Stetson Rowing hosted Embry-Riddle in a 3k head-style scrimmage followed by 5 and 3 minute pieces, Saturday morning on Lake Beresford.  The competition featured slight modifications on each team to make lineups and boat line-ups work to achieve safe, fair and fun racing and training.

The Hatters raced a Women's V4+, Women's N8+, Men's Club Novice 8+ and a Men's V2-.  Embry Riddle raced a Women's V4+, Women's N8+, two Men's Novice 8+'s and a Men's Varsity Lightweight 8+.

The day was perfect for racing with calm waters during warmup and in the river section of the course.  As the crews entered Lake Beresford they faced a slight headwind that made the water a little choppy but still very fair. 

“Good conditions are always hoped for at Stetson”, said Stetson head coach Mark Wilson. “But a little breeze and chop is also very helpful for us to row in for preparations for other locations.” 

Racing was designed to have the slower boats start first down the 3k river course with the faster boats coming up from behind and getting a chance to approach, navigate and pass the slower boats.  The racing went as planned and there was some passing just at the end of the segment which made the finish line exciting.

“I was very happy to see our Novice Club Men's and our Novice Women's 8+'s do very well in their races,” said Wilson. “We have a first ever race for our Club Men and they really did a nice job. They have been rowing various lineups all fall so this was the first row for this lineup and they did great! Really happy they had a good row.

“The women's Novice 8+ had a new lineup as well from two weeks ago in Jacksonville and this was a solid lineup with the stern four comprised of our Novice Women's 4+.  We had some people with important commitments and were unable to race so putting this 8 together was fun, and I will be looking for more good results from them over the season.”

The Men's Pair continued to shine, and with lots of time together Andrew Rouse and David Nutting are coming into their own. The duo had the second-fastest time on Saturday, with only losing to the Varsity Men's Lightweight 8+ by 21 second, a telling result. 

The Women's Varsity 4+ was given a new lineup this week and the new group continued their strong efforts on Saturday. Even though the team raced fairly low in the rating they raced strong and beat the Eagles by over 30 seconds.

“We have two true novice in that boat right now and I could not be more pleased with the way they have stepped up when asked,” said Wilson. “Junior Abigail Thompson just entered the boat on Wednesday, and freshman Cassidy Soehnlein stepped in last week when a teammate was removed due to sickness. I am thrilled by the poise, maturity and the attitude of not only the two new rowers in the Women's V4+ but also that of the others in the boat -- senior Alicja Duda, senior Chloe Blackketter and junior Katie Shilling. 

After the head race piece the teams lined up for 5 and 3 minute pieces with the men's boats going head to head and the women's boats racing each other.

In Race 1 (five minutes) the boats were started in line and the Stetson Women's N8+ took a commanding lead and beat the ERU boat by over four lengths open with the Stetson Women's V4 winning by one length over the ERU boat.  Results were not kept in the men's races.

Race 2 (three minutes) saw the Hatter Novice continue to dominate with a win of two-and-a-half lengths and the V4+ also continued to lead ERU by one-and-a-half lengths.

Race 3 (three minutes) showed the staying power of the Hatter Novice 8+ as they cruised to another three length win and the V4 also continued to press by winning again by one length.

The Hatters have a few days to continue to train and work on timing and power for the upcoming Head of the Hooch Regatta in Chattanooga, Tenn., next weekend. The Novice Women's 4+, Varsity Women's 4+ and the Men's 2- as well as Men's 1x will be racing and representing Stetson.

3k Head Piece Results

1.       ERU MVLT8+                   10:02

2.       SU MV2-                           10:23

3.       SU MN8+                          11:53

4.       ERU MN8+ Light             11:54

5.       SU WN8+                          11:55

6.       SU WV4+                          12:26

7.       ERU MN8+ Heavy          13:04

8.       ERU WV4+                        13:05

9.       ERU WN8+                       13:48