Florida Tech Women’s Rowing Team Takes Bronze at the NCAA Division II Championships

By  //  May 28, 2018

Panthers shell took third with a time of 6:51.708

After earning a bid into the V4 and V8 Grand Finals, No. 3 Florida Tech ended its 2018 campaign with bronze medals at the NCAA DII Women’s Rowing Championships held on the water of Nathan Benderson Park. (Image by NCAA)

BREVARD COUNTY • SARASOTA, FLORIDA– After earning a bid into the V4 and V8 Grand Finals, No. 3 Florida Tech ended its 2018 campaign with bronze medals at the NCAA Division II Women’s Rowing Championships.

The championships were held May 25-27 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, with the University of Central Florida and the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association serving as hosts.

Taking the water first, the V4 crew of Summer Rhodes (Cox), Shaula Rey, Emily Hall, Allyson McCarron and Taylor Greene crossed the 2000 meters course with a time of 7:47.006.

During the race, the V4 shell fought head-to-head against the Western Washington and Central Oklahoma boats through the 500-meter mark, however, at the 1000 meter-mark, the Vikings and Broncos pulled away on FIT for a lead that remained unchanged through the remainder of the race course.

Forwarding to the V8 Grand Final, the crew of Taylor Stoni, Natalia Arasa Bonavila, Federica Pala, Theresa Gadilhe, Anna Kayser Gallego, Julie McCarthy, Irina Djurovic, Svetlana Ristin, and Graysen Pensch rowed against Central Oklahoma, UC San Diego, and Western Washington.

Through the 500 meter mark, the group remained tightly packed with just a seat of separation by the Central Oklahoma crew. For the duration of the last 1500 meters, UCO did not relinquish that lead and finished first in the event.

After missing the automatic qualifier during the Heats Friday morning, No. 4 Florida Tech ground its way through the Repechage races after a three-hour weather delay to qualify for the NCAA DII Women’s Rowing Championship Eight and Four Grand Finals at Nathan Benderson Park.
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Both Florida Tech Boats Advance to Grand Finals at NCAA DII Women’s Rowing Championships

Rowing for the second place spot, UC San Diego, Western Washington and FIT were dead even headed into the final 500-meter sprint, as milliseconds separated the three when the bows crossed the finish line.

The Panthers shell took third in the event ahead of Western Washington with a time of 6:51.708.

The Championships conclude the Crimson and Gray’s season, which was highlighted by back-to-back FIRA and Sunshine State Conference titles. The team will return to the water next year for what will hopefully be another exciting campaign.

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