RON MALY HAS BEEN WATCHING THE PARADE GO BY FOR A LONG TIME. THIS IS ONE OF HIS WEBSITES.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Drake's Rowing Team Does Well On Des Moines River

Drake's rowing team completed a successful Saturday at the 2012 Head of Des Moines Regatta held on the Des Moines River.

The Bulldogs competed in five races: club doubles, collegiate doubles, club novice quads, club singles and the collegiate novice eight. The team raced many of the newcomers on this year’s team and it gave most the chance to compete in their first rowing competition.

“We had some really good results, especially from our freshman,” coach Charlie DiSilvestro said. “Many times this race serves as the first rowing competition for many of the freshman who didn’t row competitively until they came to Drake. [Saturday] was perfect weather and water conditions and we had a good turnout to watch us and I’m happy how things went and we will use this going forward to next week’s regatta.

Senior captain Andrea Piekarczyk and teammate Brianna Leinon won the women’s collegiate doubles race to highlight the day’s performances. Fellow captain and senior Kristina Vann and Justine Choe finished in third place. Wenel Jais-Cross and Megan Frield took second place.

Jacque Nowers (Coxswain), Katie Serbin, Alex Lueck, Stephanie Boylan  and Leah Robinson won the club novice fours race in time of 21:45.40.

“It felt pretty good to be back on the water and we have done this race every year and it is great its held on our home course and we know it like the back of our hand,” Pierkarczyk commented. “I think it was a good intro for the new people on the team and everyone performed really well.”

The Drake rowing team will compete Saturday at the Head of the Mississippi in Minneapolis, Minn.

Drake Results
Women’s Club 2x
Maggie Benhart/Brittany Michael, 2nd (20:40.07)
Jessica Nightser/ Bailey Berg, 4th (21:23.72)
Emily Householter/Monica Worsley, 7th (22:15.64)
Kelsey Leahy/ Sarah Laughlin, 9th (23:11.85)

Women’s Collegiate 2x
Andrea Piekarczyk/Brianna Leinon, 1st (22:41.48)
Wenel Jais-Cross/Megan Friel, 2nd (22:53.70)
Kristi Vann/Justine Choe, 3rd (25:02.73)

Women’s Club Novice 4+
A. Coxswain: Jacque Nowers
Katie Serbin, Alex Lueck, Stephanie Boylan, Leah Robison, 1st (21:45.40)

B. Coxswain: Hannah Hennessy
Bri Varela, Ali Armstrong, Ashley Beall, Katie Panther, 4th (25:51.49)

Women’s Club 1x
Brittany Michael, 4th (23:37.19)

Women’s Collegiate Novice 8+
Coxswain: Kiana Takaki
Katie Serbin, Kelsey Leahy, Alex Lueck, Leah Robison, Shelby Hill-Killerlain, Ali Armstrong, Stephanie Boylan, Bri Varela, 3rd (21:21.99)

[This story was written for Ron Maly by John Meyer of Drake's sports information staff].