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Conshohocken, Pa. - A four-way dual meet including Haverford, Franklin & Marshall, Richard Stockton, and the hosting Owls, led to a good day of racing and a celebration of the rowing community Saturday.
The day began with a boat christening ceremony for the Owls' two new fours, named Athena and Predator by the team. Bryn Mawr coach Carol Bower spoke to open the event and senior captain Katie Baldwin officially christened the newly-named fours.
The Owls started the races with the second varsity fours against Haverford and Richard Stockton. Due to injury problems, senior reserve Helen Whalen-Cohen was called in to stroke the four, which rode a strong pace by Whalen-Cohen. Aggressive calls by sophomore coxswain Andrea Betenia helped Bryn Mawr to finish first.
The first varsity four race squared Bryn Mawr off against Knecht Cup participants Richard Stockton. The crews started off neck-and-neck with Stockton, but were unable to hold their competitors through the second 500 meters of the 1500 meter course. An aggressive sprint at the 300 meter mark led by freshman stroke Caitlin Schickel brought the Owls within two boat lengths of Stockton. The Owls were unable to make up the lost water and finished second.
The main event of the day was a Henley-style eights race. A Henley style race is when two crews would face off and the winners going into the grand final and the second-place finishers racing in the petite final. The first race faced the Owls with Haverford for a Bi-Co showdown. A strong performance by the entire crew pushed the Owls to an open water lead over the Fords, which they were able to maintain to the finish line. The Diplomats of Franklin and Marshall defeated Stockton in the other race.
Racing against F&M, the Owls took up a strong race pace, but were again unable to hold onto their competitors through the middle 500 meter stretch. Bryn Mawr took a hard sprint to the finish early in the third 500, gaining some water on the surging Diplomats. Franklin and Marshall were then able to hold off the Owls for the final sprint to the finish line. This put Bryn Mawr's eight in second for the day, a compelling showing which bodes well for next Saturday's Mid-Atlantic Division III Championship regatta in Gifford Pinchot State Park.
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