Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's rowing team put together another strong performance in its second meet of the 2012 spring season Saturday by competing in the Neuweiler Plate in Lewisberry, Pa.
The Robert Morris Varsity Four A boat that featured senior Chelsea Thornton (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Carrick), juniors Gretchen Gailey (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area) and Ashley Wright (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine-Richland), sophomore Megan Coleman (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Northgate) and freshman Julie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Catholic) posted the top time in its heat of 7:53.26 to advance to the grand final.
In the same event, the RMU Varsity B boat finished second in its heat with a time of 8:15.45. The boat consisted of juniors Mackenzie Chambers (Auburn Hills, Mich. / Berkley) and Jamie Witsch (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Catholic) and sophomores Kim Gojmerac (Johnstown, Pa. / Greater Johnstown), Nisha Wright (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson) and Rebecca Cole (Glenville, Pa. / Christian School of York).
In the grand final, the RMU Varsity Four A earned a second-place medal with a time of 7:41.34, trailing only Penn State, which crossed the finish line in a time of 7:34.58. The Colonials earned second place after defeating Mercyhurst by half a second, as the Lakers posted a time of 7:41.87.
The second heat of the varsity eight featured a Robert Morris boat that finished fourth with a time of 7:33.33. The team consisted of a combination of the varsity four A and B boats, including Coleman, Miller, Gailey, Wright, Gojmerac, Chambers, Wright and Witsch along with junior Caitlin Mullin (Irwin, Pa. / Penn-Trafford).
"Overall, I was happy to see such a young team with little race experience go out and race their hearts out," head coach Midge McPhail said. "I was pleased that such a young varsity team showed they could be very competitive with both A and B boats making the grand final and one placing in the top three."
Novice action for the Colonials featured both an A and a B boat that won their respective heats, with the B boat posting a mark of 8:25.20 and the A boat a time of 8:25.46. In the finals, the novice four A boat finished third (8:18.44), while the B boat earned fourth (8:23.28).
The RMU novice four A boat featured freshmen Heather Hodges (Valencia, Pa. / Mars Area), Brianna Hellier (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area), Kristin Fay (Philadelphia, Pa. / Philadelphia), Rebecca Pichora (Coraopolis, Pa. / Moon Area) and Laura Mooradian (St. Catherines, Ontario / Denis Morris).
The RMU novice four B boat consisted of freshmen Althea O'Brien (Sewickley, Pa. / Eden Christian Academy), Jenna Vidic (West Sunbury, Pa. / Montieau), Caitlin Martin (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Upper St. Clair), Cassandra Grafton (Hartstown, Pa. / Jamestown Area) and Kayce Craday (Warren, Pa. / Warren Area).
"The novices showed a strong start to have both A and B boats in the grand final, and we look forward to seeing what they accomplish later in the season," McPhail said.
The Colonials continue their 2012 season Saturday, April 14, and Sunday, April 15, by taking part in the Knecht Cup in Cherry Hill, N.J.
