ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's rowing team is heading to the NCAA Division III Women's Championship yet again. After winning the Liberty League Championship earlier this month in Saratoga, New York, the Bombers earned an automatic bid to the championship. 

The Bombers are sending both their first and second varsity eights. In addition, spares will accompany the team and make the trip. The student-athletes who will be making the trip for Ithaca to the championship are: Carlie Wohlfahrt, Allison Arndt, Laura Trainor, Taylor Volmrich, Lily Babcock, Erin Trojan, Maggie Farber, Karley Whalen, Devi de Oliveira, Caroline Hoskins, Emma Anderson, Katrina Pohlmanm, Anna Capodilupo, Brenna Hanratty, Ashley Bailey, Kai Lincke, Emma Hammel, and Erika Elcsisin.  

The Bombers have a lot to look forward to at this year's championship following a strong regular and postseason racing in both top boats. The crews have trained since the conclusion of the last race, which was the New York State Championship. 
 
 When talking about this year's NCAA Championship group, head coach Becky Robinson talked about the excitement and promise that these lineups have. 

"I have worked this team harder than any team in the past 10 years. They are kind, strong, brave, and fierce. They will be prepared to have their best race of the season at NCAA's. I am proud and excited to see them race," Robinson said.

Ithaca's History at the NCAA Championship 
The first ever NCAA Championship for women's rowing was held back in 1997 and this will be the 26th NCAA women's championship.  At the time, the championship was not separated by division due to lack of numbers across DII and DIII teams. IC was selected to the first ever championship and raced a four in Sacramento, California. 
  
In 2002 there were enough rowing programs at each divisional level that the championship could be separated by division but continued to run as one regatta. Ithaca won the NCAA Championship in 2006.  
 
Since the win in 2006, the Bombers have continued to compete at a very high level. Given the nature of DIII women's rowing and the changing competition field, the Bombers have continued to compete for a spot in the top-4 year-after-year. IC is second among DIII teams in total appearances at 21 with Williams College the only institution to have made more appearances at 22.
  
About This Year's Championship 
The NCAA Division III Women's Rowing Committee has announced the institutions that will be competing in this year's championship. This year's championships will be held May 26-27 at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, New Jersey, with Temple University and Camden County Boathouse serving as hosts. 
 
The team championship is composed of eight teams. Each team is required to field two boats of eight rowers and a coxswain. Automatic qualification (AQ) is granted to four conferences, which form "Pool A." The remaining four teams are selected from "Pool C," which is teams in conferences with automatic bids that did not win their conference's AQ and the remaining Pool B institutions. 
 
The conferences that receive automatic qualification through their individual championships are the Liberty League, Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference, New England Small College Athletic Conference, and New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference.  

The Bombers and Wellesley are the only non-NESCAC teams to win the championship. Other NYS crews that have made appearances are William Smith, Hamilton, St. Lawrence and RIT.

Last year was wide open as IC was seeded first, but WPI won the 1V, Bates won the 2V, and Wellesley won the team title finishing second in both races. The DIII title has always been based on the performance of both V8's.

The initial lane assignments for this year's championships are as follows. Each category is broken up into two heats (A and B). 
 
Lane Assignments and Heats 
 
1V EIGHTS: Heat A 
School (Lane) 
Ithaca 2 
Wellesley 3 
Bates 4 
Lewis & Clark 5 
  
1V EIGHTS: Heat B 
School (Lane) 
Wesleyan (CT) 2 
Williams 3 
Tufts 4 
Washington College 5 
 
2V EIGHTS: Heat A 
School (Lane) 
Williams 2 
Wesleyan (CT) 3 
Wellesley 4 
Washington Coll. 5 
 
2V EIGHTS: Heat B 
School (Lane) 
Ithaca 2 
Bates 3 
Tufts 4 
Lewis & Clark 5 

Championship Information:

• Purchase Tickets
• Live Stream
• Live Stats
• Parking: Spectator Parking will be available for no fee along North Park Drive (Camden County Parking lots are available and there is plentiful parking).