Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SMS Novice Crew Takes First at State Championship Regatta
With temperatures surpassing 90 degrees and humidity at a springtime high, St. Margaret's School crews faced less than ideal conditions in their final regatta of the season at the Virginia State Championship. The event was held Saturday, May 13, at the Occoquan Reservoir in northern Virginia.
Warming up prior to their race on Saturday, St. Margaret's varsity four team B finished fifth in 7 minutes 6.38 seconds at the Virginia State Regatta Championships, May 13, at the Occoquan Reservoir. Pictured are: (r. to l.) Katie Hawks, Olivia Dix, Lindsay Meyer, Kelly Proctor and Rachelle Slotnick. Photo: Kathleen McDermott
Several rowers from around the state collapsed; ambulances and paramedics were summoned to the scene ready to help athletes who suffered heat exhaustion. St. Margaret's freshman Alex Burdette of Fairfax was one of the victims of Saturday's heat wave. She became dehydrated and fainted, falling off of the back of the team's Chevrolet Suburban and bruising her knee in the process. "It didn't hurt much," said Alex, who recuperated quickly and was cheering on teammates only minutes after she fainted. "It was hot," said junior Kelly Proctor. "Despite feeling sluggish and overheated, the conditions didn't stop us from rowing our toughest."
St. Margaret's crewmembers were: varsity four team A - Laura Austin, coxswain; Claire Stephenson, stroke; and crewmembers Ruth Redfearn, Catherine Redfearn, and Sarah Taliaferro; varsity four team B - Katie Hawks, coxswain; Olivia Dix, stroke; and crewmembers Lindsay Meyer, Kelly Proctor, and Rachelle Slotnick; novice four team A - Anne Czechanski, coxswain; Britt Faulkner, stroke; and crewmembers Kelly Proctor, Lize Davidson, and Claire Davidson; novice four team B - Sarah Byrum, coxswain; Nina Zibule, stroke; and crewmembers Alston Moore, Carter Holloway, and Laura Caton.
The competition really heated up once the girls hit the water. In the first heat of the Girls Second Four, St. Margaret's varsity four team B finished fifth in 7 minutes 6.38 seconds, behind winner West Springfield (6:25.09) and in a tight race with Woodson (6:31.15), Wakefield (6:31.29) and McLean (6:31.34).
The Hot Seat - SMS sophomore stroke Olivia Dix of Dallas, TX tapes a picture of Justin Timberlake of music group N'Sync by her rowing cleats before every race. The magazine cutout of Justin, Olivia claims, is true inspiration. "Justin loves SMS crew," she says. Photo: Kathleen McDermott
St. Margaret's varsity four team A, led by coxswain Laura Austin of Warsaw, advanced to the petite final after placing fourth in the Girls First Four race. St. Margaret's (6:30.68) finished behind Mathews (6:05.51), McLean (6:24.46) and Langley (6:26.34). West Potomac finished fifth in 6 minutes 33.83 seconds. SMS finished sixth out of six teams in the petite final in 6 minutes 35.6 seconds. Gloucester won the race in 6:01.60. "Despite finishing last, the girls rowed really well and I am extremely proud of their effort," said first-year head coach Kary Fronk.
St. Margaret's won the girls' novice four A race in 7:31.32, followed by JEB Stuart (7:31.32) and McLean (7:33.44). "Way to row you guys!," said sophomore Liz Davidson, a member of the novice four team. "We're the first St. Margaret's team ever to win a blue ribbon in a novice race." St. Margaret's novice four B team zigzagged erratically over the course before exiting their lane, which disqualified the team from Saturday's race. A malfunction, apparently, with one of the fins used to steer the boat caused the problem.
"I have really enjoyed coaching all of the girls on this year's team," said coach Fronk, who was pleased by the success of her crews this year. "We've had our ups and downs this season but we'll use the knowledge and experience we have gained to be in the hunt next year. Way to go, girls!"
