The women crossed the finish line 14 seconds ahead of Marietta College and four other crews.
Following a tumultuous week of injury and illness that challenged the team, head coach Tim Grant was forced to put together a crew on race day that had never rowed together. “We talked about being mature and experienced athletes, about relying on our athleticism and skills to row a solid piece, and the women delivered,” he said.
Members of the women’s varsity four-person crew were Jenna Stromquist, Heidi Rosasen, Amanda Donnelly, Alli Koubsky and Erikka Treatch.
The women’s varsity eight-person crew earned the bronze medal in their event, the highest in-region finish in their history, behind winner Mary Washington College and Washington (Maryland) College. The Viking eight defeated crews from Bryn Mawr, Marietta, and Franklin and Marshall in their bronze medal performance.
Members of the women’s varsity eight include Jenna Stromquist, Alli Koubsky, Kari Anderson, Heidi Rosasen, Amanda Donnelly, Kelly Burke, Britta Hausmann, Kristen Engebretson and Erikka Treatch.
North Park finished third overall in team points in the eight-team region. Two rowers, Annika Safstrom and Alli Koubsky, were named All-Region athletes in recognition of the Viking’s successful 2007 spring season.
Viking rowers will wrap up their 2007 spring season this weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the MACRA Championships.
In other sports news, Athletic Director Jack Surridge announced today that Jacob Ramos would serve as the interim head coach for the Viking women’s soccer program. Ramos served as the assistant coach for both the men’s soccer and women’s soccer programs last season. He succeeds Kyle Lubrano-Fluhr after she served two seasons as head coach. Ramos will serve in this position pending the outcome of a national search.
