DAYTON – The 2021 rowing season was one of redemption and resilience. 

After losing the 2020 spring and 2020 fall seasons to COVID-19, the Flyers were hopeful and grateful for 2021 competition. 

To fully understand the gratitude for this season, we go back to the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championships where Dayton's V8+ just missed making the medal stand, getting edged by less than a second at the finish line. 

With the exception of one senior, the entire Flyer V8+ would have been back for the 2020 A-10 Championships. The team trained extensively over the summer and fall and were prepared to fight for a conference medal. The Flyers competed at the Bald Eagle Collegiate Invitational in Indianapolis on Nov. 2, 2019. The UD Novice 8+ and Novice 4+ picked up gold medals, while the V4+ took silver, and the V8+ won a bronze. Little did they know this would be their last competition for 511 days. 

Trish Miles joined the University of Dayton rowing staff as an assistant coach in January. She and her husband Mike Miles started the UD rowing program in 1991 and were instrumental in starting the Atlantic 10 Championships in the sport.

"She has a vast experience of rowing and coaching knowledge. I am thrilled to have her join the staff and the team and I are excited to work with her," said UD head coach Mike Wenker.

The Flyers returned to competition March 27, 2021 to race at Marietta. The Flyers V8+ of Kyra Hughes (coxswain), Colleen McDonnell, Elizabeth Myers, Angie Loriso, Osa Wheeler, Maggie Cahill, Kaitlyn Jimison, Lauren Myers, and Elli Ertl won their 2k race in 6:32.0. 

"The team was excited to line-up with another crew and race! Considering the number of practices, the racing went very well," said head coach Michael Wenker.

The Flyers then completed its second set of races at Eastern Michigan University on Ford Lake.

The highlight for the Flyers was taking two first-place finishes the V8 500-meters. Dayton's winning V8 lineup was: Samantha Bauer (coxswain), Colleen McDonnell, Elizabeth Myers, Maggie Cahill, Osa Wheeler, Lauren Myers, Kaitlyn Jimison, Angie Loriso, Elli Ertl.

The Flyers competed at the Mason Invitational in Fairfax, Va. on April 24, 2021. 

"This was a good day of racing.  Each boat learned from the heats and improved," said Wenker. "Thanks to George Mason for hosting the races.  It was great to see some Atlantic 10 teams."  

Dayton's V8+ advanced to the grand final with a second place finish in the A-10 race in a time of 6:48.8. The Flyers took third place in the grand final in a time of 6:49.1, edging out Saint Joseph's. Jacksonville won the race in 6:43.9 followed by Villanova in 6:47.1. Dayton's V8+ lineup was: Samantha Bauer (coxswain), Colleen McDonnell, Elizabeth Myers, Maggie Cahill, Osa Wheeler, Angie Loriso, Kaitlyn Jimison, Lauren Myers, Elli Ertl.

The Flyers 2V8+ also advanced to the grand final by taking second in its heat in a time of 6:51.7, beating out Duquesne and George Mason. Dayton was fourth in the grand final in 7:29.8. The 2V8+ lineup for Dayton was: Olivia Atkins (coxswain), Emma Rogiers, Grace Yingling, Jessie Stranen, Gabby Snyder, Madalynn Duffy, Emma Speyer, Haylee Zigmund, Emily Mann.

The rowing team competed in a series of races vs. Duquesne Saturday, May 2 in the Flyers' final event until the Atlantic 10 Championships on May 15.

In the first races, Dayton's V8+ split into two V4+s to take on Duquesne. The Flyers went 1-2 in that race with the Dayton B team finishing first in 6:26.8 and the Dayton A team in 6:32.1.   
 
"The Varsity 8+ in fours enjoyed the chance race in fours," said Wenker. "The stern pair and bow pair pushed out to a lead early and managed the conditions well."  

Dayton's winning V4+ B lineup was: Samantha Bauer (coxswain), Colleen McDonnell, Elizabeth Myers, Lauren Myers, Elli Ertl.  The second place Dayton A team was Kyra Hughes (coxswain), Osa Wheeler, Maggie Cahill, Kaitlyn Jimison, Angie Loriso.
 
Dayton's 2V8+ won its race over the Dukes in a time of 6:16.0, while Duquesne crossed in 6:23.7.  
 
Dayton's winning Second Varsity 8+ lineup was: Olivia Atkins (coxswain), Emma Rogiers, Grace Yingling, Jessie Stranen, Gabby Snyder, Madalynn Duffy, Emma Speyer, Haylee Zigmund, Emily Mann.

The Flyers finished fifth in the overall team standings at the 2021 Atlantic 10 Rowing Championship held on the Cooper River.

Dayton's V8+ earned bronze medals in the Grand Final, edging out Massachusetts at the finish line. The Flyers finished the 2k in 6:57.588 to earn bronze over the Minutewomen who finished in 6:59.328. The Flyer V8+ made the Grad Final by placing second in its preliminary heat in 7:09.653. UD's V8+ lineup: Samantha Bauer (coxswain), Colleen McDonnell, Elizabeth Myers, Maggie Cahill, Osa Wheeler, Angie Loriso, Kaitlyn Jimison, Lauren Myers, Elli Ertl.

"The Varsity 8 raced so well - really performed superbly this weekend," said Wenker. "We really want to thank sports medicine, administration, and everyone in Dayton Flyer athletics for their support this year. It's made the difference.

"I really want to highlight the contributions of the seniors who went out on a high note," he added. "Sam Bauer, Maggie Cahill and Osa Wheeler in the V8+ and Olivia Atkins in the second 8, as well as Abigail Minzler. We're going to miss them so much and we're excited to see what they do in their careers moving forward."
 
Dayton's 2V8+ won the Petite Final in 8:00.378. UD's 2V8+ lineup: Olivia Atkins (coxswain), Emma Rogiers, Grace Yingling, Jessie Stranen, Gabby Snyder, Madalynn Duffy, Emma Speyer, Haylee Zigmund, Emily Mann.

Despite a run-in with a goose about 500 meters into the race that knocked them off course, the UD V4+ won the A-10 Petite Final in 9:04.812. Dayton's V4+ lineup: Emmi Amaral (coxswain), Mackenzie Ostrowski, Angelina Koch, Annika Roush, and Molly Fenik.

Awards
Senior Maggie Cahill was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 and fellow senior Samantha Bauer was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10.

Maggie Cahill was named to the 2021 Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team. Cahill was also selected to the 2021 Dayton All-Academic Team. 

Olivia Atkins was named the 2021 Arthur Ashe Jr. Women's Crew Athlete of the Year. She also earned Arthur Ashe Jr. 2021 Sports Scholar First Team Honors. 

Angie Loriso was named the female award winner of the Unsung Hero Award at the 2021 RUDYS.

The following rowers were named to the 2020-21 Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll: Emmi Amaral, Olivia Atkins, Samantha Bauer, Chloe Bell, Grace Blust, Maggie Cahill, Madalynn Duffy, Elli Ertl, Molly Fenik, Sydney Gibbons, Kyra Hughes, Susie Issenmann, Julia Jenkner, Kaitlyn Jimison, Angelina Koch, Angie Loriso, Emily Mann, Faith Marquitz, Colleen McDonnell, Elizabeth Myers, Lauren Myers, Tessa O'Halloran, Mackenzie Ostrowski, Emma Rogiers, Annika Roush, Madeline Sautbine, Gabby Snyder, Emma Speyer, Kaelyn Stepic, Jessie Stranen, Maria Wellmann, Osa Wheeler, Ashley Yeoman, Grace Yingling, Haylee Zigmund.