CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Barry University rowing's Varsity 4+ crew of coxswain Stephany Dinkel, stroke Paola Girotto, Monika Kaminska, Rosie Boncheva and bow Beth Desmond was the top NCAA Division II school in the Women's Championship 4 race Saturday at the Head of the Hooch national regatta featuring some of the nation's top Division I programs.
Barry finished sixth in the race with a time of 18:06.1. The Bucs other crew of cox Angela Dasch, stroke Kasia Walentynowicz, Sam McKenzie, Lauren Hillard and bow Rebekah Kilroy were 20th in 18:59.5. The University of Tennessee won the race in 17:37.8.
It marked the second year in a row a Barry boat was the top Division II finisher in a Head of the Hooch race.
"We got really a lot out of it," Barry first-year coach Boban Rankovic said.
The Women's Championship 4+ race was the second event of the day for some of the Bucs, who doubled by racing in an earlier race at one of the nation's premier fall events.
Barry's Varsity 8+ of coxswain Dasch, stroke Boncheva, Kaminska, Girotto, Desmond, Jelena Momirov, Luna Ugenovic, Mandy Carper and bow Anais Foppoli finished 15th in the Women's Championship 8+ race with a time of 17:06.1. Miami won the race in 16:07.7.
Barry's novice 4+ crew of cox Nicole Cristo, stroke Elisa Lombardi, Mariana Lisboa, Michelle Tran and bow Ellen Hartman was 24th in 24:08.4 in the College and Club 4+ event. Jacksonville won the race in 19:22.2.
"We had a lot of good races out there today, which is what we came for," Rankovic said. "Somewhat rough water against a lot of Division I schools. Our novice 4 was absolutely great. I'm absolutely pleased with how they came together."
Barry will race in the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Fall Championships at Canal 54 in Fellsmere, Fla., next weekend to close the fall season.