May 11, 1998

DESPITE DOWNPOURS; VILLANOVA WOMEN'S CREW SHINES AT DAD VAILS

The 60th annual Dad Vail Regatta took place this past weekend on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pa. Two days of heavy downpours, coupled with unsafe river conditions, wiped out a full schedule of rowing Saturday, the featured day of collegiate competition. The rain stopped early Sunday morning and the racing began. Only 46 schools decided to wait out the rain out of 104 that were scheduled to compete.

Villanova won the Jack and Nancy Seitz trophy for women's competition with 34 points. In the overall points race, the Villanova women posted 55 points to claim the Jack Bratten trophy. This is the second consecutive year the Villanova women won both trophies.

The women's varsity lightweight eight won with a time of 4:26.70. The members of the winning team were: Kristen Bubnis, Carol Martel, Kelly O'Brien, Meg Sarbonis, Lyndsay Walters, Hannah Moore, Maureen McCurry, Katherine Douglass and coxswain Jess Merriam.

The Wildcats grabbed the women's lightweight freshman/novice eight (Sara Linn, Kelly Van Train, Kristina Vassalotti, Katie Szjener, Leslie Boyce, Amy Westerman, Martha Wilson, Erica Hanes and coxswain Jay Trombley) in 4:49.82.

The big event the Wildcats wanted to conquer was the women's varsity heavyweight eight. However, the Purdue Boilermakers defeated Villanova by the narrowest of margins, clocking in at 4:13.16 with Villanova moments behind at 4:13.46. "It was a great day," Villanova women's coach Jack St. Clair said. "I think the kids did great. Our goal was to win the (heavyweight) eight. And we came close."

For heat results and finals from Friday's and Sunday's events visit the 1998 Dad Vail Regatta web site: www.boathouserow.org/dadvail

---VVVVV---