Full Results

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University rowing program showed another sign of progress this weekend at the annual Knecht Cup, improving significantly on last season's performance to put together a solid stretch of racing in New Jersey.
 
The weather proved fickle throughout the weekend, with high winds and uneasy waters wreaking havoc on boats and disrupting the event schedule on several occasions.
 
Despite the elements, a number of Mason boats advanced out of their heats and held their own against some of the nation's top talent.
 
"The Knecht Cup course is not easy and when it gets windy, the course gets exposed," head coach Ted Nagorsen said. "By the time the Varsity 8 hit the water Saturday, it was near whitecap conditions with the wind blowing 20-25 miles per hour. Even with all the restarts, I thought we kept our composure and made improvements."
 
Mason's Varsity Four led off the event on Saturday and placed fifth (8:50.98) in their opening heat, just three seconds behind a time that would've qualified for semifinal action
 
"In the morning the wind was already blowing 10-15 mph when the Varsity Four was warming up," Nagorsen said. "Our boat has overcome some challenges with injuries and other factors, but the girls are improving. They're getting faster, but we have to continue to increase that speed."
 
The Patriots' Varsity 8+ boat put together a successful opening heat, placing third out of six teams to advance to semifinal action. Mason held a lead of close to seven seconds over fourth-place Buffalo through 1500 meters. The Bulls made a late push, but Mason held its ground and powered through the finish to advance in 7:05.68.
 
"In the heat, the race came down to who had better skill in the boat," Nagorsen said. "The girls felt over the full 2000 meters they didn't take a full stroke. The race was more who handled the conditions better and we handled that situation well."
 
Originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, the Varsity 8+ semis were moved to Sunday due to the treacherous conditions. On Sunday morning, the weather improved and Mason placed sixth in the semi in 7:06.06.
 
"In the semifinal, we made a good push," Nagorsen added. "The goal was to be in the petite final and we were in a qualifying position through 1000 meters. Villanova made a move and we didn't catch it. By the time we realized what happened they had the advantage and they took off."
 
 
That finish sent the Patriots into the Third Final, where Mason improved to 7:04.10 and made up ground on some of the other programs competing with the Green & Gold in the earlier races.
 
"We restructured our race plan to be a little more aggressive in the middle of the race course," Nagorsen said. "That helped us open up our gap on Buffalo. Villanova beat us by 11 seconds in the semi but only by four in the final. So we made up seven seconds and it was good to see the improvement and focus from our team. But at the end of the day, we have to row harder to have success."
 
The Second Varsity 8+ had arguably the most difficult adversity to overcome. The team hit the water for the heat on Saturday, only to be called back due to the conditions. The race was rescheduled to later Saturday evening, but after Mason made the trek back to the course from the hotel, racing again was cancelled as the teams began race prep.
 
So Mason finally hit the course Sunday and advanced to the semifinals with a time of 7:35.53. The Patriots then posted a time of 7:31.08 in the semis.
 
"The Second Varsity 8 put together a solid race, they were just outperformed by strong competition," Nagorsen said. "I tell the girls there are no easy roads to advance in the Knecht Cup. The teams that do will compete for conference titles and perform at the Dad Vail. So I thought that group handled the conditions well."
 
Mason now has a quick turnaround and will host the George Cup on Friday at 9 a.m. on the Occoquan. The Patriots will battle local foes George Washington and Georgetown.
 
RESULTS
 
Varsity 8+ Boat – Heat 5
1. Miami (Fla.) – 6:50.19 - advanced
2. Massachusetts – 6:51.30 - advanced
3. George Mason – 7:05.68 - advanced
4. Buffalo – 7:09.33
5. Philadelphia – 7:16.52
6. Army – 7:36.79
 
Varsity 8+ Boat – Semifinal 3
1. Boston University LWT – 6:45.26
2. Boston College – 6:46.53
3. Wisconsin LWT – 6:46.70
4. Temple – 6:47.61
5. Villanova – 6:55.78
6. George Mason – 7:06.06
7. Philadelphia – 7:28.23
 
Varsity 8+ Boat – Third Final
1. Connecticut – 6:55.29
2. Delaware – 6:56.84
3. Marist – 6:58.04
4. Villanova – 7:00.41
5. George Mason – 7:04.10
6. Buffalo – 7:11.99
 
Second Varsity 8+ Boat – Heat 1 (Saturday)
1. Bucknell – 7:06.64 - advanced
2. Wisconsin LWT – 7:09.93 - advanced
3. Fordham – 7:12.56 - advanced
4. Holy Cross – 7:34.63 - advanced
5. George Mason – 7:35.53
6. Loyola – 8:00.08
7. Sacred Heart – 8:26.14
 
Second Varsity 8+ Boat – Semifinal 1
1. Bucknell – 7:01.68
2. Temple – 7:04.56
3. Connecticut – 7:09.76
4. Delaware – 7:10.29
5. Marist – 7:13.62
6. Fairfield – 7:26.10
7. George Mason – 7:31.08
 
Varsity 4+ Boat – Heat 4
1. Boston College – 7:47.67 - advanced
2. Massachusetts – 7:48.43 - advanced
3. New Hampshire – 7:58.07 - advanced
4. SMU – 8:47.97 - advanced
5. George Mason – 8:50.98
6. American – 11:01.69
 
BOAT ROSTERS
 
Varsity 8+ Boat
B – Anne Graf
2 – Natalie Sebastian
3 – Nida Peleda
4 – Megan Gooding
5 – Caitlin Mahoney
6 – Elizabeth Rush
7 – Taylor Williams
S – Maria Justiniano
Cox – Shelby Rein
 
Second Varsity 8+ Boat
B – Emma Evans
2 – Elizabeth Johnson
3 – Julia O'Donnell
4 – Brianna Burke
5 – Alexandra Williams
6 – Anna Close
7 – Lauren Parsons
S – Nicole Van Oort
Cox – Kathleen Lackatose
 
Varsity 4+ Boat
B – Emily Holt
2 – Gemma Bauer
3 – Anushka Prativadhi Bayankara
S – Emily Egdahl
Cox – Jessica Sweeney