Marist Women’s Rowing Caps Historic NCAA Championships
SARASOTA, Florida – On the first day of May, the Marist Red Foxes women's crew began only its first event of the season. Midway through, Marist captured its 12th MAAC Championship in program history. And on the penultimate day of the month, the Red Foxes concluded a season unlike any other with a historic finish in the 2021 NCAA Championships at Nathan Benderson Park.
Marist's Second Varsity 8 had the highest finish of any Marist crew in the NCAA Championships, becoming the first boat to knock off an opponent when it beat Gonzaga in the D final on Sunday, May 30th. The 2V8 finished 21st in the country.
The Varsity 8 and Varsity 4 crews posted solid pieces in the finale, finishing 22nd in the nation.
- Crews endured a variety of conditions. To start, racing was delayed 48 minutes due to a rainstorm passing through the course, though the sky was sunny upon arrival.
- The bad weather passed, and teams were fortunate to cut through glass during the races.
- Marist had concluded its races when the Varsity 8 Grand Final was delayed by almost two hours due to lightning in the area.
- Temperatures were in the high 70s, though the humidity kicked up a notch from the earlier days. At times, a fierce headwind caused difficulty.
- The lineup featured: Kathryn Moody (Cox), Sara Barker, Elizabeth Kelly, McKenna Klineyoung, Emma Jauch, Natalia Miklos, Olivia Nasternak, Avalon Johnson, and Jasmine Miller.
- Operating in Lane 2 of the D final against Northeastern, Rhode Island, and Gonzaga, the Red Foxes remained in contact with each boat through the first 500m.
- Marist earned a few seats on the Bulldogs in the second 500m and were gaining ground on the second-place Huskies halfway through.
- Rhode Island's push after the midway point prevented the Foxes from earning the silver, but maintained their advantage over Gonzaga the rest of the way, crossing in 7:02.428 to finish four seconds ahead of the Bulldogs.
- In addition to becoming the highest-ranked crew in the NCAA Championships, the crew's 6:57.749 time on Saturday was the fastest by any Marist 2V8 in the regatta.
- The lineup featured: Olivia Siyahian (Cox), Marie Ryden, Lydia Giguere, Selena Mildon, Sydney Ford, Lauren Muhr, Ashley Surette, Caroline Voorhis, and Genevieve Anderson.
- Racing in Lane 2 of the D final versus Gonzaga, Northeastern, and Rhode Island, the Red Foxes had the toughest battle of the three crews with the headwind.
- Marist kept in contact with the fleet throughout the first 1000m, but the Huskies and Rams ultimately got the edge.
- In the final 500m, the Red Foxes turned out their fastest split time at 1:44.001, completing the race in 7:00.316 for a fourth-place result.
- The lineup featured: Breana Pelliccio (Cox), Mary Schone, Victoria Hamilton, Sophia Ledda, and Hilary Anderson.
- Starting in Lane 5 of the D final and taking on Tennessee, Northeastern, and Rhode Island, the Red Foxes immediately engaged in a three-way deadlock with the Huskies and Rams, while the Lady Vols burst out to a large lead they wouldn't relinquish.
- Northeastern began pulling away at the midway point, but Marist and Rhode Island remained about a deck apart.
- The Rams sprinted in the third 500m to separate from the Red Foxes, and Marist finished fourth with a time of 8:02.169.
- Sunday marked the final races for Marist's Class of 2021: Sara Barker (2V8 stroke seat), Sydney Ford (V8 five seat), McKenna Klineyoung (2V8 six seat), Selena Mildon (V8 six seat), Jasmine Miller (2V8 bow seat), Breana Pelliccio (V4 coxswain), and Marie Ryden (V8 stroke seat).
- The seniors guided Marist to a pair of MAAC Championships during their time in Poughkeepsie, becoming the first class since 2008 to earn that distinction.
- Upon arrival from Florida, the seniors will have a special graduation ceremony with the President's Office after missing Marist's commencement exercises over the weekend.
- Marist concludes its abbreviated 2020-21 season. The Red Foxes depart for the summer and regroup in the fall, seeking their first MAAC Championship three-peat.