MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Rosie Boncheva was more concerned about fetching coffee for her pal after it was over. And over it was in a hurry, as she and Barry University Varsity 8 outraced rival Nova Southeastern Saturday in the Mix of Miami at Shane Rowing Center.
The Buccaneers took care of business to begin the 2013-14 season, beating the Sharks by 49 seconds on the 4,500-meter course on the intracoastal waterway east of the Atlantic Ocean.
"It was pretty intense at first," Boncheva said of meeting up with Nova, who won last year's NCAA Division II National Championship. "There was a lot of excitement because we really wanted to beat them, and show them what we were capable of.
"In the first 1000 meters I would say, there was a lot of tension in the boat, I'm guessing because the dynamics is still not OK, but it was exciting. It was really exciting. I feel like this is going to bring us closer together. I feel like this is a great start of this season."
The Bucs 8 of coxswain Stephanie Dinkel, stroke Rosie Boncheva Monika Kaminska, Paola Girotto, Beth Desmond, Luna Ugrenovic, Jelena Momirov, Mandy Carper and bow Anais Foppoli, finished the head race in 15:52.8 on the Bucs home course over relatively flat water with a slight headwind roughly 1,000 meters before the midway mark. Nova, which was the first boat to go off in the race, crossed the finish in 16:41.8.
The University of Miami, under former Barry coach Dave Sanderson, pulled out of the race.
In the Varsity 4 race, Nova won with a time of 18:11.1. Barry's crew of cox Angela Dasch, stroke Kasia Walentynowicz, Sam McKenzie, Lauren Hillard and bow Rebekah Kilroy finished in 18:51.3.
"I think they rowed really strong, stronger than even we anticipated ourselves," Dasch said of her 4. "We had good rhythm together, but things happen. Now we know where we're at and what we need to get better with. There's nothing that we can't overcome."
Barry, under first-year coach Boban Rankovic, now turns its attention to bigger head races, beginning with the Head of the Charles in Boston in two weeks.
"It was great weather to get races in," Rankovic said. "It was great to have Nova come over to our course and get some racing in for the icebreaker race. There's a lot of work to be done. We are adjusting and gearing up for the Head of the Charles and Head of the Hooch."
MIX OF MIAMI
Shane Rowing Center
Miami Beach, Fla.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2013
VARSITY 4
Nova Southeastern 18:11.1
Barry 18:51.3
VARSITY 8
Barry 15:52.8
Nova Southeastern 16:41.8
* University of Miami elected not to row