Florida Tech Women Capture V8, Team Championship In Sunshine State Conference Rowing Finals

By  //  April 30, 2017

sixth SSC Championship and first since 2005

No.1 nationally ranked Florida Tech took home the V8 and Team Championship in the Sunshine State Conference Rowing Championship on Friday at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida. (FIT image)

SARASOTA, FLORIDA – The No.1 nationally ranked Florida Tech Panthers captured the V8 and Team Championship in the Sunshine State Conference Rowing Championship on Friday at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida. 

The Panthers completed the championship day with 16- points, four points better than their closest competitor.

With the victory, the Panthers claimed their sixth SSC Championship and their first since 2005.

In Friday’s events, FIT tacked first place in the Varsity Eight and placed third in the V4.

Five Crimson and Gray rowers were also honored with All-Conference Awards.

These athletes included Federica Pala, Natalia Arasa Bonvila, Samantha Martinez and Taylor Stoni, while Theresa Gadilhe was an honoree on the All-Freshman/Novice Team.

With the victory, the Panthers claimed their sixth SSC Championship and their first since 2005. Thy celebrated by tossing each other into the water. (FIT image)

On a partly sunny but pleasant day, No.1 Florida Tech showed up with impressive performances during the morning regatta.

After a V4 exhibition where the Panthers took second place, the Crimson and Gray entered the waters for the V4 finals.

The boat of Hana Malia Ito, Danielle Kammerer, Ally McCarron, Emily Hall and Katie Coughlan crossed the line for a third place finish behind the conferences top competitors.

Their final time of 7:44.98 fell only four seconds behind Nova Southeastern (7:40.84), and six seconds behind Rollins (7:38.00).

FIT rowing a low, managed to control the race at 31 strokes per minute for most of the body.

“I felt that the four really pushed today and pulled their best time of the season, but we struggled a bit to bring the rate up and that definitely hurt us.” assistant coach Tim Desoriers said.

“We have practice tomorrow, so we will get right back to work on making some improvements”.

Four Panthers (striped shirts) received All-Conference first team honors. Congrats to Samantha Martinez, Natalia Arasa Bonavila, Federica Pala and Taylor Stoni. (FIT image)

In the Varsity Eight event, the Panthers shell took over, as they flew through the finish line with a time of 6:40.57 rating at a comfortable 34 most of the way.

The boat of Taylor Stoni, Natalia Arasa Bonavila, Morgan Billig, Theresa Gadilhe, Graysen Pensch, Samantha Martinez, Irina Djurovic, Aurelia Gervasi and Federica Pala posted a stellar performance, which bested second place Barry University by 7.16 seconds.

“The 8 rowed a beautiful race, they looked so comfortable and long.” Stated assistant coach Tim Desoriers.

“This was by far the most efficient rowing I have seen from them so far this year. It’s a great sign to be pulling the splits they pulled today and look so relaxed doing it”.

“Very strong team effort put forward today” head coach Adam Thorstad declared. “Very exciting to win a conference championship, it is no easy task to accomplish.

In the Varsity Eight event, the Panthers shell took over, as the flew through the finish line with a clocked time of 6:40.57 rating at a comfortable 34 most of the way. (FIT image)
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“These young women have put in a great body of work this year and it is really paying off. Now we are preparing for Dad Vails and hopefully a bid to the NCAA National Championship”.

Florida Tech will now travel to Philadelphia, Pa. to attend the Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate rowing competition in the United States. The event will be held from May 12-13.

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