Wellesley Crew Finishes Fifth in the Nation at NCAA Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Wellesley College crew team finished the 2013 season fifth in the nation after a strong performance in the finals at the NCAA Division III Championships at Eagle Creek Lake.

Wellesley combined a sixth place finish in the varsity eight race and a fourth place finish in the second varsity eight race to earn 21 team points and a fifth place overall finish. Williams took the team title for the eighth straight year compiling 30 points, while Bates took second (35), and Trinity took third (31).

The day opened with second varsity racing where Wellesley competed in the grand finals. The Blue were third after the 500m mark, but ended the race fourth overall in 7:42.16. Williams won in 7:24.57, followed by Trinity (7:28.03) and Bates (7:30.24).

In the varsity eight race, a slow start put the Blue in sixth to start. Although the crew made up time during their spring, the ranked sixth overall in the field with a time of 7:40.61. Williams again took the title (7:20.64), followed by Bates (7:22.87), and William Smith (7:25) in third.

The varsity eight boat was made up of coxswain Aidan Chambers and rowers, Taylor Black, Jennifer Lamy, Kathryn Goffin, Jessica Frey, Becca Kimball, Loren Lock, Ali Pierson, Patty Suquilanda. The second varsity boat consisted of coxswain Emma Kaufman and rowers, Emily Cetlin, Ildi Gaal, Sierra Luther, Solange Adamson, Sahar Ibrahim, Kelsey Trabucco, Katie Burnett, and Emma Reuder. Rachel Coogan, Tess Ruderman and Maggie West are also representing the Blue at the event.

This is the fourth straight season that the Blue have finished fifth in the nation or higher. Today's race also marked the final competition for Wellesley crew's class of 2013. Blue seniors Black, Chambers, Coogan, Frey, Goffin, Lamy, Pierson, Ruderman, Valerie Soon and  Suquilanda joined an elite class of Wellesley athletes to make it to the NCAA Championships in each of their four seasons.

The 2013 NCAA Crew Championships were co-hosted by the Indiana Sports Corporation and Notre Dame University.

Varsity Eight

Second Varsity Eight

(Row2k Photos)