Coast Guard Captures NEWMAC Women's Rowing Championship, Mount Holyoke Claims Florence Jope Smith Cup

WORCESTER, Mass.-– The United States Coast Guard Academy claimed the 2007 NEWMAC Women's Rowing Championship Saturday morning at Lake Quinsigamond, as the Bears took top honors in the varsity eight race to take the title in the six-team competition. 

Mount Holyoke College earned the Florence Jope Smith Cup after the Lyons earned the highest number of points in the overall competition that included both varsity and novice races, edging out both Wellesley College and Smith College for the title.

Coast Guard posted a winning time of 7:14.10 in the varsity eight to outdistance Smith by over four seconds, while Mount Holyoke took top honors in both the varsity three eight and the novice eight.  Wellesley posted the winning time in the varsity two eight during competition.

The 2007 All-NEWMAC women's rowing varsity team consisted of Clark's Kasia Baca and Sarah Brooks, Coast Guard's Adriana Knies and Sarah Southard, Mount Holyoke's Christine DeLeo and Preya Nixon, Smith's Margaux Buchanan and Elizabeth Fishback, Wellesley's Kristen Cuneo and Elizabeth Russell and WPI's Corinne Linderman and Katie Siering.

The six members of the 2007 All-NEWMAC novice team were Clark's Rachel Goldin, Coast Guard's Maggie Ward, Mount Holyoke's Mya Steadman, Smith's Julie Olson, Wellesley's Colleen Corcoran and WPI's Stephanie Miskell.

Steve Hargis, the head women’s crew coach at the United States Coast Guard Academy, has been voted the 2007 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Crew Coach of the Year. Hargis, in his ninth season with the Bears, led his varsity crew to Coast Guard’s first ever NEWMAC Championship title.

Ranked fourth in the CRCA/NCAA Division III weekly regional poll, the Bears finished in a time of 7:14.1 ahead of Smith, Mount Holyoke, Wellesley, WPI and Clark in the championship race last Saturday. The Bears also tied in votes with Wellesley for the inaugural sportsmanship award.