WORCESTER, Mass. – Assumption claimed its first NE10 Challenge in five years behind a pair of strong races from its Varsity 8 and Varsity 4 boats on Saturday morning on Lake Quinsigamond.
The Hounds were the top NE10 finisher in the Varsity 8, crossing the finish in 8:01.7, nearly 15 seconds ahead of Merrimack to earn 12 points in the NE10 Challenge, while the Warriors received nine. Franklin Pierce was last and earned six points. Nationally ranked Jefferson won the race with a time of 7:30.8 in a strong head wind.
In the Varsity 4, Assumption placed second among conference competition, finishing in 9:08.4 to earn six points. Merrimack took first in 8:27.9 to secure eight points, while Franklin Pierce was again third. In the overall finish of the Varsity 4, UMass Lowell won in 8:09.9, while Connecticut College and Jefferson rounded out the top three.
With its total of 18 points in the NE10 Challenge, the Hounds narrowly edged Merrimack who had 17 points. Franklin Pierce was third with ten points.
Assumption's 2nd Varsity 4 boat also competed, taking fourth out of five boats with a time of 9:05.3. Connecticut College won the event in 8:36.4.
"The conditions today were much tougher than we have seen all season with a strong head wind the whole way down the course," said head coach Aline Seekins. "Our fitness was really put to the test and so it was great to see our boats able to make moves through the middle section of the race and stay strong in the wind."
Varsity 8
Cox: Katie Danieli (Chelmsford, Mass. / Chelmsford)
Stroke: Abby Boyko (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Our Lady of Lourdes)
Tara LePage (Amherst, N.H. / Souhegan)
Alexis Gibbons (Shirley, Mass. / St. Bernard's Central Catholic)
Julianna Woods (Manchester, N.H. / Manchester Memorial)
Madison Studley (Dover, N.H. / Dover)
MaryHope Gardner (Deep River, Conn. / Valley Regional High School)
Karolina Dzieminski (Webster, Mass. / Bartlet)
Hannah Avard (Manchester, N.H. / Manchester West)
Varsity 4
Cox: Christina Kuss (Monson, Mass. / Monson)
Kathryn Witherwax (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Our Lady of Lourdes)
Gina Savino (South Windsor, Conn. / East Catholic)
Catherine Donnelly (Rehoboth, Mass. / St. Mary Academy Bay View)
Lily Vartanian (Vernon, Conn. / Rockville)
2nd Varsity 4
Cox: Danieli
Alexis Wilusz (Hampton, N.H. / Winnacunne)
Le Page
Madison Doyle (Foxborough, Mass. / Foxborough)
Emily Baker (Barrington, R.I. / Barrington)