

Courtney Rice Jr. • Leonardtown, Md. Leonardtown High

Bethany Sapen Fr. • Harrisburg, Pa. Central Dauphin High

44 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

Melinda Sharon So. • Hopkinton, Mass. Tolland High

Rebecca Swope Fr. • Salem, Ohio United Local High

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

[ 2012 ROWING ] 45

2012 Preview

[ wvu returns 17 rowers and 4 coxswains this season ]

The West Virginia University rowing team has come a long way during the past decade. Originally designated as a club sport, the program was established as an official Division I varsity sport for the 2000-01 season. The Mountaineers have experienced their fair share of success over the years, earning invitations to some of the nation’s most prestigious regattas while building tradition and a reputation for both athletic and academic excellence. Despite an already impressive resume, it has become apparent that fifth-year head coach Jimmy King has prepared the rowing team at West Virginia to have one of its most successful seasons to date. “The varsity squad made great strides in training last fall when many rowers hit personal bests in erg workouts and tests,” says King. “On the water we continued our sculling development and in sweep rowing, as is our norm in the fall, many of the rowers trained on the opposite side that they rowed last spring. The goal is to be able to create the best lineups possible without being limited by who rows only port or starboard.” The 2011-12 varsity squad returns 17 rowers and four coxswains from last year, including seven student-athletes who moved up from the

46 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

novice team. Altogether, these 21 student-athletes combined for five medals, five first-place finishes and six second-place finishes during the 2010-11 season, including multiple wins at the Head of the Ohio and the Philadelphia Frostbite. Shannon Gribbons, Hilary Meale, Rachelle Purych, Courtney Schrand, Jenelle Spencer, Karen Verwey and coxswain Mallory Fisher return after being members of the Varsity 8+ that placed fifth out of 28 teams at the Knecht Cup, advanced to the Grand Final at the BIG EAST Championships, and placed eighth out of 35 teams at the Dad Vail Regatta. Additionally, the Novice 4+ crew comprised of Christina Mehrtens, Danika Rencken, Tamyra Roberts, Mollie Rosen and coxswain Morgan Leach returns to the squad after having placed fifth out of 46 crews at the 2011 Dad Vail Regatta. Mehrtens, Rencken and Leach were also members of the Novice 4+ that took first out of 45 crews at the Knecht Cup. Their Knecht Cup win subsequently resulted in the Novice 4+ being recognized as the BIG EAST Boat of the Week. “We have a good core of coxswains and rowers returning with quality racing experiences gained last spring, probably more than ever before,” King says. “Add to that group this year’s

newcomers among the experienced freshmen and the novices and we expect our program to take another step forward this season.” West Virginia will open the 2012 spring schedule with a preseason scrimmage against familiar opponent George Washington on the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax Station, Va. The Mountaineers have faced the Colonials twice in program history, ultimately coming away with one first-place finish and two second-place finishes in multiple events. The Mountaineers will return to the water the following weekend to open the regular season against North Carolina and Georgetown on Lake Wheeler in Raleigh, N.C., marking the third year in a row that they have opened their season against North Carolina. Upon completion of the day’s racing, the team will then travel to Lake Lure, N.C. where they hold their annual spring training camp, coinciding with the University’s spring break. After a week of preparation, the Mountaineers return to Fairfax Station, Va., to race at the Occoquan Sprints for just the second time in program history. With three boats qualifying for their respective Grand Finals at last year’s Occoquan Sprints, the Mountaineers will undoubtedly expect to finish strong again, especially heading into the Knecht Cup Regatta. Held on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J., midway through the 2012 season, the Knecht Cup will provide a great test for the Mountaineer squad as over 50 colleges and universities from across the nation will be in attendance. In addition to last year’s Novice 4+ win, the Varsity 8+ and the Second Varsity 8+ advanced to the Grand Final and Petite Final, respectively, foreshadowing the potential of this year’s more experienced squad. Following the Knecht Cup, the Mountaineers will return home to prepare for just the third home spring race in program history, set to take place against Dayton on April 21. The teams have developed a regional rivalry, having raced against each other numerous times in the past as Dayton has competed twice in Morgantown and the Mountaineers have competed once at Dayton’s venue along with meetings at other regattas. After the home dual race, the Mountaineers will travel to the Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis to compete against Iowa along with BIG EAST foes Notre Dame, Rutgers and Syracuse.

2012 Preview

[ wvu returns 17 rowers and 4 coxswains this season ] Notre Dame has won eight straight BIG EAST Rowing Championships, and the opportunity to challenge the Fighting Irish two weekends before the 2012 BIG EAST Championships will provide a great chance for the Mountaineers to assess where they’re at heading into their final and most important race of the season. “The biggest difference in this season’s schedule is the number of BIG EAST schools we’ll face before the conference championships,” says King. “In past years we might have raced only two or three schools prior to the championship; this year we may race up to six of the BIG EAST programs before all eight come together in May. Without doubt, the quality of our race schedule will both test and prepare us for the championships.” This year’s BIG EAST Championships will take place on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., on Sunday, May 13. The Mountaineers are looking to improve upon last year’s showing, where the Second Varsity 8+ placed second in the Petite Final, the Second Varsity 4+ placed third in the Grand Final, and the Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ both placed sixth in their respective Grand Finals to earn the team a total of 54 points, resulting in a seventh-place finish. Last year’s results have provided motivation for this year’s Mountaineers and that, along with changes made prior to the 2011 BIG EAST Championships that eliminated the novice category of racing, will allow for a stronger finish this season. With 21 experienced student-athletes returning to this year’s lineup, including 10 seniors, the Mountaineers are ready to prove themselves and earn their place among the elite.

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

2012 SCHEDULE Saturday, March 17 George Washington Scrimmage Occoquan Reservoir Fairfax Station, Va. Saturday, March 24 North Carolina/Georgetown Lake Wheeler Raleigh, NC.. Sunday, April 1 Occoquan Sprints Occoquan Reservoir Fairfax Station, Va. Saturday April 14 Knecht Cup Regatta Cooper River Cherry Hill, N.J. Saturday, April 21 University of Dayton Monongahela River Star City, W.Va. Saturday, April 28 Iowa, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Syracuse Eagle Creek Reservoir Indianapolis, Ind. Sunday, May 13 BIG EAST Championship Mercer Lake West Windsor, N.J. 2012 QUICK FACTS General Information Location: Morgantown, W.Va. Founded: 1867 Enrollment: 29,617 President: Dr. James P. Clements Director of Athletics: Oliver Luck NCAA Faculty Representative: John Fisher National Affiliation: NCAA Division I Conference: BIG EAST Nickname: Mountaineers Colors: Old Gold (PMS 124) & Blue (PMS 295) Team Information Head Coach: Jimmy King (fifth season) Alma Mater: Bucknell, ‘90 Associate Head Coach: Tina Griffith (second season, 10th overall) Assistant Coach: Meg Ayers (first season, ninth overall) Facility: Mountaineer Boathouse

Courtney Schrand and Karen Verwey

WVU Sports Communications Staff Rowing SID: Julie Brown Brown’s E-mail Address: julie.brown@mail.wvu.edu Phone Number: (304) 293-2821 Fax Number: (304) 293-4105 Mailing Address: Sports Communications Office West Virginia University P.O. Box 0877 Morgantown, WV 26507-0877 Athletic Website: MSNsportsNET.com

[ 2012 ROWING ] 47

2012 Mountaineers [ varsity photo roster ]

Sarah Cartwright Sr. • Kearneysville, W.Va.

Brittany Doss Sr. • Cross Lanes, W.Va.

Mallory Fisher So. • Hartly, Del.

Shannon Gribbons Sr. • Port Elgin, Ontario

Amanda Hirsch Sr. • Mars, Pa.

Jessica Hurlbert So. • Stanley, Va.

Jessica Kelly Sr. • Wexford, Pa.

Rebecca Knecht Sr. • Ellicott City, Md.

Kelly Kramer Fr. • Lakewood, Ohio

Morgan Leach So. • Virginia Beach, Va.

Jeannine McCarty Sr. • Vineland, N.J.

Hilary Meale Jr. • Morgantown, W.Va.

Christina Mehrtens So. • Hillsborough, N.J.

Rachelle Purych Jr. • Victoria, British Columbia

Danika Rencken Jr. • Hollis, N.H.

Tamyra Roberts So. • Vineland, N.J.

Mollie Rosen So. • Bethesda, Md.

Courtney Schrand So. • Virginia Beach, Va.

Melissa Shaver Sr. • Gainesville, Va.

Ellen Shular Jr. • Orchard Park, N.Y.

Jenelle Spencer Sr. • Sidney, British Columbia

Alyssa Thompson Sr. • Lincoln University, Pa.

Jimmy King Head Coach

48 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

Karen Verwey So. • Te Puke, New Zealand

Tina Griffith Associate Head Coach

Danielle Widecrantz Jr. • Egg Harbor Township, N.J.

Meg Ayers Assistant Coach

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

[ 2012 ROWING ] 49

Season Review [ recapping 2011 ]

Danielle Widecrantz

The West Virginia University rowing program had many reasons to celebrate at the end of the 2010-11 season. Not only had the team wrapped up a season of growth and success, but it had also closed a decade of hard work and perseverance. Led by talented fourth year head coach Jimmy King, the team secured top 10 finishes in both fall and spring regattas, showcasing the talent and skill of the varsity squad while foreshadowing the promise and success brought forth by the novice athletes. The fall season began at the Head of the Ohio in Pittsburgh, Pa. As one of the largest oneday regattas in the country with over 75 colleges and universities in attendance, the racing at the Head of the Ohio always allows for a day of tough competition. West Virginia’s team rose to the occasion, taking first out of 17 crews in the Varsity 8+ event. The ‘A’ boat of Jenelle Spencer, Jeannine McCarty, Rachelle Purych, Kaitlyn Brownson, Rachel Viglianco, Shannon Gribbons, Karen Verwey, Courtney Schrand and coxswain Sarah Cartwright crossed the finish line in 15:05.88, taking home the gold medal. They were joined in their success by both doubles shells, as the ‘B’ crew of Viglianco and Verwey earned silver with a time of 17:23.60, and the ‘A’ crew of Gribbons and Jessica Kelly earned bronze, having crossed the line in 17:54.85. Following these accomplishments, the team next traveled to Philadelphia with confidence to participate in the Head of the Schuylkill, an annual regatta that takes place on

50 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

the Schuylkill River in the heart of Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row, which has grown to include more than 5,800 athletes from across the country and around the world. Once again, West Virginia earned great results, with both open fours finishing in the top seven of 34 crews. The ‘A’ crew of Spencer, Hilary Meale, Purych, Schrand and coxswain Cartwright finished fifth with a time of 17:00.54, while the ‘B’ crew of Danielle Widecrantz, Kelly, Alita Meyers, Verwey and coxswain Morgan Leach finished seventh with a time of 17:08.19. Additionally, the Varsity 8+ ‘A’ crew (Purych, Meyers, Kelly, Gribbons, Viglianco, McCarty, Verwey, Schrand and coxswain Anastasia DuPont) finished seventh out of 21 crews in the women’s open eight championship event, crossing the line in 15:51.53. Following the Head of the Schuylkill, the team returned to Morgantown with one week to prepare for its third fall regatta of the season, the Head of the Occoquan in Fairfax Station, Va. There, the Varsity 4+ ‘A’ crew of Schrand, Verwey, Meyers, Purych and coxswain DuPont medaled for the third year in a row, improving upon past results by taking home silver after finishing the race in 19:02.42, while the Novice 4+ ‘A’ crew captured a bronze medal (21:40.57) in its first race of the season. The Mountaineers closed out the fall racing season with a second trip to Philadelphia, this time to compete in the Frostbite Regatta. The team earned three first-place finishes, with the Novice 4+ ‘B’ crew placing first in flight

three with a time of 8:40.69, the Varsity 8+ ‘B’ crew (Schrand, Verwey, Widecrantz, Purych, Katherine Moore, Megan Neckelmann, Meale, Brittany Doss and coxswain Cartwright) finishing first (7:13.92) in flight two, and the Varsity 2+ ‘B’ crew placing first (7:51.25) in the master doubles event. With the rigors of fall racing behind them for another year, the team turned to indoor offseason training to prepare for the challenging spring racing season ahead. After a week of spring training on Lake Wheeler in Raleigh, N.C., during March, the team participated in a regatta with UNC and George Mason. The Mountaineers were led by their Varsity 8+, (Spencer, Meale, Purych, Brownson, Verwey, Gribbons, Viglianco, Schrand and coxswain Cartwright) which finished second to UNC (7:12.60) with a time of 7:13.00. The Second Varsity 8+ (Doss, Keyara Stevenson, Sara Olenich, Amanda Hirsch, Jessica Hurlbert, Danicka Rencken, Kelly, Widecrantz and coxswain Leach) and the Novice 8+ both took third in their races, finishing in 7:47.10 and 8:06.71, respectively. Disappointed with these results, the team returned to Morgantown determined to perform better in the future. This attitude became evident as the team came away from the Occoquan Sprints in Fairfax Station, Va., the following weekend with two top-three finishes. The Varsity 8+ (Spencer, Meale, Purych, Brownson, Verwey, Gribbons, Viglianco, Schrand and coxswain Leach) placed second out of 16 schools as it crossed the line in 7:26.82, slightly behind Dayton at 7:26.60, and slightly ahead of St. Joseph’s at 7:27.16. The Second Varsity 8+ (Meyers, Hurlbert, Hirsch, Caitlin Murphy, Olenich, Rencken, Kelly, Widecrantz and coxswain Cartwright) finished in third place (7:45.28), behind St. Joseph’s (7:25.70) and George Mason (7:44.80). Additionally, the Novice 8+ crew advanced to the Grand Finals where it would ultimately finish fifth (8:43.32) out of 12 crews overall. The next weekend saw the team travel to Camden, N.J., to compete at the Knecht Cup Regatta, an annual two-day event that showcases some of the nation’s top rowing talent. West Virginia did not disappoint as its newly-teamed up Novice 4+ crew of Olenich, Rencken, Hurlbert, Christina Mehrtens and coxswain Leach led the Mountaineers with a gold-medal finish, crossing the finish line in the Grand Finals with a time of 8:21.49. The crew was later honored as the BIG EAST Boat of the Week for this performance, having finished first out of 41 crews overall. The Varsity 8+ crew of Spencer, Meale, Purych, Brownson, Viglianco, Gribbons, Verwey, Schrand and coxswain Mallory Fisher also made it to the Grand Finals, ultimately finishing its race in 7:02.74 for a fifth-place finish out of 28 total crews.

Season Review [ recapping 2011 ]

The Second Varsity 8+ crew (Meyers, Hurlbert, Hirsch, Murphy, Olenich, Rencken, Kelly, Widecrantz and coxswain DuPont) qualified for the Petite Finals, where it finished in fourthplace with a time of 7:31.55. With three spring regattas behind them, the Mountaineers next prepared for their most important race of the spring season, the BIG EAST Championship Regatta. Held in Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, N.J., the Varsity 8+ crew (Spencer, Meale, Purych, Brownson, Verwey, Gribbons, Viglianco, Schrand and coxswain Fisher) secured a berth in the Grand Finals for the first time since 2005, ultimately finishing in sixth-place with a time of 7:01.94. The Varsity 4+ ‘B’ crew of Anna-Claire Bowers, Neckelmann, Mollie Rosen, Kari Roskowinski and coxswain Cartwright finished in third place in the Women’s Second Varsity 4+ Grand Final, crossing the finish line in 8:22.32 to take home a bronze medal. The Second Varsity 8+ crew (Meyers, Hurlbert, Hirsch, Murphy, Olenich, Rencken, Kelly, Widecrantz and coxswain DuPont) earned a berth in the Petite Finals where it finished in second place (7:27.58), while the Varsity 4+ ‘A’ crew (Mehrtens, Hurlbert, Roberts, Stevenson and coxswain Leach) earned a sixth-place finish in the Grand Finals with a time of 8:12.76. Following the BIG EAST Championships, just one regatta remained for the Mountaineers. The largest collegiate regatta in the United States with over 100 colleges and universities from the U.S. and Canada participating, the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta features the highest level of collegiate competition. As it had done throughout the year, West Virginia’s rowing team proved capable of the challenge. The women’s Novice 4+ crew of Rosen, Tamyra Roberts, Rencken, Mehrtens and coxswain Leach once again posted the best finish of the day for the Mountaineers, qualifying for the Grand Finals and then crossing the finish line in 8:10.52 to earn a fifth-place finish out of 45 crews overall. The Varsity 8+ crew (Spencer, Meale, Purych, Brownson, Verwey, Gribbons, Viglianco, Schrand and coxswain Fisher) finished the regatta and its season by qualifying for the Petite Finals, where it would ultimately finish in second-place with a time of 6:49.36. The finish was good enough for a final placing of eighth overall out of 35 crews. The 2010-11 season brought forth tremendous success for the Mountaineers, proving that hard work and dedication always pay off. Having improved upon nearly every performance from the previous year, the rowing program is poised to yet again make a statement in 2011-12.

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2010-11 CRCA National Scholar-Athletes Hilary Meale Caitlin Murphy Rachelle Purych Rachel Viglianco 2010-11 BIG EAST Academic All-Stars Anna-Claire Bowers Sarah Cartwright Anastasia DuPont Alexandra Flavion Jessica Kelly Morgan Leach Jeannine McCarty Hilary Meale Alita Meyers Caitlin Murphy Megan Neckelmann Rachelle Purych Courtney Schrand Melissa Shaver Ellen Shular Jenelle Spencer Keyara Stevenson Alyssa Thompson Karen Verwey Rachel Viglianco Lauren Washabaugh Danielle Widecrantz

2010-11 RESULTS Women’s Singles ‘A’ ‘B’

HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 9, 2010 EVENT Women’s Open 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Open 2x ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Open 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’

TIME

FINISH

15:05.88 16:02.89

1st 7th

17:23.60 17:54.85

2nd 3rd

16:48.07 17:20.11 18:44.31

5th 10th 19th

HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 30, 2010 EVENT TIME Women’s Open 4+ ‘A’ 17:00.54 ‘B’ 17:08.19 Women’s Championship 8+ ‘A’ 15:51.53 ‘B’ 17:40.53

FINISH 5th 7th

18:56.64 19:50.50

11th 13th

HEAD OF THE OCCOQUAN Occoquan River, Fairfax Station, Va. November 6, 2010 EVENT Women’s Collegiate 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Collegiate 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ Women’s Novice 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ Women’s Novice 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’

TIME

FINISH

17:46.65 19:11.30

6th 20th

19:02.42 19:48.11 20:23.31

2nd 7th 15th

21:40.57 22:43.72 25:44.43

3rd 7th 16th

20:40.39 22:01.42

10th 16th

7th 21st

[ 2012 ROWING ] 51

Season Review [ 2011 results ] PHILADELPHIA FROSTBITE Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. November 13, 2010 EVENT Women’s Master Doubles ‘B’ ‘C’ ‘A’ Women’s Novice 4+ Flight Two ‘A’ Flight Three ‘B’ ‘C’ Women’s Novice 8+ Flight Two ‘A’ Flight Three ‘B’ Women’s Varsity 4+ Flight One ‘B’ Flight Three ‘A’ Women’s Varsity 8+ Flight Two ‘B’ Flight Four ‘A’

TIME

UNC, GEORGE MASON Lake Wheeler, Raleigh, N.C. March 19, 2011 FINISH

7:51.25 7:56.74 8:18.33

1st 2nd 4th

8:11.74

2nd

8:40.69 9:18.24

1st 2nd

7:41.66

4th

8:35.65

4th

7:45.32

2nd

7:41.46

2nd

7:13.92

1st

7:09.50

3rd

The 2011 Mountaineers

52 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

EVENT TIME Women’s Novice 4+ 9:28.15 Women’s Novice 8+ 8:06.71 Women’s Second Varsity 8+ 7:47.10 Women’s Varsity 8+ 7:13.20

FINISH 5th 3rd 3rd 2nd

OCCOQUAN SPRINTS Occoquan Reservoir, Fairfax Station, Va. April 3, 2011 EVENT TIME Women’s Novice 8+ Grand Final 8:43.32 Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Grand Final 7:45.28 Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final 7:26.82 Women’s Varsity 4+ Heat One 9:26.63

FINISH 5th 3rd 2nd 4th

KNECHT CUP REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. April 9-10, 2011 EVENT TIME Women’s Novice 4+ Grand Final 8:21.49 Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final 7:31.55

FINISH 1st 4th

Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Heat One Heat Five

7:02.74

5th

8:49.22 8:54.60

6th 4th

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Cooper River Park, Pennsauken, N.J. May 1, 2011 EVENT TIME Women’s Second Varsity 4+ Grand Final 8:22.32 Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final 8:12.76 Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final 7:37.58 Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final 7:01.94

FINISH 3rd 6th 2nd 6th

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 14, 2011 EVENT Women’s Pair Semi-Final Two Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Frosh/Novice 4+ Grand Final

TIME

FINISH

8:34.61

3rd

6:49.36

2nd

8:10.52

5th

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[ 2012 ROWING ] 53

Record Book [ regatta visits ] Name BIG EAST Dad Vail ECAC Regatta George Washington Invite Head of the Charles Head of the Cuyahoga Head of the Elk Head of the Genesee Head of the Occoquan Head of the Ohio Head of the Mon Women’s Royal Henley Head of the Schuylkill Knecht Cup Regatta Metro Cup Murphy Cup Navy Day Occoquan Sprints Philadelphia Frostbite San Diego Crew Classic SIRA

Visits 11 9 1 2 5 1 1 2 5 11 2 1 7 10 1 4 2 2 2 4 7

Began 2001 2000 2010 2004 2002 2000 2005 2006 2000 2000 2003 2001 2000 2002 2007 2005 2001 2011 2010 2003 2001

WVU at the 2006 SIRA’s

Record Book

[ all-time opponents ]

Number

Series

Opponent

of Meets

Began

Barry

Cincinnati

2001

Connecticut

2002

Dayton

2008

Duquesne

2003

Central Florida

2002

George Mason

2008

Georgetown

2012

George Washington

2011

Iowa

2012

Jacksonville

2002

Louisville

2001

2002

Alita Meyers

54 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

Record Book

[ awards and honors ] U.S. ROWING NATIONAL TEAM 2002 Meg Ayers *(Top ten ranking in both singles and doubles events at U.S. Nationals)

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COSIDA FIRST TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN 2003 Kate Abernathy CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA AT-LARGE SECOND TEAM 2011 Rachel Viglianco NSCA ALL-AMERICAN STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ATHLETES 2006 Meg Ayers 2011 Rachel Viglianco CRCA ALL MID-ATLANTIC REGION FIRST TEAM 2011 Shannon Gribbons CRCA ALL MID-ATLANTIC REGION SECOND TEAM 2006 Meg Ayers CRCA NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETES 2011 Hilary Meale Caitlin Murphy Rachelle Purych Rachel Viglianco 2010 Kimberly Benda Shannon Gribbons Brett Krumholz Rachel Viglianco 2009 Kimberly Benda Brett Krumholz Rachel Viglianco Kathryn Walsh 2008 Kimberly Benda BIG EAST SCHOLAR-ATHLETE SPORT EXCELLENCE AWARD 2011 Rachel Viglianco ALL–BIG EAST 2010

Kimberly Benda Caroline Rettig

BIG EAST INSTIUTIONAL FEMALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE 2010 Kimberly Benda TEAM CAPTAINS 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

Stephanie Roof 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 TEAM MVP 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Donna Stullken Meg Ayers Donna Stullken Caitlin Everett Meg Ayers Melissa Kane Teresa Dugan None Kimberly Benda Kimberly Benda Caroline Rettig Kate Brownson

Risha Kelley None Gaetane De La Bourdonnaye Donna Stullken Meg Ayers (Varsity) Katy Garrett (Novice) Sabrina O’Hara (Varsity) Jessie Kizer (Novice) Caroline Rettig None Kensie Phillips Caroline Rettig (Varsity) Ellen Shular (Novice) Shannon Gribbons (Varsity) Christina Mehrtens (Novice)

MOUNTAINEER AWARD 2000-01

Tina Griffith

2001-02

Risha Kelley

2002-03

Kate Abernathy

2003-04

Christy Davison

2004-05

Amelia Payne

2005-06

Sabrina O’Hara

2006-07

Teresa Dugan

2007-08

Megan Ostrom

2008-09

None

2009-10

Kate Brownson

2010-11

None

MOST IMPROVED 2006-07

Emily Boehler

2007-08

Megan Ostrom

2008-09

Stephanie Roof

2009-10

Jeannine McCarty (Varsity)

2010-11

Brittany Doss (Novice) Hilary Meale (Varsity) Mallory Fisher (Novice)

Tina Griffith Tina Griffith Risha Kelley Tina Griffith Meg Ayers

[ 2012 ROWING ] 55

Record Book

[ awards and honors ] ERG HAMMER AWARD This award is given to the member of the team that has the best 2,000-meter ERG score 2001-02 Kirsten Leslie 2002-03 Gaetane De La Bourdonnaye 2003-04 Meg Ayers 2004-05 Meg Ayers Teresa Dugan 2005-06 Mollie Welty Whitney Blume 2006-07 Teresa Dugan Megan Ostrom 2007-08 Teresa Dugan 2008-09 None 2009-10 Shannon Gribbons (Varsity) Megan Neckelmann (Novice) 2010-11 Kate Brownson (Varsity) Sara Olenich (Novice)

IRON MOUNTAINEER 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

FLAME AWARD This award represents the most spirited rower 2008-09 Alita Meyers 2009-10 Jordan Burns 2010-11 Keyara Stevenson (Varsity) Alea Hipes (Novice)

The 2003 Mountaineers

WVU at the 2001 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Royal Henley Regatta in England

56 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

Caroline Rettig Brett Krumholz Shannon Gribbons Shannon Gribbons Rachel Purych

Record Book

[ henley royal regatta ] INCHES MAKE CHAMPIONS The sport of rowing is not one in which achievements are often recognized. So when the West Virginia University rowing team acquired a new Varsity 4+ Vespoli racing shell and was contemplating a name, the decision to reach out and ask some former team members for help came as a pleasant surprise. “It was such an honor,” said former coxswain Christine DiRienzo. “When Tina Griffith sent us an email telling us that they were going to name the boat and wanted us to help, I immediately pulled out my old photo album and starting looking through everything.” DiRienzo had many fond memories to reminisce upon, including the 2001 season when she led the women’s Varsity 4+ to a first-place finish at the Dad Vail Regatta, subsequently earning an invitation to the Women’s Royal Henley Regatta in England, one of the most prestigious events in women’s rowing. In fact, it was this very accomplishment that had five women traveling from all areas of the country in early October, from both East and West coast, to come to Morgantown and participate in a boat christening in their honor. It had been nearly 10 years since Griffith, Risha Kelley, Erin Nisbet, Noelle Dodge and DiRienzo had come together for a crew related event, and for a few, the first time they had seen each other in nearly a decade. There was laughter, hugs, and memories to share, but perhaps most importantly, a lasting legacy to leave behind for future generations of Mountaineer rowers. A legacy of what can happen when hard work, determination and enthusiasm are put forth every day. The journey to Henley began during the team’s spring training trip in Miami. The coach at that time, Nancy LaRocque, noticed right away that this group of women had something special. “She noticed that we had really good flow and really good body mechanics,” said Dodge. “When she saw that she kept telling us that we could be great and that we could be the best. We believed that, and we just felt unstoppable. We were all mentally in it to win it.” The team won its first race of the season convincingly, beating Cincinnati and Louisville to the finish line at Hersha Lake with a time of 7:23.6. But it was the second race of the season that really changed the way they looked at things. After making it to the finals at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association’s (SIRA) Regatta, the team came in second to Jacksonville by mere inches. It was a loss that would spur the team on to great success, though they didn’t know it at the time. “We had such drive after the race in Tennessee,” detailed Nisbet. “It just drove us for the rest of the season. We just had confidence and we walked around with our heads up knowing that no one was going to take us down again and no one was going to beat us. I just remember having this fuel, and this feeling inside that once we got into the boat, no one was going to get in our way. After we finished a race, we were focused on the next challenge and thinking about how we were going to achieve and overcome it.” The team next took on the BIG EAST Championships, where they won in a BIG EAST record setting time of 7:33.08, before moving on to the Dad Vail Regatta. The Dad Vail Regatta is the largest collegiate regatta in the United States, with over 100 colleges and universities from across the United States and Canada converging in Philadelphia during the second weekend of May. It would have been an honor for the West Virginia team just to finish well. But this Varsity 4+ had trained long and hard for a race such as this, and they weren’t going to take home anything less than gold. “When you really mesh with your team and your group, you really feel the flow,” Nisbet explained. “You can just feel and anticipate each other’s movements, something that’s really hard to obtain. But once

you get that and you know what that feeling is, you’re able to get that in a lot of those races. Instead of four rowers, we were able to become one which is really what drove us.” The Mountaineers earned a much deserved victory that day before heading back to Morgantown to finish school and start the beginning of their summer vacations. They never anticipated what would happen next. “After we won Vails, we didn’t know right away that we were going to go to Henley,” Nisbet reminisced. “There were a few weeks in between and then we got the call and we had to come back to school. We had all just started our summer jobs and the next thing we know we get a call saying that we need to come back to school for a few weeks to train.” “My parents had got me a graduation trip to Mexico and we couldn’t go,” laughed DiRienzo. “My brother was so mad at me!” Invitations to Women’s Royal Henley are few and far between. After the team’s convincing win, the Dad Vail Regatta organizers selected the West Virginia team to travel to Henley because it felt that the team had the best chance of winning, despite the fact that no team the committee had ever selected had ever made it past the second round. Upon arriving in England, the women noticed right away that things were done much differently in Europe. “I remember that the course was 1,500-meters for the women because as a women’s crew you couldn’t finish or go over the men’s finish line which was at 2,000-meters,” explained Dodge. “We trained for 2,000-meters and we only had to race 1,500. It made it somewhat easier, but in Europe they row at a much faster rate and every stroke was faster. So the faster pace made it much more challenging because the way we rowed was slow, strong and steady.” “You’d think it would be easier just because it’s shorter,” added DiRiezno. “But your body is already trained for 2,000-meters so you know how to hold it.” In addition, instead of racing four to six crews at a time as they do in the United States, at Henley, only two crews race in each heat. Due to this, the women had to race in three rounds, each with a quick turnaround. They sailed through the first round, easily defeating Bowdoin’s crew. The next race wasn’t so easy, however. “The second race was really close; it had the feel of a final race. It was against Birmingham and we emptied the tank on that one because it was such a neck to neck race,” said Dodge. “We took the boat off the water afterwards and put it on the shore and literally five minutes later we had to pick it up and put it back in the water for the finals.” The team came in second to England’s Oxford Brookes University in the final round. Despite coming in second place, there is no denying that the team accomplished something that no one could ever have expected. “When we came back, even though we didn’t win, it was considered such an honor for the University that the president at the time, David Hardesty, got us plaques to honor us for going over and representing West Virginia,” said DiRienzo. “It’s the best plaque I ever received,” added Griffith. It seems only appropriate that 10 years later, the team was welcomed back to Morgantown with open arms to celebrate a journey that hasn’t been equaled since. And only more appropriate that the shell was christened the Inches Make Champions, in honor of the race in Tennessee that truly propelled the team on its record-breaking path to Henley. As the team stood in front of the newest members of the rowing program, telling stories, drinking champagne and reminiscing, it became very clear that while many rowing achievements may go unrecognized, this is one that will never be forgotten.

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[ 2012 ROWING ] 57

Record Book [ all-time results ] 2000-01 RESULTS HEAD OF THE CUYAHOGA Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, Ohio September 23, 2000 EVENT Women’s Open 4+ Women’s Open 8+

TIME 17:12 16:41

FINISH 1st 3rd

TIME FINISH 19:02.7 8th

HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 28, 2000 EVENT Women’s 4+

UCF, CONNECTICUT, MIAMI, WEST VIRGINIA Miami, Fla. March 23, 2002

EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ Finals Women’s Varsity 8+ Quarterfinals

EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Race One Race Two Women’s Novice 8+ Race One Race Two Women’s Second Novice 8+

TIME 17:12

FINISH 8th

EVENT Women’s Collegiate Novice 8+ Women’s Championship 8+ Women’s Championship 4+

EVENT Women’s Novice 8+ ‘A’ Women’s Novice 8+ ‘B’ Women’s Novice 4+

TIME FINISH 18:55.13 8th 17:57.24 8th 18:50.79 3rd

TIME FINISH 20:06.4 15th 21:21.1 17th 26:36.8 15th

NAVY DAY REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 13, 2001

CINCINATTI REGATTA (Cincinnati, Louisville and West Virginia) Lake Harsha, Cincinnati, Ohio April 14, 2001 TIME FINISH 7:07.7 3rd 7:23.6 1st

SIRA REGATTA Oak Ridge, Tenn. April 21, 2001

EVENT Women’s College Fours Women’s College Novice 8+‘A’ Women’s College Novice 8+ ‘B’ Women’s College Eights

TIME FINISH 18:26.9 4th 20:27.7 11th 20:21.0 10th 16:44.4 7th

HEAD OF THE CHARLES Charles River, Cambridge, Mass. October 20, 2001 TIME FINISH 7:52.93 2nd 7:20.88 2nd 7:19.62

3rd

BIG EAST ROWING CHALLENGE Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. April 29, 2001 EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ (*BIG EAST record) Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Finals

5th

2001-02 RESULTS HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 6, 2001

EVENT Varsity 4+ Women’s 8+ Preliminary Heat Women’s 8+ (‘C’ Final)

8:01.34

EVENT Women’s College Fours West Virginia def. Bowdoin 5:52 West Virginia def. Manchester University 5:43 West Virginia def. University of Birmingham 5:44 Oxford Brookes def. West Virginia

HEAD OF THE OCCOQUAN Sandy Run Regional Park, Fairfax Station, Va. November 4, 2000

EVENT Varsity 8+ Varsity 4+

TIME FINISH 7:59.9 1st

HENLEY WOMEN’S REGATTA Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, England June 22-25, 2001

HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 7, 2000 EVENT Women’s Club 4+

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 11-12, 2001

TIME FINISH 7:33.08* 1st 7:15.75

9th

58 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

EVENT Women’s Eight

TIME FINISH 18:26.00 49th

HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 27, 2001 EVENT Women’s Championship Eights Women’s Novice Eights ‘A’ Women’s Novice Eights ‘B’

TIME FINISH 15:30.60 15th 18:34.54 37th 19:36.85 45th

TIME

FINISH

7:41.71 7:10.88

3rd 2nd

8:58.54 9:12.85 8:59.96

3rd 3rd 2nd

BARRY Ronald Shane Watersports Center, Miami, Fla. March 29, 2002 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Novice 8+ ‘A’ Women’s Novice 8+ ‘B’

TIME FINISH 7:11.36 1st 7:56.90 2nd 8:16.30 3rd

CINCINNATI INVITATIONAL East Fork Lake, Cincinnati, Ohio April 6, 2002 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Race One Race Two Women’s Novice 8+ Race One Race Two Women’s Novice 8+ ‘B’

TIME

FINISH

7:40.0 7:28.1

2nd 2nd

8:27.1 8:37.0 8:47.2

3rd 2nd 2nd

KNECHT CUP Cooper River, Camden, N.J. April 13, 2002 EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ Women’s Novice 8+ Heat Four Women’s Second Novice 8+ Heat Two Women’s Varsity 8+ Heat One

TIME FINISH 7:45.9 3rd 8:04.4

4th

8:07.4

2nd

7:03.2

3rd

SIRA REGATTA Melton Hill Lake, Oak Ridge, Tenn. April 21, 2002 EVENT Women’s Novice 8+ ‘B’ Finals Petite Finals Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Finals

TIME

FINISH

8:11.4 7:49.1

5th 3rd

7:16.3

3rd

Record Book [ all-time results ]

BIG EAST WOMEN’S ROWING CHALLENGE Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. April 28, 2002

HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 26, 2002

SIRA REGATTA April 19, 2003 Melton Hill Lake, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Finals Women’s Novice 8+ Petite Finals Women’s Second Novice 8+ Grand Final

EVENT Women’s Novice 4+ Women’s Club Eights Women’s Novice 8+ “A” “B” Women’s Championship Eights

EVENT Women’s Novice 8+ “B” Final Women’s Novice 8+ “A” Final Women’s JV 8+ “A” Final Women’s Varsity 8+ “A” Final

TIME

FINISH

+29.06

6th

8:12.94

3rd

8:15.34

5th

TIME FINISH 19:36.18 3rd 16:18.83 11th 17:10.38 10th 18:17.30 27th 14:39.03 3rd

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 10-11, 2002

HEAD RACE VS. DUQUESNE Monongahela River, Morgantown, W. Va. March 23, 2003

EVENT TIME FINISH Women’s Novice Four First Round (Heat One) 8:36.3 3rd Women’s Novice Heavyweight Eight First Round (Heat Five) 7:47.9 5th Women’s Varsity Heavyweight Eight Petite Finals 6:55.4 2nd

EVENT Race One (1,000 meters) Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Women’s Novice 8+ “A” “B”

2002-03 RESULTS HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 5, 2002 EVENT Women’s Club 8+ Women’s Open 8+ H.J. Heinz Exhibition Sprints

TIME FINISH 16:46.3 6th 15:29.8 8th 2:36.6 1st

NAVY DAY REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 12, 2002 EVENT TIME FINISH Women’s College Fours “B” 15:22.7 2nd “A” 15:55.7 8th Women’s College Novice Eights “A” 15:53.7 6th “C” 17:45.3 12th “B” 17:47.6 13th Women’s College JV Eights 14:50.1 5th Women’s Club Fours 19:09.3 4th Women’s College Heavyweight 8+ 13:53.4 3rd HEAD OF THE CHARLES Charles River, Cambridge, Mass. October 19, 2002 EVENT Women’s College 8+ Women’s College 4+

Race Two (1,000 meters) Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Women’s Novice 8+ “A” “B” Race Three (1,000 meters) Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Women’s Novice 8+ “A” “B” Race Four (1,000 meters) Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Women’s Novice 8+ “A” “B”

TIME

FINISH

EVENT Women’s Singles Women’s Novice 4+ Petite Final Women’s Second Novice 8+ Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final

7:26.1

1st

7:14.7

5th

7:07.4

3rd

6:35.7

2nd

BIG EAST WOMEN’S ROWING CHALLENGE Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. April 27, 2003

1st 1st

3:44.1 3:46.9

1st 1st

3:28.3 3:40.6

1st 1st

3:46.8 3:49.1

1st 1st

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 10, 2003

3:29.0 3:40.6

1st 1st

3:53.0 3:55.9

1st 1st

EVENT TIME FINISH Women’s JV Eight Grand Final 7:08.1 3rd Women’s Heavyweight Varsity 8+ Grand Final 6:39.34 3rd

3:35.7 3:37.9

1st 1st

ECAC NATIONAL COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL Cooper River, Camden, N.J. May 11, 2003

3:43.5 3:48.5

1st 1st

TIME FINISH 6:57.00 1st

KNECHT CUP Cooper River, Camden, N.J. April 11, 2003 TIME FINISH 17:28.48 2nd 21:03.59 30th

FINISH

3:24.0 3:37.1

SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC Mission Bay, San Diego, Calif. April 5, 2003 EVENT Women’s Cal Cup Grand Final

TIME

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

EVENT Novice 8+ Petite Final Second Novice 8+ Grand Final Varsity 8+ Grand Final Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final

TIME

EVENT Novice Metro Eight Grand Final Second Varsity Metro Eight Grand Final Varsity Metro Four Petite Final Varsity Metro Eight Grand Final

FINISH

7:16.8

2nd

7:20.41

2nd

6:37.71

4th

7:06.92

2nd

TIME

FINISH

7:48.99

6th

7:23.22

3rd

8:25.62

1st

7:01.25

3rd

TIME FINISH 9:21.27 4th 8:50.9

5th

7:53.8

1st

7:26.9

3rd

6:51.5

1st

[ 2012 ROWING ] 59

Record Book [ all-time results ] 2003-04 RESULTS

2004-05 RESULTS HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 2, 2004

HEAD OF THE MON Monongahela River, Morgantown, W. Va. October 4, 2003 EVENT Varsity 8+ “A” “B” Novice 8+ “B” “A” Novice 4+ Varsity 2+

TIME

FINISH

20:51.44 6th 22:27.80 15th 28:05.95 28:39.36 32:45.55 25:07.31

6th 7th 3rd 4th

HEAD OF THE CHARLES Charles River, Cambridge, Mass. October 19, 2003 EVENT Women’s Collegiate Eight

TIME FINISH 17:09.49 4th

HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 25, 2003

EVENT Women’s Club 1x Women’s Club 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Open 2- ‘B’ ‘A’ Women’s Youth 8+ ‘B’ Women’s Open 8+ ‘B’ ‘A’

SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC Mission Bay, San Diego, Calif. April 3, 2004

20:02.01 3rd 20:52.23 7th 21:31.56 2nd 29:51.56 6th 23:57.36 23rd 17:37.28 4th 22:15.15 10th

EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Novice 8+ ‘A’

TIME FINISH 13:15.85 3rd

TIME FINISH 15:14.22 7th 17:12.41 22nd

MURPHY CUP REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. March 26, 2005 TIME 7:22.33

FINISH 7th

EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ Women’s Varsity 8+ SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC Mission Bay, San Diego, Calif. April 2, 2005

EVENT TIME FINISH Women’s Novice 4+ Petite Final 8:56.3 4th Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final 7:50.0 4th Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Final 7:20.5 5th BIG EAST ROWING CHALLENGE Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. April 25, 2004

EVENT Women’s Cal Cup Third Final

TIME

FINISH

7:11.09

1st

8:34.03

2nd

7:38.06

2nd

60 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

TIME FINISH 7:40.08 4th 6:46.51 5th

TIME

FINISH

7:17.80

1st

GEORGE WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL CREW CLASSIC Potomac River, Washington D.C. April 9, 2005 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final

TIME

FINISH

7:07.50

4th

7:05.70

1st

KNECHT CUP Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. April 16, 2005 EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ Petite Final Women’s Novice 8+ Third Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Third Final

EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final

TIME

FINISH

10:53.92 5th 8:55.48

6th

CINCINNATI DUAL RACE Monongahela River, Morgantown, W. Va. April 30, 2005 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Varsity 4+ Women’s Novice 8+

TIME FINISH 7:26.00 2nd 8:38.00 3rd 8:30.00 3rd

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 14, 2005

HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 30, 2004

KNECHT CUP Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. April 18, 2004

EVENT Varsity 8+ Petite Final Novice 8+ Petite Final Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final

TIME FINISH 23:30.61 1st

HEAD OF THE CHARLES Charles River, Cambridge, Mass. October 24, 2004 EVENT Women’s Collegiate 8+

EVENT TIME FINISH Women’s Heavy Championship Eights ‘A’ 13:50.03 2nd ‘B’ 14:59.34 15th Women’s College Novice Eights ‘B’ 16:00.71 12th ‘A’ 17:47.31 36th

EVENT Jessop-Whittier Cup Petite Final

BIG EAST WOMEN’S ROWING CHALLENGE Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. April 23, 2005

TIME

EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Evelyn Bergman Trophy Women’s Varsity 4+ Third Semi-final Women’s Novice 8+ Heat Six

TIME

FINISH

7:31.32

5th

8:58.95

4th

8:43.53

4th

2005-06 RESULTS HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 1, 2005 EVENT Women’s Open Pairs ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ Women’s Novice 4+ Women’s College Singles Women’s Club Eights Women’s Novice 8+ Women’s Open Fours Women’s Open Eights

TIME

FINISH

18:05.00 19:34.62 20:12.67 20:16.96 19:58.46 16:45.08 19:26.22 19:03.40 16:01.96

4th 7th 8th 6th 1st 9th 5th 10th 4th

HEAD OF THE ELK St. Joseph’s River, Elkhart, Ind. October 26, 2005 EVENT Women’s Open 8+ ‘A’ Women’s Open 8+ ‘B’ Women’s Novice 8+ ‘A’

TIME

FINISH

15:15.53 6th 16:23.50 8th 17:46.22

6th

MURPHY CUP REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. March 25, 2006 FINISH

8:24.20

5th

8:16.80

3rd

7:06.50

5th

EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ Heat 3 Women’s Varsity 8+ Heat 3 Women’s Novice 4+ Grand Final

TIME

FINISH

7:59.59

2nd

7:02.52

4th

8:20.07

2nd

Record Book [ all-time results ] KNECHT CUP Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. April 9, 2006 EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ Heat 3 Women’s Varsity 8+ Semi-final 2

TIME

HEAD OF THE GENESEE Genesee River, Rochester, N.Y. October 8, 2006 FINISH

9:16.20

4th

7:54.90

6th

SIRA REGATTA Melton Hill Lake, Oak Ridge, Tenn. April 15, 2006 EVENT Women’s Novice 4+ ‘B’ Final Women’s Varsity 4+ ‘B’ Final Women’s Varsity 8+ ‘B’ Final

TIME

FINISH

8:52.6

5th

8:32.0

6th

7:15.7

4th

TIME

FINISH

8:08.45

3rd

8:08.22

6th

7:16.67

3rd

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 12-13, 2006 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Repechage One Women’s Varsity 4+ Semi-final Three Women’s Novice 4+ Grand Final

TIME

FINISH

32:15.47 11th

TIME FINISH 18:57.69 7th

MURPHY CUP REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia Pa. March 24, 2007 EVENT Women’s Novice 8+ Heat One Women’s Varsity 8+ Heat One

TIME

FINISH

5:59.51

2nd

6:18.36

4th

SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC Mission Bay, San Diego, Calif. April 1, 2007 EVENT Women’s Cal Cup Petite Final Women’s Collegiate Novice Laurel V. Korholz Perpetual Trophy ‘C’

FINISH

7:45.05

5th

7:14.6

3rd

7:49.97

3rd

EVENT Women’s Novice 8+ against Georgetown against George Washington against Delaware Women’s Varsity 8+ against Georgetown against George Washington against Delaware

TIME 7:29.22

8:13.09

FINISH 5th

5th

TIME

FINISH

7:25.6 7:33.7 7:44.4

2nd 2nd 2nd

6:49.2 7:02.8 6:28.0

2nd 2nd 2nd

KNECHT CUP Schuylkill River, Philadelphia Pa. April 14, 2007

HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 7, 2006 TIME

FINISH

16:22.20 16:54.10 17:01.92 17:16.66

3rd 4th 6th 7th

17:58.84 2nd 18:04.81 3rd 15:04.61 2nd 16:41.57 10th 23:59.59 10th 13:50.66 1st

EVENT Women’s Novice 4+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Novice 8+ Heat Five Women’s Varsity 8+ Third Final

TIME

FINISH

8:46.0

6th

7:58.1

5th

7:44.1

6th

7:36.7

5th

SIRA REGATTA Melton Hill Lake, Oak Ridge, Tenn. April 22, 2007 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ ‘B’ Final Women’s Novice 4+ ‘A’ Final Women’s Varsity 4+ ‘A’ Final

EVENT Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Novice 4+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Final

TIME

FINISH

7:35.74

2nd

8:00.24

3rd

7:29.21

3rd

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia Pa. May 12-13, 2007 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Heat Four Women’s Novice 4+ Heat Two Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final

TIME

FINISH

7:16.16`

5th

8:17.91

4th

7:35.33

5th

2007-08 RESULTS

GEORGE WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL Potomac River, Washington D.C. April 6-7, 2007

2006-07 RESULTS

EVENT Women’s Open Pairs ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ ‘D’ Women’s College Singles ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Open Fours WVU Lights ‘B’ Women’s Lightweight Fours Women’s Open Eights

TIME

HEAD OF THE CHARLES Charles River, Cambridge, Mass. October 21, 2006 EVENT Women’s Club Eights

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. April 30, 2006 EVENT Novice 4+ Grand Final Varsity 4+ Grand Final Varsity 8+ Petite Final

EVENT Women’s Open Eight Championship Results

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. April 29, 2007

TIME

HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 6, 2007 EVENT Women’s Open 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Open 8+

TIME

FINISH

17:28.51 3rd 19:16.3 14th 16:34.01 7th

HEAD OF THE OCCOQUAN Occoquan River, Fairfax Station, Va. November 3, 2007 EVENT Collegiate Women’s 8+ College Women Novice 4+ Women’s Collegiate Novice 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Collegiate 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’

TIME FINISH 19:23.92 8th 25:41.1 5th 22:08.72 13th 24:08.85 18th 20:14.74 1st 21:30.23 10th

DAYTON, DUQUESNE Eastwood Lake, Dayton, Ohio April 5, 2008 EVENT Varsity 8+ Varsity 4+ Novice 8+ Novice 4+ ‘A’ Novice 4+ ‘B’

TIME FINISH 6:39.8 2nd 7:46.8 1st 7:16.3 3rd 8:16.8 3rd 8:45.4 2nd

KNECHT CUP Cooper River, Camden, N.J. April 12, 2008 FINISH

7:26.8

6th

8:32.7

6th

7:37.9

1st

EVENT Women’s Novice 4+ Heat Two Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity 4+

TIME

FINISH

9:24.6

5th

7:32.4

2nd

[ 2012 ROWING ] 61

Record Book [ all-time results ] Final Women’s Novice 8+ Petite Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Third Final

8:20.7

4th

7:36.9

4th

7:16.6

6th

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Melton Hill Lake, Oak Ridge, Tenn. April 27, 2008 EVENT Varsity 4+ Petite Final Varsity 8+ Petite Final

TIME

FINISH

8:27.50

1st

7:19.64

2nd

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 10, 2008 EVENT Women’s Varsity Hvwt Four Grand Final Margaret McNiff Trophy Women’s Varsity Pair Semifinals Women’s Novice Eight Semifinals

TIME

FINISH

7:26.94

4th

8:22.87

5th

7:04.11

6th

2008-09 RESULTS HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. September 27, 2008 EVENT Women’s Open 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’

TIME

FINISH

17:06.71 2nd 18:09.03 8th

HEAD OF THE OCCOQUAN Occoquan River, Fairfax Station, Va. November 1, 2008 EVENT Women’s Collegiate 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ Women’s Collegiate 8+ Women’s Collegiate Novice 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Collegiate Novice 8+

TIME

FINISH

19:13.14 19:57.39 21:10.79 17:36.17

3rd 10th 17th 5th

EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Heat One Women’s Varsity 4+ Heat Six Women’s Novice 8+ Grand Final Women’s Novice 4+ Heat One Heat Three

EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Varsity 4+ Women’s Frosh/Novice 4+ Women’s Frosh/Novice 8+

TIME FINISH 6:41.20 4th 7:06.30 1st 7:49.30 3rd 6:21.30 2nd

KNECHT CUP Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. April 9, 2009 EVENT Women’s Varsity Pair Heat Two Women’s Frosh/Novice Four Grand Final Women’s Varsity Four Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity Four Grand Final Women’s Frosh/Novice Eight Semi Two Women’s Varsity Eight Third Final

TIME

4th

9:30.70

3rd

9:02.10

4th

64:30.0

1st

7:54.20

5th

7:43.20

4th

TIME

5th

8:43.90

6th

7:37.90

2nd

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Cooper River, Camden, N.J. April 25, 2009 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Novice 8+ Grand Final

TIME

1st

8:31.04

6th

7:21.64

5th

TIME

5th

7:59.80

3rd

7:23.68

6th

8:05.02 8:15.82

2nd 2nd

62 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

FINISH

6:59.59

EVENT *Women’s Heavyweight Eight *Women’s Pair Women’s Frosh/Novice Eight Semifinal Two

7:07.07

FINISH

7:25.50

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 9, 2009

FINISH

SIRA REGATTA Melton Hill Lake, Oak Ridge, Tenn. April 18, 2009 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Petite Final Women’s Novice 8+ Petite Final

TIME FINISH 4:53.66 22nd 6:38.48 16th 7:07.00

HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 3, 2009 EVENT Women’s Open 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’

TIME

FINISH

15:35.14 3rd 16:02.67 6th

HEAD OF THE MON Monongahela River, Star City, WV October 10, 2009

9:19.80

20:56.29 3rd 25:01.63 12th 19:40.26 12th

MURHPY CUP Schuylkill River, Philadelphia Pa. March 28, 2009

2009-10 RESULTS

DAYTON, DUQUESNE, GEORGE MASON Monongahela River, Morgantown, WV April 4, 2009

5th

*Timed Trials were used due to weather conditions

EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Varsity 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ Women’s Varsity 2‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’

TIME

FINISH

19:23.00 1st 20:06.00 4th 21:04.00 4th 21:23.00 5th 21:40.00 6th 23:32.00 1st 23:59.00 2nd 25:41.00 3rd

HEAD OF THE OCCOQUAN Occoquan River, Fairfax Station, Va. October 31, 2009 EVENT Women’s Collegiate 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Collegiate 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ Women’s Novice 8+ Women’s Novice 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’

TIME

FINISH

18:43.69 8th 19:34.95 14th 19:59.41 20:56.10 21:27.01 22:25.57

3rd 12th 16th 15th

24:33.41 9th 26:21.51 15th

AT NORTH CAROLINA Lake Lure, N.C. April 2, 2010 EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Women’s Novice 8+ Women’s Novice 4+ Women’s Varsity 4+

TIME FINISH 6:10.46 1st 6:22.75 1st 6:47.16 1st 7:52.50 2nd 7:24.13 2nd

KNECHT CUP Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. April 11, 2010 EVENT Women’s Frosh/Novice Four Petite Final ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Varsity Four Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity Four Heat One Women’s Frosh/Novice Eight Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity Eight Petite Final Women’s Varsity Eight Heat Two

TIME

FINISH

8:19.43 8:49.82

2nd 6th

7:50.44

5th

8:22.34

5th

7:24.73

5th

7:13.08

6th

7:03.89

4th

Record Book [ all-time results ] GEORGE MASON Monongahela River, Star City, WV April 17, 2010

HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. October 30, 2010

EVENT Women’s Varsity 8+ Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Women’s Varsity 4+ Women’s Novice 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’

EVENT Women’s Open 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Championship 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Singles ‘A’ ‘B’

TIME FINISH 7:31.68 2nd 7:49.41 2nd 8:59.90 2nd 8:46.12 8:52.36

2nd 3rd

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester, Mass. April 25, 2010 EVENT Women’s Second Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Novice 8+ Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Final

TIME

FINISH

8:21.32

5th

8:33.21

3rd

8:02.34

4th

8:05.74

1st

7:37.15

1st

ECAC MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Cooper River, Camden, N.J. May 1, 2010 EVENT Women’s Novice 8+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Third Final Grand Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final

TIME

FINISH

7:18.60

3rd

8:34.40 8:06.18

3rd 5th

6:54.12

2nd

7:16.13

2nd

2010-11 RESULTS HEAD OF THE OHIO Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, Pa. October 9, 2010 EVENT Women’s Open 8+ ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Open 2x ‘A’ ‘B’ Women’s Open 4+ ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’

TIME

FINISH

15:05.88 1st 16:02.89 7th 17:23.60 2nd 17:54.85 3rd 16:48.07 5th 17:20.11 10th 18:44.31 19th

TIME

UNC, GEORGE MASON Lake Wheeler, Raleigh, N.C. March 19, 2011 FINISH

17:00.54 17:08.19

5th 7th

15:51.53 7th 17:40.53 21st 18:56.64 11th 19:50.50 13th

OCCOQUAN SPRINTS Occoquan Reservoir, Fairfax Station, Va. April 3, 2011

17:46.65 6th 19:11.30 20th 19:02.42 2nd 19:48.11 7th 20:23.31 15th

KNECHT CUP REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. April 9-10, 2011

21:40.57 3rd 22:43.72 7th 25:44.43 16th

EVENT Women’s Novice 4+ Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Heat One Heat Five

TIME

FINISH

20:40.39 10th 22:01.42 16th

PHILADELPHIA FROSTBITE Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. November 13, 2010 EVENT Women’s Master Doubles ‘B’ ‘C’ ‘A’ Women’s Novice 4+ Flight Two ‘A’ Flight Three ‘B’ ‘C’ Women’s Novice 8+ Flight Two ‘A’ Flight Three ‘B’ Women’s Varsity 4+ Flight One ‘B’ Flight Three ‘A’ Women’s Varsity 8+ Flight Two ‘B’ Flight Four ‘A’

TIME FINISH 9:28.15 5th 8:06.71 3rd 7:47.10 3rd 7:13.20 2nd

EVENT Women’s Novice 8+ Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Heat One

EVENT Women’s Novice 4+ Women’s Novice 8+ Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Women’s Varsity 8+

TIME

FINISH

7:51.25 7:56.74 8:18.33

1st 2nd 4th

8:11.74

2nd

8:40.69 9:18.24

1st 2nd

7:41.66

4th

8:35.65

4th

7:45.32

2nd

7:41.46

2nd

7:13.92

1st

7:09.50

3rd

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

TIME

FINISH

8:43.32

5th

7:45.28

3rd

7:26.82

2nd

9:26.63

4th

TIME

FINISH

8:21.49

1st

7:31.55

4th

7:02.74

5th

8:49.22 8:54.60

6th 4th

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Cooper River Park, Pennsauken, N.J. May 1, 2011 EVENT Women’s Second Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Varsity 4+ Grand Final Women’s Second Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Varsity 8+ Grand Final

TIME

FINISH

8:22.32

3rd

8:12.76

6th

7:37.58

2nd

7:01.94

6th

DAD VAIL REGATTA Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pa. May 14, 2011 EVENT Women’s Pair Semifinal Two Women’s Varsity 8+ Petite Final Women’s Frosh/Novice 4+ Grand Final

TIME

FINISH

8:34.61

3rd

6:49.36

2nd

8:10.52

5th

[ 2012 ROWING ] 63

Record Book [ letterwinners ]

Meg Ayers

-AKate Abernathy Christina Alicea Lori Arbogast Meg Ayers

Princeton, N.J. Elkins, W. Va. Morgantown, W. Va. Dayton, Ohio

2000-2003 2007-2008 2000-2001 2002-2006

-BKatie Baylor Kimberly Benda Brooke Bissett Whitney Blume Emily Boehler Anna-Claire Bowers Brittany Brooks Ashley Brown Stephanie Brown Kaitlyn Brownson Laura Buch Megan Bush

Dublin, Ohio 2002-2006 Comox, B.C. 2006-2010 Morgantown, W. Va. 2001-2001 Shepherdstown, W. Va. 2006-2007 Pittsburgh, Pa. 2006-2008 Kearneysville, W. Va. 2011-2011 Nanaimo, B.C. 2006-2010 Bluefield, W. Va. 2001-2001 Liverpool, N.Y. 2007-2009 Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 2006-08, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;09-11 Lyme, Conn. 2002-2004 Springfield, Va. 2005-2008 -C-

Nicole Canales Sarah Cartwright Shannon Clark Cara Cruikshank

Warrington, Pa. Kearneysville, W. Va. Wheeling, W. Va. Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

2004-2007 2011-2011 2000-2001 2003-2005

-DChristy Davison Gaetane D.L. Bourdonnaye Christine DeRienzo Noelle Dodge

Cross Lanes, W. Va. Boulogne, France Bethpage, N.Y. Philipi, W. Va.

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2003-2005 2002-2004 2000-2002 2000-2002

Brittany Brooks

Record Book [ letterwinners ] Brittany Doss Teresa Dugan Anastasia DuPont

Cross Lanes, W. Va. Gaithersburg, Md. Clarksburg, W. Va.

2011-2011 2006-2007 2011-2011

-ECarla Edwards Caitlin Everett

St. Catharines, Ontario Ballston Spa, N.Y.

2006-2007 2002-2006

-KMelissa Kane Risha Kelley Jessica Kelly Quinn Kratovil Brett Krumholz Angie Keslin

-FAlexandra Flavion Susan Frizzell

Cranberry Twp., Pa. Walkersville, Md.

Orlando, Fla. Williamshon, Pa. El Dorado Hills, Calif. Port Elgin, Ontario West Liberty, W. Va.

2009-2011 2000-2001

Morgan Leach Kirsten Leslie Kat Loya

Whitefish Bay, Wis. Upper Arlington, Ohio Pittsburgh, Pa.

Virginia Beach, Va. Sydney, Australia Silver Spring, Md.

2011-2011 2001-2005 2006-2008

-M2006-2007 2001-2003 2003-2006 2009-2010 2000-2003

-HGillian Hanbury Michelle Heier Amanda Hirsch

2006-2007 2001-2003 2009-2011 2009-2009 2009-2010 2001-2001

-L-

-GLesley Garcia Erin Goodman Laura Goren Shannon Gribbons Tina Griffith

Seaside Park, N.J. Fairmont, W. Va. Wexford, Pa. Fairfax Station, Va. Reading, Pa. Chattanooga, Tenn.

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

2007-2009 2005-2007 2009-2011

Amanda Mahasky Jaclyn Maritato Jess Martini Maclyn McCall Jeannine McCarty Erin McLaughlin Hilary Meale Alita Meyers Caitlin Murphy

Freehold, N.J. Rockaway, N.J. Tinton Falls, N.J. Rainelle, W. Va. Vineland, N.J. Bel Air, Md. Morgantown, W.Va. Elizabeth, Pa. Hillsborough, N.J.

2007-2010 2000-2001 2002-2004 2000-2001 2010-2011 2002-2005 2011-2011 2007-2011 2009-2011

-NMegan Neckelmann Erin Nisbet

Medford Lakes, N.J. Somerset, N.J.

2010-2011 2000-2003

Rachelle Purych

[ 2012 ROWING ] 65

Record Book [ letterwinners ]

-OMegan Ostrom

Dumfries, W. Va.

2007-2008

-PAmelia Payne Kensie Phillips Rachelle Purych

Edmonton, Alberta Mount Maunganui, N.Z. Victoria, B.C.

2001-2005 2007-2010 2010-2011

Jenelle Spencer Keyara Stevenson Virginia Stilwell Donna Stullken Courtney Sullivan

Princeton, W. Va. Cincinnati, Ohio Harrison City, Pa. Newtown, Pa.

Alyssa Thompson Joanna Thompson

Charlotte, N.C. Virginia Beach, Va. Gainesville, Va. Augusta, Ga. Bethesda, Md. Orchard Park, N.Y.

2003-2006 2006-2010 2007-2010 2000-2001

2002-2003 2011-2011 2010-2011 2001-2003 2006-2007 2011-2011

Rachel Viglianco Karen Verwey

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2011-2011 2007-2008

St. Albans, W. Va. Te Puke, N.Z.

2009-2011 2011-2011

-WKathryn Walsh Lauren Washabaugh Mollie Welty Danielle Widecrantz Megan Will

Kensington, N.H. Mt. Airy, Md. Woodbridge, Va. Egg Harbor Twp, N.J. Brentwood Bay, Victoria

2009-2010 2010-2011 2006-2007 2010-2011 2003-2005

-YMorgan Yeager

Caroline Rettig

Lincoln University, Pa. Rockville, Md. -V-

-SChristy Scherger Courtney Schrand Melissa Shaver Anna Shealy Elizabeth Short Ellen Shular

2009-2011 2009-2011 2006-2007 2001-2005 2004-2006

-T-

-RRobin Reed Caroline Rettig Stephanie Roof Bethanne Rook

Sidney, B.C. Ranson, W. Va. Alexandria, Va. Augusta, Ga. Woodbridge, Va.

Morgantown, W. Va.

2007-2008

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

[ 2012 ROWING ] 67

Dr. James P. Clements [ president ]

WVU’s First Family, standing from left: Jim, Beth and Tyler Clements. In rockers, from left: twins Hannah and Maggie. Seated on lawn: Grace. James P. Clements has said that no university in the country means more to its state than West Virginia University means to West Virginia. Since becoming WVU’s 23rd president on June 30, 2009, Dr. Clements has focused on expanding the University’s role as a 21st century land-grant institution. With a Strategic Framework for the Future now in place, WVU is committed to excelling in five key areas: academic excellence, research and innovation, diversity, global engagement, and enhancing the well-being and quality of life of our citizens. Dr. Clements has announced several initiatives in support of these strategic planning goals, including: adding 100 new faculty members to decrease the student-faculty ratio and support core and niche academic and research curriculums; building a new student health facility to increase wellness efforts; dedicating capital funds to expand outdoor recreational space for students; and increasing research to strengthen the University’s position as an economic engine as well as a leader in fields such as energy, biometrics, and health sciences. Additional priorities are to continue offering world-class health care and – through WVU’s Top-10 nationally ranked Rural Health Program – remain committed to increasing state outreach in the health sciences. To that end, WVU recently announced plans to establish a WVU School for Public Health to train the next generation of public health professionals, conduct high-quality population health

68 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

research, and help the state confront preventable health threats that increase health care costs and shorten lives. Other goals include finding more efficient and effective ways to use technology to drive progress, increasing the diversity of WVU’s learning community and developing an even broader global focus in preparing students for new international opportunities. Other initiatives focus on increasing student retention, increasing WVU’s doctoral program enrollment, enhancing leadership development and increasing operating funds. This momentum has carried over to record gains in enrollment, research, and private giving. Student enrollment across all campuses reached more than 32,000; research contract and grant awards for the past two years averaged an all-time high of $176 million; and annual private giving to WVU reached an all-time high of nearly $100 million this past year. The University was also recognized as among the six percent of institutions in the country that the Carnegie Foundation classifies as highly engaged in service, and as one of the four best flagship universities in the country for access by the Education Trust. In addition to overseeing WVU and its divisional campuses, Dr. Clements chairs the boards of the WVU Research Corporation, the West Virginia United Health System, and the WVU Hospitals. In total, WVU and its affiliates represent a $2.3 billion enterprise and employ more than 18,000 people.

Dr. Clements also serves as an ex-officio member of the WVU Foundation and WVU Alumni Association boards, and is active with national higher education organizations such as the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities and the American Council on Education. Regionally, he is a board member of the National Energy Technology Laboratory Regional University Alliance. He is co-chair of the Economic Development Team of the Power of 32, a visioning initiative across 32 counties in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. He also co-chaired the WV Higher Education Policy Commission’s Diversity Initiative Council and currently co-chairs the WV Higher Education Policy Commission’s College Completion Task Force, as well as serves on the board of the West Virginia Business Roundtable. On a national level, he was nominated and selected to participate in the 81st Joint Civilian Orientation Conference through the U.S. Department of Defense, and invited by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to join a select 15-member Innovation Advisory Board that will guide a study of U.S. economic competitiveness and innovation. Before joining the Mountaineer family, Dr. Clements served as provost and vice president at Towson University, the second-largest public university in Maryland. Under his leadership, Towson developed academic and student support programs that led to impressive increases in enrollment as well as retention and graduation rates. Towson’s externally-funded research increased by 36 percent during Dr. Clements’ tenure as provost. Prior to becoming provost, he served as Towson University’s vice president for economic and community outreach and as the Robert W. Deutsch Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences. He was a four-time recipient of Towson’s Faculty Member of the Year Award given by students at the University. Dr. Clements has an academic background in computer science. He earned a B.S. in computer science and an M.S. and Ph.D. in operations analysis from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), as well as an M.S. in computer science from Johns Hopkins University. The fourth edition of his project management textbook was published in four languages and used in multiple countries; the fifth edition was recently released. At WVU, Dr. Clements is a tenured professor in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources’ Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. In October 2009, he was named UMBC’s Alumnus of the Year in the Engineering and Information Technology category. Jim is married to Beth Clements, and they have four children – Tyler, twin daughters Hannah and Maggie, and Grace.

Oliver Luck

[ director of athletics ]

Former Mountaineer quarterback Oliver Luck is West Virginia’s 11th Director of Athletics. Successful at each of his previous career stops, Oliver Luck looks to continue that streak at West Virginia University. A former Mountaineer quarterback, Luck, appointed the University’s 11th Director of Athletics by President James P. Clements on June 9, 2010, has already made strides in just one year in enhancing WVU’s role as a player in the collegiate world. “Oliver Luck is someone who has succeeded at the highest levels at everything he has done – from his college and professional football playing days to his academic pursuits and his professional business career,” said Clements. “He is the clear choice to carry forward what has truly been a golden era in athletics.” “It’s an incredible honor for me to be appointed as athletic director at my alma mater,” said Luck. “I care deeply about this school. I’ve had an opportunity to serve on the Board of Governors the last couple of years, and it’s given me a tremendous viewpoint of how important intercollegiate athletics is at a land-grant institution like WVU. “WVU is truly one of the outstanding land-grant universities in the country, and I am so pleased to be a part of its momentum and growth. This is a tremendous opportunity - a chance to return to a University and a state that I love at a dynamic and strategic time in its history.” In his first year, Luck has hired four head coaches while maintaining the superior level of success WVU has recently enjoyed. In addition

to new hires, Luck has overseen the progress of major capital projects, such as the WVU basketball practice facility, and fostered an atmosphere for achievement and triumph, in the classroom and on the field. Luck’s athletic and professional career has been the epitome of success, first as a record-setting quarterback for the Mountaineers from 1978-81, then as a professional quarterback for the National Football League’s Houston Oilers, and later as a professional sports executive. Luck’s journey to the big chair at WVU began in his native Cleveland, where in 1977 he was named the Cleveland Touchdown Club Player of the Year at St. Ignatius High. Luck chose WVU over Ivy League schools Harvard and Yale, embarking upon a career that saw him establish school records for touchdown passes and completions during his playing days, while also leading the Mountaineers to a 26-6 upset victory over Florida in the 1981 Peach Bowl. His best season came as a senior in 1981 when he completed 216 of 394 passes for 2,448 yards and 16 touchdowns. He passed for a career-high 360 yards in a 27-24 loss to Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in the final regular-season game of his career. Luck ended his college career with 5,765 yards and 43 touchdown passes, both figures still ranking among the best in school history. Luck was a two-time team MVP in 1980 and 1981, and also received the Louis D. Meisel Award for the WVU football student-athlete

coaches with the highest grade point average. The rowers two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic preview All-American was the recipient of Today’s review Top Five, presented for scholastics records by the NCAA and was selected by the National Football Foundation as one of wvu its 10 scholar-athletes to make a keynote media speech at its annual banquet in 1982. Selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Houston Oilers (44th overall pick), Luck spent four years with the Oilers from 1982-86. His most extended action came in 1983 when he started six games and finished the season completing 124-of-217 passes for 1,375 yards and eight touchdowns. After retiring from football, Luck became vice president of business development for the NFL and later was appointed general manager of the Frankfurt Galaxy of the newly created World League of American Football. He spent the ’95 season as general manager of the Rhein Fire before being named President and CEO of NFL Europe in 1996. Luck totaled more than 10 years with the NFL, before becoming chief executive officer of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority in 2001. In that role, Luck oversaw the development and management of a $1 billion professional sports and entertainment complex for the city of Houston that included Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, the Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets, Comets and Aeros and the Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 2005, Luck was appointed as the first president of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamos, helping that organization to a pair of MLS Cup titles in his first two years at the helm. Luck was in the midst of securing the funding for an $80 million soccer complex to house the Dynamos when the call came to return to his alma mater. Prior to his current position at WVU, Luck was appointed by Gov. Joe Manchin in 2008 to a four-year term on the West Virginia University Board of Governors, a spot he relinquished to become director of athletics. The Rhodes Scholar finalist graduated Phi Betta Kappa from WVU in 1982. He also earned a law degree from Texas, graduating cum laude in 1987. In 1997, Luck was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2008, he was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame. He is married to the former Kathy Wilson. They have two sons and two daughters: Andrew, an All-American quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist at Stanford; Mary Ellen, a sophomore volleyball player at Stanford; Emily and Addison.

[ 2012 ROWING ] 69

Senior Staff

[ athletic department personnel ] Mike Parsons

Deputy Director of Athletics

Matt Borman

Assistant AD, Executive Director of the MAC

70 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

Keli Cunningham

Terri Howes

Associate AD Compliance & Governance

Associate AD Sports Administration, SWA

Michael Fragale

Michael Szul

Assistant AD Communications

Associate AD Business Operations

Head Coaches

[ wvu fields 17 varsity programs ] Jason Butts

Gymnastics

Dana Holgorsen

Football

Jill Kramer

Volleyball

Craig Turnbull

Wrestling

Mike Carey

Women’s Basketball

Bob Huggins

Men’s Basketball

Marlon LeBlanc

Men’s Soccer

Greg Van Zant

Baseball

Sean Cleary

Cross Country Track & Field

Nikki Izzo-Brown

Women’s Soccer

Vic Riggs

Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving

Jon Hammond

coaches rowers preview review records wvu media

Rifle

Jimmy King

Rowing

Tina Samara

Tennis

WVU had its fourth straight Top 50 finish in the Director’s Cup in 2010-11 [ 2012 ROWING ] 71

Media Information

[ covering the mountaineers ]

Media Services The West Virginia University Sports Communications Office will be available throughout the entire 2012 rowing season to accommodate media requests. Following are some guidelines that should make it easy for media members to cover the West Virginia rowing team. Any additional questions should be directed to the rowing contact, Julie Brown. During the Week Any member of the media wishing to interview a rower or member of the coaching staff during the week should contact West Virginia rowing contact Julie Brown, via email (julie.brown@mail.wvu.edu) or phone (304-293-2821), at least 24 hours in advance. Cell phone numbers will not be made available and all WVU student-athletes have been instructed to not conduct interviews without prior approval of the sports communications staff. Receiving Information Media members may receive rowing press releases, notes and more via email. To receive such press releases, match recaps and more, simply email your requests to julie. brown@mail.wvu.edu. MSNsportsNET.com MSNsportsNET.com is the place for media and fans to go for the latest on Mountaineer rowing. Event releases are made available in PDF format one day prior to gameday. Rowing student-athletes and coaching staff bios are available at the click of a finger by going to MSNsportsNET.com. Updated following each match, MSNsportsNET.com is your place to find the latest results for Mountaineer rowing results. Sports Information The West Virginia University sports communication office is located in the WVU Coliseum near the Red Gate. The main sports communications office is Room 107 with additional offices upstairs in Room 214C. Mailing Address Sports Communications Office West Virginia University P.O. Box 0877 Morgantown, WV 26507-0877

72 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ]

Overnight Shipping Address Sports Communications Office West Virginia University 107 Coliseum Monongahela Blvd. Morgantown, WV 26505 Phone Information Office: 304-293-2821 Fax: 304-293-4105 Rowing Contact Julie Brown Graduate Assistant e-mail: Julie.Brown@mail.wvu.edu Directions to Campus By Car: At the intersection of I-79 and I-68, WVU is approximately 70 miles south of Pittsburgh or 200 miles northwest of Washington, DC. The Visitors Center is accessible from Exit 1 of Interstate 68 (University Ave. exit). If you exit from I-68 West turn left at the end of the

exit ramp on to Route 119 North; go straight for three stoplights. If you exit from I-79 onto I-68 East turn left at the light on Route 119 North; go straight for three stoplights. At the fourth traffic light turn left into One Waterfront Place. You will see a large blue sign labeled Visitors Center. As you turn left, make a quick right into the parking garage. You will receive a parking ticket that you will need to bring inside with you to have validated for your time at the Visitors Center. The Visitors Center is located on the first floor. By Air: The closest airports are the Morgantown Airport and the Pittsburgh International Airport. The Gray Line Mountain Line Bus runs a shuttle from Pittsburgh to Morgantown twice daily. By Train: The closest Amtrak station is in Connellsville, Pa., located 37.0 miles from Morgantown.

WVU SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Michael Fragale............................................. Assistant Athletic Director, Communications Bryan Messerly..........................................................................Sports Information Director Joe Swan.................................................................................. Sports Publications Director John Antonik...................................................................................... Director of New Media Mike Montoro............................................................ Director of Football Communications Katie Kane................................................................Associate Sports Information Director Tim Goodenow..................................................................... Assistant Publications Director Shannon McNamara...................................................Assistant Sports Information Director Lisa Ammons........................................................................................... Business Manager Cheryl Maust............................................................................................Program Assistant Amy Prunty................................................................................................Program Assistant Julie Brown............................................................................................. Graduate Assistant Grant Dovey............................................................................................ Graduate Assistant Brian Kuppelweiser................................................................................ Graduate Assistant Daniel Whitehead................................................................................... Graduate Assistant