2018-19 League Women’s Rowing Awards
CREW OF THE YEAR: Ithaca Varsity Eight
The Ithaca College Varsity Eight was selected as the Liberty League Crew of the Year. The Bombers varsity eight crew consisting of Jennie Brian (coxswain), Savannah Brija, Sarah Snow, Allison Arndt, Meredyth Busam, Sierra Keat, June Fortner, Kelly Csernica and Liza Caldicott won the Liberty League title by five seconds. Ithaca raced to a time of 7:15.10 to edge out second-place William Smith (7:20.62). Selected as Liberty League Boat of the Week five times this year, Ithaca also placed second at the New York State Championships and finished in fifth place at the National Invitational Rowing Championships (NIRC) – the top-placing Liberty League crew. Ithaca is currently the top-ranked Varsity Eight in the NCAA New York Region. After winning the Liberty League Championship, the Bombers will compete at the NCAA Division III Rowing Championship, May 31-June 1 in Indianapolis, Ind.
NOVICE CREW OF THE YEAR: Rochester Novice Eight
Rochester's novice eight boat has a total of four event wins in the 2018-19 season and was the top Division III team at the Head of the Schuylkill race in the fall season. With the current lineup, Rochester captured first place at the Hamilton Canal Series on April 20 and then won the Liberty League Championship 3V8+ race as the only novice group in the race. Additional wins came at the Challenge on the Canal (Sept. 29) and Head of the Genesee (Oct. 6). Rochester competed at the NIRC Championships and finished in second place in a time of 7:39.975. The Yellowjackets novice eight has earned the conference's Novice Boat of the Week award four times this season. The crew includes Eleanor Mancusi-Ungaro, Shellie Downie, Annalie O'Brien, Anna White, Julia Weinstock, Elizabeth Yarnall, Kira Hellard, Shirley Zhang, Rachel Anthony.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Ithaca College – Head Coach Becky Robinson; Assistant Coaches Beth Greene and Allison Carter.
Ithaca College head coach Becky Robinson and her assistants Beth Greene and Rachel Dowd have been selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. Robinson led Ithaca to a second straight Liberty League Championship as the team captured both the varsity eight and second varsity eight races. The Bomber varsity eight earned a winning time of 7:15.10, good for a five-second victory at the league championship. The second varsity eight boat won by a three-second margin. Ithaca secured the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, which will be held May 31-June 1 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Bombers followed up the victory in the Liberty League Championship with a second-place finish in the varsity eight at the New York State Collegiate Championships and a fifth-place finish in the National Invitational Rowing Championships. Ithaca is the top-ranked team in the NCAA New York Region rankings.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE WOMEN’S ROWING TEAM:
Melanie Bogdanovich, Sr., St. Lawrence
Jennie Brian (cox), Jr., Ithaca
Savannah Brija, Sr., Ithaca
Molly Dexter, So., William Smith
Caroline Kiser, So., Union
Libby Ryan, Jr., Ithaca
Elizabeth Sadrakula, Jr., Rochester
Sarah Snow, So., Ithaca
Stella Solasz, Jr., Skidmore
Kelly Vanderwall, Sr., St. John Fisher
Taryn Wenberg, So., William Smith
Emma Will, Sr., RIT