A recap of University of Dayton women's rowing for the 2013-14 season. 

During the fall, UD's first race, The Head of the Eagle, was cancelled, but the Flyers came back and raced well against Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. at the end of the season. 

During the winter, the Flyers held a Marathon Erg Challenge and the women's team rowed 890,000m (890 kilometers). 

"After a week or two into spring semester, the team made progress. Fitness improved and times dropped," said UD Head Coach Mike Wenker. "Winter did not release its grasp until the end of February.  When the weather would allow, the water would not cooperate.  Finally, after we got a few days on the water, the racing began.  The varsity eight raced well against some good crews."

The Flyers opened the spring season at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational with a victory and second-place finish. The Flyers picked up a win over Wisconsin in their Varsity 8 boat. They also were just three seconds from taking another race from Kansas in the Varsity 4 boat.

"Overall that was a great race weekend," said Wenker. "The Novice 4+ learned from each race and raced well.  The Second Varsity 8+  made progress  and came together as a boat.  The Varsity 8+ improved each race."

UD raced against Indiana and Duquesne to prep for The Occoquan Sprints in Fairfax, Va., the same site for the A-10 Championships. Dayton sent three boats to finals at the Occoquan Sprints. Flyers in Philly Video

"The team had a chance to run the steps in Philly and wonder around DC for dinner on Saturday," said Wenker. "On Sunday, the boats did not race well and we needed to go back to the drawing board. After a few seat races, and line up changes, the boats found some speed in time for the SIRA."   

The Flyers' V8+ took fourth place in the grand final of the 2014 Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championship Regatta in Oak Ridge, Tenn. This after Dayton held a ceremony to christen  three racing shells, including their newest addition. The christening and naming ceremony took place at the DBC boathouse in late April: the boats were named Kelly Owens, Joe Owens and Ken Keck. Video of the Boat Christening

Dayton then competed in the Atlantic 10 Championships in Fairfax, Va. The V8+ took fifth place in the grand final and the 2V8+ and V4+ both took second in the petite final. Katelyn Reynolds was named First Team All-Atlantic 10. Dayton Video From A-10 Championships

"The team performed well at A-10's.The four put together a good race in the final to stay ahead of LaSalle," said Wenker. "The second varsity boat had their best race of the year in the final and the varsity boat came from behind in the last 500m to make the final."

The final competition of the 2014 season was the prestigious Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia from May 9-11. Dayton Video From Dad Vail Regatta

"The races went about as we expected. The second eight raced well but the competition was just faster," said Wenker. "The Varsity boat qualified for semis with ease and then fell short to make the Grand Final.  After waiting around in fierce rain and wind, the regatta resumed. In the petite final, the varsity eight made up a length in the last four hundred meters but ran out of race course."

2014 Dayton Rowing Awards
First Team Atlantic 10 - Katelyn Reynolds
Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team - Haley Murrell
Novice Most Improved Award - freshman Rosie Perez
Novice MVP - freshman Kayla Contardi
Varsity Most Improved Award - junior Allison Martie
Varsity Team MVP - sophomore Allie Rogers
Competitor's Cup - senior Susie Klimowicz (Competitor's Cup is the highest honor given by the rowing team to a senior. The award goes to the rower who best personifies Dayton Rowing – Excellence, Commitment, Success.) 

"The season is over and we turn attention to next year," said Wenker. "I am working on a race schedule that is challenging and fun. Next Fall everyone will have a chance to row in pairs and fours this fall with the hope that small boat skills will translate into more speed across the team."