Racing on the water for the first time this spring season, the University of Rhode Island women’s rowing team traveled to Ridgewood, N.J., to participate in the Overpeck Rams Invitational.
Rhode Island swept all nine races in both the morning and afternoon sessions against Fordham University and Villanova University.
The morning session began with the Second Varsity 4+ races. The Rhody A boat for this event placed first with a time of 8:48.6. Their B boat for the event also finished in first with a time of 8:51.4.
Rhode Island also won the Varsity 4+ race, placing first with a time of 8:34.1. In the Second Varsity 8+ race, Rhode Island was victorious with a time of 7:17.9. The Rams also came out on top in the Varsity 8+ race with a time of 7:06.6.
In the afternoon, the Rams won the Second Varsity 4+ race with a time of 8:07.5. Rhode Island also took home the victory in the Varsity 4+ with a time of 8:26.1, the Second Varsity 8+ race in 7:00.2, as well as the Varsity 8+ race in 6:53.8.
“It’s nice to have our first race under our belts,” Rhode Island head coach Shelagh Donohoe said. “We’ve done a lot of training. It’s nice to go out there and see how it all worked out. I have a lot of young freshmen, so it’s good for them to get one under their belt as well.”
Donohoe attributed the victories to the collective efforts of the entire team, accomplished first-year athletes, and fourth-year athletes who are willing to provide some mentoring.
“In rowing, there’s really not an MVP,” Donohoe said. “We have good leadership from our seniors, we have very talented freshmen. I think with the leadership of the seniors, the freshmen are able to get on board and do a good job. It’s a combination of the older kids and the younger kids working together. With that, we’re able to put out good races.”
The spring season has just begun for the women’s rowing team, with consecutive weekend competitions scheduled from April to May. The team is coming off its 11th Atlantic 10 Championship. Donohoe is excited to be back in competitive action.
“We practice a lot of things about racing, and so we’re able to actually go out there and put in a race situation where you sit next to your competitors,” Donohoe said. “You do a rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal and then you got the real show. The athletes can do that; they showed their fitness. We’ve worked hard during the winter, and that really showed.”
Coming up next for the Rams, the team will compete against Northeastern University and Columbia University.
“We saw Fordham,” Donohoe said. It’s good to get some competition with your Atlantic 10 rivals. This weekend, the races will be tighter; we’re racing some fast crews and racing in tight situations, it’s good experience to get that.”
Rhode Island will return to Overpeck Park in Ridgefield to race for the Woodbury Cup on Saturday.
