Marietta women take third in Freshmen/Novice 4+ at Knecht Cup
Lady Pioneers also place fifth in Varsity 8+

April 13, 2008
CAMDEN, N.J. — The Marietta College women's crew capped off its weekend at the Knecht Cup with an unpredicted success, as its Freshman/Novice 4+ out rowed 33-of-36 shells to take a bronze medal Sunday (April 13) morning on the Cooper River. The Pioneers Varsity 8+ also went head-to-head with some of Division III's top boats and placed fifth in the Grand Final.

The Freshmen/Novice 4+, which featured bow Miki Abitante (Columbia, Md./Atholton), Abigail Bogdan (Vienna, W.Va.), Megan Stuhlfauth (Hainesport, N.J./Merion Mercy Academy), stroke Yolien Peeters (Cranberry Twp, Pa./Seneca Valley) and coxswain Stockard Hyjek (Leetsdale, Pa./Quaker Valley), entered an open event that included many scholarship schools. The Pioneers won their opening heat and then took second in their semifinal to make it to the Grand Final. In the final event, Marietta (8:17.5) took third, finishing behind only first place Tulsa (7:59.1) and runner-up Lafayette (8:13.2).

The Varsity 8, which featured senior bow Meg Foraker (New Lexington/Culver Academy), senior Amee Epling (Parkersburg, W.Va.), freshman Lauren Yanko (Akron/Archbishop Hoban), sophomore Caitlin Piotrowski (Dublin/Dublin Jerome), freshman Katherine Thomas (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel Area), junior Krista Tkacz (Egg Harbor Twp, N.J.), senior Amanda Chuderewicz (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler), junior stroke Anjouli Dapice (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) and sophomore coxswain Lauren Talasnik (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest), also made the Grand Final on Sunday morning after taking second in its heat and then third in the semifinal the day before. Marietta finished the race in fifth place, crossing the line in 7:17.3. Rochester (6:52.8) won the race, while No. 21 Washington College (6:57.2), SUNY-Geneseo (7:03.6) and No. 12 Mary Washington (7:05.1) finished second through fourth, respectively.

Marietta will return to action on when its travels down to Oak Ridge, Tenn., for the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championship. Racing begins on Saturday (April 19) and concludes on Sunday (April 20).