CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — The 2018 Patriot League Women's Rowing season begins with eight of nine schools competing within the next two weeks.
Reigning champion Navy, – will compete for its fourth-straight Patriot League women’s rowing title this season. At the 2017 championship on the Cooper River, the Midshipmen took home first-place finishes in the second varsity eight grand final and varsity four grand final, while finishing in second in the varsity eight grand final. The Mids return 20 letterwinners and welcome 25 first-year student-athletes to the program for 2018.
Last season’s runner-up Boston University enters the 2018 season with hopes of capturing a third-consecutive varsity eight first-place finish as well as reclaim the Patriot League title.
The 2018 Patriot League Championship will be held at the Cooper River in Pennsauken, N.J. on Friday, May 11. The championship features a varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four races, with the winning team receiving the Patriot League’s automatic berth to the NCAA Championship.
2018 Patriot League Women’s Rowing Preview [Teams are listed alphabetically]
BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS
Head Coach: Madeline Davis (1st season)
Letterwinners returning: 26
2017 All-League Returners: Kitty Tolman (first-team), Laura Anahalt (second-team), Emma Quirk (second-team)
Newcomers: 18
The Terriers won the 2017 Patriot League Varsity Eight Grand Final and return senior Kitty Tolman, who was a First-Team All-Patriot League selection last year. Boston University also returns two second-team all-League honorees in senior Laura Anahalt and Emma Quirk.
Head Coach Madeline Davis on the Terriers:
“The squad has been working hard this year to adapt and thrive in a new environment. I’ve been impressed with the way the experienced members of the team have accepted the challenges presented to them by the new coaching staff. This is also a young and enthusiastic team, with freshmen and novices making up a strong base for the group. We’re excited to test ourselves against stiff competition this spring as we continue to enjoy the process of improvement across the board.”
BUCKNELL BISON
Head Coach: Stephen Kish (22nd season)
Letterwinners returning: 35
2017 All-League Returners: Natalie Minella (second-team)
Newcomers: 35
The Bison return sophomore Natalie Minella, who was a second-team all-League member last year. Bucknell placed fourth at the 2017 Patriot League Women’s Rowing Championship. They placed sixth in the varsity eight grand final, second in the second varsity eight grand final and fourth in the varsity four grand final.
Head Coach Stephen Kish on the Bison:
“Our women are excited about the spring season and have committed to the process of building boat speed through the 11th day of May. We will face Patriot League competition on four of our seven race weekends leading up to the PL Championship. We graduated five women from the Patriot League boats last year and have seven first-year student-athletes currently working in the group that is forming the Patriot League Championship crews.”
COLGATE RAIDERS
Head Coach: Brittany Adell (1st season)
Letterwinners returning: 17
2017 All-League Returners: None
Newcomers: 12
Colgate looks to improve on last year’s eighth-place finish. The Raiders return five members of their varsity eight boat from 2017. The Raiders’ varsity eight is expected to be guided by sophomore coxswain Miranda Thompkins.
Head Coach Brittany Adell on the Raiders:
“While our underclassmen have brought great energy and enthusiasm, we are a young team. We will rely on the leadership of our small group of upperclassmen as we begin racing.”
GEORGETOWN HOYAS
Head Coach: Carolyn Glandorf (Interim Head Coach)
Letterwinners returning: 9
2017 All-League Returners: Monica Firmani (first-team), Sophie Kershaw (second-team)
Newcomers: 14
The Hoyas return two all-League selections in first-team honoree junior Monica Firmani and second-team member senior Sophie Kershaw. Georgetown placed third at last year’s Patriot League Championship taking home a second-place finish in the varsity four grand final, while placing fourth and fifth in the second varsity eight and varsity eight grand final, respectively.
Head Coach Carolyn Glandorf on the Hoyas:
“The team is focusing on pushing our mental toughness and our fitness. Last year's Patriot League (Championship) was our highest placement as a team and our first team medal. We are working to improve in both areas this year. Every member of the team has taken on the challenge and we are excited to see what we can do.”
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS
Head Coach: Patrick Diggins (32nd season)
Letterwinners returning: 12
2017 All-League Returners: None
Newcomers: 17
The Crusaders placed sixth overall at the 2017 Patriot League Championship, after taking home a third-place finish in the second varsity eight grand final.
Head Coach Patrick Diggins on the Crusaders:
“We've got a very young group of student athletes that have worked very hard indoors this winter. We're looking forward to getting onto the water. We're also looking forward to competing against the Patriot League teams on our schedule.”
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS
Head Coach: Brian Conley (5th season)
Letterwinners returning: 13
2017 All-League Returners: Liz Gagliardi (first-team), Jules Malachin (second-team)
Newcomers: 13
Lehigh will look to build from its sixth-place finish at last year’s Patriot League Championship. The Mountain Hawks return two All-Patriot League selections in first-team member junior Liz Gagliardi and second-team recipient senior Jules Malachin.
Head Coach Brian Conley on the Mountain Hawks:
“Lehigh has a strong leadership group this year with five seniors that have really pushed the team to be the best versions of themselves each day. With 13 returning athletes and 13 freshmen/novices, we have a good balance of experienced speed and developing speed for the future. This team found it’s early on this year and are looking to rise to the occasion again as the spring gets under way.”
LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS
Head Coach: Megan Patrick (1st season)
Letterwinners returning: 15
2017 All-League Returners: None
Newcomers: 16
Megan Patrick begins her first season as head coach of the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds women’s rowing program. Patrick will have a pair of experienced seniors, including Natasha Murray and Keenan Gibbons to provide leadership for the 2018 squad.
Head Coach Megan Patrick on the Greyhounds:
“I am really pleased with the progress we have made in fitness and technique since my arrival at Loyola five months ago. Our captains Natasha Murray and Keenan Gibbons have shown tremendous leadership in helping the team quickly adjust to the coaching change. If we can apply what we have learned in training to our racing, we should see a substantial increase in speed from our fall performances and I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do over 2000 meters this spring.”
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERS
Head Coach: Holly Metcalf (11th season)
Letterwinners returning: 12
2017 All-League Returners: Savannah Inglin (second-team)
Newcomers: 11
The Engineers placed fifth at the 2017 Patriot League Women’s Rowing Championship, after taking home third-place in the varsity eight race and sixth-place in both the second varsity eight and varsity four grand finals. Sophomore Savannah Inglin is the lone all-League returner from last season, earning second-team honors as a freshman.
Head Coach Holly Metcalf on the Beavers:
“We are a fairly young group with only one senior on the squad, but (Abbey Diener) and a group of juniors are doing a great job leading the team. Our fitness levels have been improving and our freshman and walk-ons are poised to make a strong impact on the group.”
NAVY MIDSHIPMEN
Head Coach: Joe Schlosberg (3rd season)
Letterwinners returning: 20
2017 All-League Returners: Ashlyn Dawson (first-team), Molly McAleer (second-team), Grace Lawrence (second-team)
Newcomers: 25
The 2017 Patriot League Women’s Rowing Champions return three all-League members with sophomore Ashlyn Dawson representing the Mids on the first-team and senior coxswain Molly McAleer and sophomore Grace Lawrence on the second-team. The Mids took home two first-place finishes at last year’s championship, winning the varsity four and second varsity eight races. The earned second-place in the varsity eight grand final.
Head Coach Joe Schlosberg on the Midshipmen:
"The 2018 team is young and hungry to prove itself this spring. We are building great momentum this winter and we will need to carry it onto the water with a great racing slate ahead of us. We're excited to see what this group can do!"
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.