The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference

WORCESTER, Mass. - The United States Coast Guard Academy captured their second straight New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Women's Rowing Championship on Saturday morning at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. The Bears' varsity eight claimed the title with a first place time of 6:52.07.

In the six-boat race, Coast Guard edged Mount Holyoke College (6:57.77) by just over five seconds to secure the victory. Wellesley College placed third (7:00.36); Smith College took fourth (7:03.37); WPI was fifth (7:15.53), and Clark University finished sixth (7:27.68).

A margin of only four points separated the 1-2-3 finishers for the Florence Jope Smith Cup, awarded to the team with the highest number of points in the overall competition. Wellesley College won the novice eight (7:22.02) and third varsity eight (7:22.07) en route to its first-ever Florence Cup with 40 points. Mount Holyoke and Smith finished second (38) and third (36), respectively.

The 2008 NEWMAC All-Conference women's rowing varsity team was also announced at this year's championships. Clark's Sarah Brooks and Kate Dorsey; Coast Guard's Adrianna Knies and Sarah Southard; Mount Holyoke's Elissa Center and Katie Ouellette; Smith's Rowan Van Ness and Bri Tomboulian; Wellesley's Jackie Lewandowski and Juliana Martinez; and WPI's Katie Siering and Amanda Ruksznis all earned the honor.

Kayleigh Boothby (Clark), Sarah Otey (Coast Guard), Liz Bernal (Mount Holyoke), Amy Shmania (Smith), Hannah Woodruff (Wellesley), and Bridget Stevens (WPI) represented their respective institutions on the 2008 All-NEWMAC novice teams.

2008 NEWMAC Women's Rowing Championship

Novice 8

1. Wellesley College (7:22.2) - 12 pts.
2. Smith College (7:27.01) - 10 pts.
3. Mount Holyoke College (7:29.51) - 8 pts.
4. Coast Guard Academy (7:35.25) - 6 pts.

3V8

1. Wellesley College (7:22.7) - 12 pts.
2. Mount Holyoke College (7:31.56) - 10 pts.
3. Smith College (8:01.45) - 8 pts.

2V8

1. Smith College (7:09.5) - 12 pts.
2. Mount Holyoke College (7:13.83) - 10 pts.
3. Wellesley College (7:16.58) - 8 pts.
4. Coast Guard Academy (7:29.98) - 6 pts.

V8

1. Coast Guard Academy (6:52.7) - 12 pts
2. Mount Holyoke College (6:57.77) - 10 pts
3. Wellesley College (7:00.36) - 8 pts.
4. Smith College (7:03.37) - 6 pts.
5. WPI (7:15.53) - 4 pts.
6. Clark University (7:27.68) - 2 pts.

Florence Cup

1. Wellesley College - 40 points
2. Mount Holyoke College - 38 points
3. Smith College - 36 points
4. Coast Guard Academy - 24 points
5. WPI - 4 points
6. Clark University - 2 point

Coast Guard Academy Captures Second Straight NEWMAC Rowing Title