Women’s Rowing Closes Out FIRA Championships.
Florida Tech wrapped up the two-day Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships this past Saturday at Nathan Benderson Park.
Among the highlights was a first-place finish by the Panthers’ second varsity four. Devised of five rowers from the team’s varsity eight, Tech won the event by 13.7 seconds at a time 7:08.5. Leading the boat to victory was stroke Taylor Woodard, Erin McDevitt, Jennifer Gillette, bow Megan Taylor and coxswain Amanda Horbert.
After earning the runner-up spot in their freshman/novice four heat Friday, stroke Allison Metzger, Carolyn Chabuz, Jenna Philipp, bow Alex Barber and coxswain Emlyn MacKenzie came in second once more. They finished the 1,750-meter course at 7:35.8, eight seconds ahead of third-place Rollins. Nova Southeastern won the event at 7:22.8.
Tech’s varsity eight helped open the day as it participated in the second race with six other boats, two were Sunshine State Conference schools. Nova Southeastern snatched first, 2.4 seconds ahead of Jacksonville, at 6:29.4. Coxswain MacKenzie, stroke Horbert, Guinevere Shaw, Taylor, Gillette, McDevitt, Woodard, Aline Seekins and bow Barber grabbed fifth place at 6:48. Rollins rounded out the SSC institutions, placing sixth at 7:03.1.
The Panthers also took part in doubles as head coach Adam Thorstad entered two boats. Shaw and bow Seekins finished second, behind Stetson at 8:34.2. Horbert and bow Stephanie Spangler were the third boat to cross the finish line at a time of 8:36.9.
In the final race of the regatta, stroke Kathleen OrRico, Taylor Barvais, Amber Maiwald, bow Marie McBride and coxswain Spangler placed fourth, 11 seconds behind first-place Nova Southeastern, at 7:15.2.
Thorstad and Co. will now travel to Oak Ridge, Tenn. for the two-day Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships April 16-17.
