June 7, 2008

Entering the 2007-08 season, the Dayton Flyers women's rowing team was filled with youth and a first-year head coach, but would rely on key performances from veteran rowers in the Varsity 8 to have a consistent season.

Head coach Derek Copeland and the Flyers started off well at the Head of the Charles Regatta. UD's Varsity 8 turned in the best finish in the program's history by placing in seventh out of 52 participants.

The momentum continued in the fall after UD enjoyed a strong team showing against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Varsity 8 of Kate Athmer (cox), Lisa Pedevillano, Clare Hubbard, Marcie Shockey, Maria Otte, Nicki Bianco, Grace Doepker, Annie Dunn, and Melissa Brandfass beat OSU's Varsity by 17 seconds, finishing with a time of 11:57 over a 3,500 meter course.

With a strong effort on its spring trip in Oak Ridge, Tenn., UD's Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 8 both placed in second in their spring opener at Indiana University.

Needing a positive showing to get back on track, the Varsity 8 placed in first at the UD Spring Regatta and the Washington D.C. Regatta on back-to-back days.

Those two wins set the stage for a fourth place finish at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Rowing Championship. After placing in fifth a season ago, UD's Lightweight 8 finished in second and the Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 8 each tallied a fourth place finish.

Athmer earned a First-Team, All-Atlantic 10 selection. Meanwhile juniors Allison Gates and Anna Heink received All-Atlantic 10 Second Team honors.

In the final race of the season, Dayton's Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 8 each reached the semifinals at the 2008 Dad Vail Regatta.

With all of the accolades on the water, UD also excelled in the classroom. Junior Jeanna Heink and sophomore Lydia Caldwell earned spots on the 2008 Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference women's rowing team.

Heink, who earned a spot on last year's A-10 All-Academic Team, is a member of UD's Lightweight 8 boat while Caldwell, the only sophomore on the A-10's academic team, is a member of the Varsity 8 boat that finished in 4th at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Rowing Championship.

With strong boats in the Lightweight 8 and Varsity 8 returning, Copeland hopes to continue the success of the Second Varsity 8 and the novice rowers as the team looks forward to the 2008-09 season.