Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's rowing team continued its 2011-12 campaign Saturday by participating in the Knecht Cup in Cherry Hill, N.J.
The RMU varsity four "A" boat placed sixth in a heat that featured Kansas, Penn State, Delaware, Buffalo and Rutgers. The Colonials posted a time of 8:24.08 in a boat that included juniors Gretchen Gailey (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area), Ashley Wright (Gibsonia, Pa. / Pine-Richland) and Jamie Witsch (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Catholic), sophomore Megan Coleman (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Northgate) and freshman Julie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Catholic).
RMU's varsity four "B" team also participated at the Knecht Cup, posting a time of 9:18.39 in its heat, also finishing sixth. The race included Loyola (Md.), Connecticut, Holy Cross, George Mason and Dayton.
The varsity four "B" boat consisted of senior Chelsea Thornton (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Carrick), juniors Mackenzie Chambers (Auburn Hills, Mich. / Berkley) and Caitlin Mullin (Irwin, Pa. / Penn-Trafford) and sophomores Kim Gojmerac (Johnstown, Pa. / Greater Johnstown) and Rebecca Cole (Glenville, Pa. / Christian School of York).
"This weekend was a good chance for us to see where we stand against some stiff competition and bigger schools," head coach Midge McPhail said. "We're looking forward to getting back on the water this week and prepping for the conference championships coming up later this month."
The RMU novice four and novice eight boats also competed at the Knecht Cup, with the novice four winning its heat before placing sixth in the semifinals.
The novice four boat posted a time of 8:32.50, over four seconds ahead of Villanova's "B" squad.
Robert Morris also placed ahead of Penn State, Iona, Haverford and Catholic. The boat consisted of 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. Catharines, Ontario / Denis Morris).
In the semifinals, the novice four posted a time of 9:25.26, trailing Old Dominion, Villanova's "A" boat, Pittsburgh, Bucknell and North Carolina.
The group that made up the novice four boat for RMU also took part in the novice eight, finishing fourth in its heat before registering sixth place in the semifinals.
The Colonials finished with a time of 7:52.16 to earn fourth in its heat, beating out Iona and Scranton while trailing only Wisconsin, Boston College and Pittsburgh. In the semifinals, RMU posted a time of 8:19.43 to finish sixth, behind Drexel, Boston College, Bucknell, Buffalo and Massachusetts.
Also participating in the novice eight boat for Robert Morris were freshmen Althea O'Brien (Sewickley, Pa. / Eden Christian Academy), Jenna Vidvic (West Sunbury, Pa. / Moniteau), Cassandra Grafton (Hartstown, Pa. / Jamestown Area) and Caitlin Martin (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Upper St. Clair).
RMU next takes to the water Saturday, April 21, with the Car-Du-Pitt-Romo in Pittsburgh, Pa.
