May 13, 2011

PHILADELPHIA – It was a strong opening day for the University at Buffalo rowing team at the Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia on Friday. Looking to win their unprecedented fourth straight Jack and Nancy Seitz Trophy as overall points champion, the Bulls advanced four of their five boats to Saturday's semifinals.

The Varsity Eight boat won their heat with a time of 6:53.88. The Bulls edged out Massachusetts by two seconds. The boat, consisting of Kate Evely, Rosa Kemp, Shannon David, Susannah Sage Green, Heide MacMahon-Manning, Brittany Davidson, Danielle Carlino, Brittany Ronald and Ashley Hanhurst also defeated crews from Ohio State and Penn State. The Bulls advanced to tomorrow morning's semifinals.

The Varisty Four boat also advanced to tomorrow's semifinals by finishing third in their heat. The boat, consisting of Kara Buchheit, Megan Bayley, Sarah Gallagher, Bethany Cross and Deborah Garth finished with a time of 7:54.52 – behind Old Dominion (7:44.97) and Robert Morris (7:51.90).

In the Pairs event, Kylie Lewis and Francisca Strange-Sepulveda finished second in their heat with a time of 8:43.95. Brock won the heat with a time of 8:30.35. The pair also advanced to tomorrow's semifinal.

Like the Varsity Eight Boat, the Second Varsity Eight Boat also won its heat to advance to the semifinals. Made up of Alison Sheehan, Jacklyn Postulka, Kaitlyn Koscielniak, Hannah Miller-Selzer, Sydney Gilchrist, Sam Palma, Barbara Prescott, Kelsey Tretter and Elizabeth Murphy, the Bulls finished with a time of 7:03. 85 – ahead of second place Delaware which finished with a time of 7:09.3.

The Novice Eight Boat, consisting of Anna Hirt, Nicole Dutra, Jessica Ashbaugh, Jacqueline Bobo, Gabrielle Ormond, Veronika Kwinecki, Hayley Franco, Erin McMullen and Brittany Enekes finished eighth in their heat with a time of 7:53.04. Dayton won the race with a time of 7:21.11.

The semifinals will take place on Saturday morning with the finals scheduled for Saturday afternoon.