PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – It was an historic day on the Schuylkill for the Bryn Mawr rowing team on Saturday. Competing in their final event of the season, the Owls' varsity eight went out and took the gold medal at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta, the largest regular intercollegiate rowing event in the United States.
After cruising into the Grand Final thanks to a great effort in yesterday's preliminary heat, the Owls were seeded second in today's Grand Final of the Women's Varsity Heavyweight Eight DIII event. That final, one of the last races of this year's regatta, took place in some overcast and drizzly conditions on the Schuylkill this afternoon, but that did not stop the Owls from putting on one of their best performances of all time.
Bryn Mawr's eight raced out of lane four on the day after taking the top spot in their prelim on Friday. Racing against some stiff competition in Marietta, Stockton, Simmons, and two boats from Washington College, Bryn Mawr peaked at just the right time to outclass them all and take the gold. The Owls led early on, with their competitors from the top Washington College boat staying within a boat length through about the midway point of the race.
However, the Owls just kept grinding, setting a relentless pace and even extending their advantage through the second half amidst a steady rain. By the finish line, Bryn Mawr had pulled away by a full boat length to take the championship, ultimately crossing the line in a time of 6:52.384. That was enough to beat out the Shorewomen by over three seconds and take the gold.
The Bryn Mawr boat was coxed by Abigail Harris and included Sarah Stephens, Tova Just, Madelynn Hicks, Coco Vallon, Mary Jane Schmidt, Trinity Dillard, Emily Rho, and Sara Radmall.
Today's gold medal performance marks the best finish ever for Bryn Mawr rowing at the Dad Vail Regatta. If you missed it, you can catch the broadcast of today's incredible performance right here!
Earlier in the day, Bryn Mawr's varsity four also put on a strong showing in the Second Final of their DII/DIII event. The Owls boat took fifth place in that final, posting their second-fastest time of the weekend in the process. Bryn Mawr crossed the finish line in a time of 8:23.887, easily enough to beat out their competitors from Catholic for that fifth-place finish.
With the results, the Owls now close out their 2021-22 season on an incredibly high note. That also means the end of a prestigious head coaching career for rowing legend Carol Bower, who has headed the program since its inception in the late 1990s. Bower now gets to go out in style, with one more gold medal for her team as final "going away" gift for the legendary head coach. For a full look at the historic career of Coach Bower and the impact she has had on the Bryn Mawr rowing program, please make sure you've read our coverage of her retirement here.
Bryn Mawr will return to competition, under the guidance of the program's next head coach, when the fall season arrives in September in the next academic year!
