COMPLETE RESULTS

PHILADELPHIA – Fresh off a strong performance at the National Rowing Invitational Championship last weekend, the nationally-ranked Ithaca College women's crew team made its return to the Dad Vail Regatta in thrilling fashion as the No. 4 Bombers won gold in both the varsity 8 and the lightweight 4 on Saturday.  Ithaca, which has not competed in the Dad Vail since 1992, entered three boats in the regatta, all of which placed in the top two in their respective events.

In the Division III finale of the varsity 8, the Bombers showed why they received an at-large bid into the 2016 NCAA Rowing Championship as Melinda Keene, Jacqueline McDevitt, Libby Burns, Jennie Peterson, Emily Morley, Emily Vosburg, Colby D'Onofrio, Karina Feitner and Krista Syracuse overcame a slow start and rowed to a first place finish after beating four other boats by a hefty margin.  The crew crossed the finish line in 7:11.92, which was nearly 10 seconds faster than any other entry. 

"This race was inspired by the spirit of the women from Ithaca Crew who won the Dad Vail 8 race in 1976," said head coach Becky Robinson who has piloted the program for 22 years.  "It was an amazing experience to race in Philadelphia and honor the tradition of rowing that the Ithaca women started in 1976, which was the first year women race at Dad Vail."
 
The Bombers also took second place in the same final as Catlynn Frank, Megan Dicostanzo, Rebecca Veninsky, Erin McNaughton, Chloe Lewis, Katie Ely, Tara Malone, Madison Bess and Victoria Demiris powered their boat across the finish line in 7:21.54.  Marietta rounded out the top three in 7:23.50.
 
"This was an amazing race for this boat. They were up against all 1vs and they knew they were the underdogs," added Robinson.  "To medal they would need to beat one of those two crews. But we talked about it. If you can beat one you can beat both and that's the difference between first and fourth."
 
"After the race, they collectively agreed that this was their best race of the season and as a coach, that is what I want to hear, especially when it is the last race of the season. We had three seniors in the boat; Chloe Lewis, Katie Ely and Erin McNaughton."
 
The Bombers weren't done there, however, as Ithaca would go on to capture the lightweight 4 title for the second time in as many weeks after taking gold at the NIRC last weekend. 
 
Monica Schaffstall, Sara Muroski, Jennifer Brashears, Rachel Dowd and Emily Campagna earned the Robert Espeseth Trophy after finishing the race nearly seven seconds ahead of the field in 8:44.95.  Purdue was second while MIT earned a third place finish. 
 
"This was the icing on the cake," explained Robinson after the race.  "First, NIRC gold and now Dad Vail gold. We had high hopes for this crew, but were not as familiar with the field and therefore thrilled with the win."
 
"Graduate Assistant Madison Keaty, worked with this crew all spring and did a fantastic job. Two seniors in this crew including Jennifer Brashears and Sara Muroski."
 
Ithaca's varsity 8 season will continue beginning May 27 at the NCAA Division III Rowing Championship in Gold River, Calif.  Ithaca, which will make its 15th appearance in the championship, received one of two at-large bids into the field and will row in heat one in lane three.