West Point, N.Y. (October 5, 2014) – The Fordham University rowing squad kicked off its 2014 fall season today at the West Point Head Race held on the Hudson River with the Rams taking three gold medals, winning the varsity 8, varsity 4 and freshman 4 races.
 
"It was a good way to get our season off to a solid start," said head coach Ted Bonanno. "I was pleased not only with the performance of our top boats but also of our B entries. Hopefully we can build off this for the rest of the fall season."
 
Along with the Rams, Army, Iona, Fairfield, New York University, Sarah Lawrence also competed in the regatta.
 
The varsity, comprised of  Fiona Murtagh (stroke), Tecla Di Francesco, Courtney Cambria, Ashley Hawkesworth, Maura O'Donnell, Nicole Arrato, Caroline Hamann and Kasia Wlodarkiewicz with Caitlin Sershon at coxswain, was the first boat across the line, finishing the 4K race in 12:11, ahead of Fairfield, 12 seconds behind, and Army.
 
The Fordham B varsity 8 boat was fourth in the race in a time of 12:46. The boat was comprised of Ashleigh Aitchison (stroke), Katie Dillon, Sherry Sanders, Kristen Shuman, Jessica LaJoie, Kerry Egan, Jessica Kammen and Leslie Fung with Jacquelyn Ramos as the coxswain.
 
In the varsity 4, the Fordham boat of  Maura O'Donnell (stroke), Tecla Di Francesco, Nicole Arrato and Ashley Hawkesworth, with Ramos serving as coxswain, won in open water over seven other boats, finishing in 16:43, almost a minute in front of Army.
 
The Fordham B varsity 4 of Caroline Hamamn (stroke), Caroline Sneider, Kelly Leonard and Leslie Fung, with Linda Mulé at coxswain, was third in 17:37.
 
The Fordham freshman 4 shell of Sarah Hoskin (stroke), Ariene Merkle, Dena Bussa and Amanda Rossi, with coxswain Liz Klotzbach, also won in open water in front of four competitors, covering the course in a time of 18:05, over a minute ahead of Iona and almost two minutes in front of Army.
 
The Rams return to action on Saturday, October 11, as they travel to Derby, Conn., to participate in the Head of the Housatonic.