Women's Crew Bows To Brown; Continues To Show Improvement
April 17, 1999 | Women's Rowing
The record will show that the Boston University women's varsity heavyweight crew lost to Brown on The Charles River Saturday, as the Terriers' record slipped to 2-2.
But, the record should also show that the 14th-ranked Terriers continued to show improvement over a Brown varsity that is now 4-0 and ranked 3rd in the country in the most recent coaches' poll.
The record should also show that the closest any women's varsity crew has come to Brown this year was two seconds, and that was Princeton. Radcliffe lost to the Bruins by 6 seconds while Northeastern was thrashed by 13 seconds.
The Terriers, which has a considerably lighter crew, lost by just 5.8 seconds, as Brown covered the 2000-meter course in 7:04.5, while the Terriers were clocked in 7:10.3.
The record should also show the Terriers led off the start and were even with Brown through the first 500 meters before the visitors opened the lead. Only a boat length separated the two crews at 1000 meters before Brown opened the lead. B.U. seemed to hit a wall at 1250 meters allowing Brown to increase its lead to open water.
But, as has characterized the Terriers all year, they refused to quit and began to cut the deficit at 1500 meters, closed with a sprint, before Brown countered to finish with their winning margin.
The record should also show that Terrier head coach Holly Hatton continues to like what she sees from her varsity boat.
Technically, we rowed better than we did a week ago (when the Terriers defeated Dartmouth and Yale), said the coach. There is still room for a lot of improvement, but we are much more united as a crew.
Just before the race started, and with both crews lined up on the starting line, each of the Terrier rowers turned to her left and high-fived the rower behind her. It began with stroke Fiola Foley and ended with bow Kerry Ash.
This is seldom, if ever seen, but it is evident of the unity of this crew.
The attitude is the best I have seen since I have been here, said Hatton, now in her third year as the program's head coach. There is an incredibly positive attitude among the rowers. There is also a tremendous amount of heart with this crew.
For example, the last two years, Brown had open water on us by the first 500 meters, recalled the coach. This boat was in it through the first 1000 meters, but their (Brown's) size and experience paid off in the final 1000 meters.
The Terriers still have two regular-season races ahead of themnext week against Northeastern, Texas and Wisconsin, and the final week against Radcliffe and MIT.
The coach realizes there is still a lot of work ahead for her boat.
We still can row a better race, pointed out the coach. We wanted to work more on our transition this week (moving from getting off the start to settling in for the rest of the race), but we didn't have a chance.
We didn't have great workouts because our kids have been busy with midterms and papers. They are going through crunch time academically now as we are coming into the final month of the season. But, I think that's true with all our (B.U.) student-athletes.
We have been trying to get our (rowing) work done, but the quality hasn't been good, said Hatton.
The coach is hoping that will improve as the Terriers head into the final weeks of the season.
Back in the fall, Hatton spoke to the team and asked the underclassmen to work hard to make sure the team's three seniorsKerry Ash, Caren Parker, and Amy Serpliss, enjoy their finest rowing seasons as Terriers.
That's what has been happening, said an obviously pleased Coach Hatton.
The second varsity rowed a race very similar to first varsity. B.U. led at the 250-meter mark and continued its challenge to the 1000-meter mark before Brown opened it up to win by 7.8 seconds.
The disappointing race was at the first novice, where the Terriers were expected to pose a stiff challenge to Brown. Back in the fall rowing season, B.U. lost to the Brown novices by just one second over a two-and-a-half mile course in the Foot of The Charles. This Saturday, though, Brown was in control throughout and led by open water at 500 meters.
This was very disappointing, said Hatton.
This may have been the worst race we have had all year, said novice coach Gailyn Perrin.
The final margin was 16 seconds, 7:14.1 for Brown to 7:30.1 for the Terriers.
First Varsity: 1. Brown, 7:04.5; 2. Boston University (Cox, Jenn Josef; Str, Fiola Foley; 7, Colleen Madden; 6, Jelena Tomic; 5, Lisa Waterhouse; 4, Caren Parker; 3, Carson Converse; 2; Lisa Masi; Bow, Kerry Ash), 7:10.3 Second Varsity: 1. Brown, 7:21.4; 2, Boston University (Cox, Donnica Wingett; Str, Alexis Brady; 7,Carrie Haesloop; 6, Jessica Johnson; 5,Amy Serpliss; 4,Allison MacCullough; 3,Amanda Piola; 2, Amand Martinage; Bow, Karolina Zatz), 7:29.2 First Freshmen: 1. Brown, 7:14.1; 2. Boston (Cox, Maeve Schulz; Str, Hillary Hegener; 7,Meghan Wright; 6, Jenny Shea; 5, Camille Bright; 4,Liz Ross; 3, Libby Cherrington; 2, Kristy Hall; Bow, Maggie Andrews), 7:30.1
