October 12, 2003

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The William Smith College Crew opened its fall season at the Stonehurst Capital Invitational Regatta. This unique race featured a 3.1-mile head race in the morning followed by a 1,500 meter sprint race in the afternoon. Times from the afternoon are tripled and added to the morning times to determine an overall winner. William Smith entered two varsity 8+s and competed in the Collegiate Division.

The first varsity 8+ completed the head course in a time of 18:38.67. The Herons’ sprint time of 5:05.65 earned them a sixth place finish in the Collegiate Division and an overall place of eighth.

The second varsity 8+ came across the line in the morning with a time of 20:06.49. Coupled with their sprint time of 5:19.23, the Herons earned a collegiate place of 19th, 22nd overall.

“I’m very proud of the way we stepped up our effort in the afternoon,” Head Coach Sandra Chu said. “Our goal was to improve on last season’s finish, and while we didn’t quite reach that goal, this was a great tune up heading into the prestigious Head of the Charles.”

In 2002, the Herons’ first varsity 8+ also placed sixth amongst Collegiate entries and ninth overall. The highest William Smith has ever placed in this regatta was 5th (Collegiate) in 2001.

From coxswain to bow seat, the first varsity 8+ was rowed by first-year Jessica Hardy (Shrewsbury/Shrewsbury, Mass.), senior Libby Weick (Fairport/Fairport, N.Y.), senior Julie Deprez (The Bancroft School/Paxton, Mass.), sophomore Rebecca Gutwin (Champlain Valley Union/Williston, Vt.), first-year Laura Batchelor (Brookline/Brookline, Mass.), sophomore Cassie Priest (King & Low Heywood Thomas School/Stamford, Conn.), senior Lauren Ulvestad (Breck School/Shorewood, Minn.), sophomore Edwina Wilson (Churchill/Bethesda, Md.), and sophomore Frances Parsons (Hoosac School/Liverpool, N.Y.).

The second varsity eight was powered by sophomore Amanda Jantzi (Tonowanda/Tonowanda, N.Y.), sophomore Susie Tarrant (Kimball Union Academy/Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), first-year Liz Staino (Poughkeepsie/Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), senior Colleen Franz (Nichols School/Derby, N.Y.), Lisa White, first-year Nadia Zahran (Taft School/Oak Brook, Ill.), Nicole Balsamo, junior Penelope Davenport (St. Andrew’s School/Upperville, Va.), and Michelle Dodge.

The Herons are back on the water on Oct. 19, at the Head of the Charles in Boston.

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