June 15, 1998

VILLANOVA, Pa.--The Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee (DVROC) selected Villanova's Women's Varsity 8 to represent the Sunoco Dad Vail regatta in this year's Women's Henley in London, England on June 20 & 21, 1998.

Coach Jack St. Clair will take a squad of seventeen of his successful women rowers to England this week to compete in the Women's Henley as part of the overall internationally prestigious rowing event. This is the first time Villanova has been selected to represent the Dad Vail, the national college championship for developing college programs. The only other Philadelphia area school to be so honored was Temple University Men's Varsity 8.

In the Sunoco Dad Vail Regatta finals, the Villanova Women's Varsity 8 finished second to Purdue, a 1997 Women's Henley awardee, and were part of the squad that won the Jack and Nancy Seitz Trophy for the most women's points, and the Jack Bratten Trophy for the most points overall. This is the second consecutive year that the Villanova Women won both points trophies. The Villanova women's varsity lightweight 8 won their event with a time of 4:26.70; while the Wildcat women's lightweight freshman/novice 8 also claimed victory with a time of 4:49.82.

The committee selects the school that competed well in the Dad Vail and which in their opinion can best represent the Dad Vail in competition with some of the leading college crews in the world.

The DVROC presented a check to Villanova University on Friday, June 12 at the Canoe Club off Kelly Drive. Jack Galloway, DVROC chair, and John Drosdick, President of Sunoco, this year's sponsor of the Dad Vail made the presentation. Villanova University's Associate Athletic Director, Vince Nicastro accepted the check on behalf of the University. Also participating in the presentation were Edward Hazzouri, board member of DVROC and Director of Legislative Affairs of Sun, and Assistant Crew Coaches, John Heiss and Carissa Adams.