Rowing Competes at Atlantic 10 Championships

Official Results | All-Conference Team Release
 
Pennsauken, N.J. - The Fordham University rowing squad traveled down to the Cooper River on Saturday to compete in the 2015 Atlantic 10 Championships where the Rams placed eighth and junior Ashley Hawkesworth earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors.
 
The University of Massachusetts successfully defended its title, winning its second straight A-10 crown and their 15^th overall. UMass, which scored 53 points to claim the title, beat out Rhode Island (47), Saint Joseph's (38), Duquesne (34), Dayton (26), George Mason (26), George Washington (25), Fordham (13) and La Salle (6).
 
The Rams were led by the varsity 8 and the second varsity as the second varsity 8 won the petite final while the varsity 8 took second in the petite final. The varsity 8 was comprised of, from stroke to bow: Ashleigh Aitchison, Ashley Hawkesworth, Fiona Murtagh, Kerry Egan, Maura O'Donnell, Nicole Arrato, Caroline Hamann, and Tecla Di Francesco, with Jacquelyn Ramos at coxswain. The Rams finished about three seconds behind George Washington in the petite final but well ahead of La Salle.
 
The Fordham second varsity 8 was comprised of, from stroke to bow: Kelly Leonard, Katie Dillon, Jessica Kammen, Kristen Shuman, Jessica LaJoie, Ariene Merkle, Dena Bussa, and Leslie Fung, with Caitlin Sershon at coxswain. They easily defeated Dayton in the petite final, winning by open water.
 
The Rams also scored in the varsity 4, taking third in the petite final behind La Salle and George Mason. The Fordham varsity 4 was made up of, from stroke to bow: Caroline Sneider, Sam Cerqueira, Catherine Napoli, and Brynn Fiacchi, with Rebecca Aviles at coxswain.
 
Following the regatta, Hawkesworth, who was named team MVP at the Block F Dinner on Wednesday night, received Second Team All-Conference honors. The All-Conference teams are based on nominations from each coach and team finish in the championship. There were eleven student-athletes selected for the All-Conference First Team and ten on the Second Team. A tie for fifth place in the standings added an additional second team honoree.