Women's Varsity Four learns tough lesson at SIRA Championship
Lady Pioneers disqualified for not having supplemental weight in the boat

Apr. 21, 2007
OAK RIDGE, Tennessee — The Marietta College women's Varsity Four earned a last-minute trip to the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championship thanks to its victory at the Knecht Cup. On Saturday (Apr. 21), the Lady Pioneers had a chance to test themselves against a field dominated by Division I competition.

The shell, which featured sophomore Anjouli Dapice (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) at bow, junior Meg Foraker (New Lexington/Culver Academy) in seat two, Caitlin Piotrowski (Dublin/Dublin Jerome) in seat three, junior Kim Becker (Egg Harbor, N.J.) at stroke and freshman Lauren Talasnik (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) at coxswain, won its morning heat by open water only to be disqualified for not having the required 1 1/2 pound of sand in the boat needed to offset the weight of its coxswain. Therefore, despite having the sixth-fastest time (7:53.1) of all 27 competitors, the Lady Pioneers will return to Marietta not knowing how Sunday would have turned out.

The entire team will be back in action for the Mid-Atlantic D-III Championships, formerly the Atlantic Collegiate League Sprints, which will take place Saturday (Apr. 28) in Rossville, Pennsylvania. A year ago, the Pioneers finished third in the finals of the Varsity Eight and fourth in the Varsity Four at the event, which features the top crews in the region.