Record Book [ regatta visits ] Name Visits Began BIG EAST 11 2001 Dad Vail 9 2000 ECAC Regatta 1 2010 George Washington Invite 2 2004 Head of the Charles 5 2002 Head of the Cuyahoga 1 2000 Head of the Elk 1 2005 Head of the Genesee 2 2006 Head of the Occoquan 5 2000 Head of the Ohio 11 2000 Head of the Mon 2 2003 Women’s Royal Henley 1 2001 Head of the Schuylkill 7 2000 Knecht Cup Regatta 10 2002 Metro Cup 1 2007 Murphy Cup 4 2005 Navy Day 2 2001 Occoquan Sprints 2 2011 Philadelphia Frostbite 2 2010 San Diego Crew Classic 4 2003 WVU at the 2006 SIRA’s SIRA 7 2001 Record Book [ all-time opponents ] Number Series Opponent of Meets Began Barry 1 2002 Cincinnati 3 2001 Connecticut 1 2002 Dayton 4 2008 Duquesne 4 2003 Central Florida 1 2002 George Mason 2 2008 Georgetown 1 2012 George Washington 1 2011 Iowa 1 2012 Jacksonville 1 2002 Louisville 2 2001 Alita Meyers 54 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ] Record Book [ awards and honors ] U.S. ROWING NATIONAL TEAM coaches 2002 Meg Ayers rowers *(Top ten ranking in both singles and doubles preview events at U.S. Nationals) review records COSIDA FIRST TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN wvu 2003 Kate Abernathy media CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA AT-LARGE SECOND TEAM 2011 Rachel Viglianco NSCA ALL-AMERICAN STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING ATHLETES 2006 Meg Ayers 2011 Rachel Viglianco CRCA ALL MID-ATLANTIC REGION FIRST TEAM 2011 Shannon Gribbons CRCA ALL MID-ATLANTIC REGION SECOND TEAM Stephanie Roof 2006 Meg Ayers Donna Stullken MOUNTAINEER AWARD CRCA NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETES 2004-05 Meg Ayers 2000-01 Tina Griffith 2011 Hilary Meale Donna Stullken 2001-02 Risha Kelley Caitlin Murphy 2005-06 Caitlin Everett 2002-03 Kate Abernathy Rachelle Purych Meg Ayers 2003-04 Christy Davison 2006-07 Melissa Kane Rachel Viglianco 2004-05 Amelia Payne 2010 Kimberly Benda Teresa Dugan 2005-06 Sabrina O’Hara Shannon Gribbons 2007-08 None 2006-07 Teresa Dugan Brett Krumholz 2008-09 Kimberly Benda 2007-08 Megan Ostrom Rachel Viglianco 2009-10 Kimberly Benda 2008-09 None 2009 Kimberly Benda Caroline Rettig Brett Krumholz 2010-11 Kate Brownson 2009-10 Kate Brownson Rachel Viglianco 2010-11 None Kathryn Walsh TEAM MVP 2008 Kimberly Benda 2000-01 Risha Kelley MOST IMPROVED 2001-02 None 2006-07 Emily Boehler BIG EAST SCHOLAR-ATHLETE 2002-03 Gaetane De La Bourdonnaye 2007-08 Megan Ostrom SPORT EXCELLENCE AWARD 2003-04 Donna Stullken 2008-09 Stephanie Roof 2004-05 Meg Ayers (Varsity) 2011 Rachel Viglianco 2009-10 Jeannine McCarty (Varsity) Katy Garrett (Novice) Brittany Doss (Novice) ALL–BIG EAST 2005-06 Sabrina O’Hara (Varsity) 2010-11 Hilary Meale (Varsity) 2010 Kimberly Benda Jessie Kizer (Novice) Mallory Fisher (Novice) Caroline Rettig 2006-07 Caroline Rettig 2007-08 None BIG EAST INSTIUTIONAL FEMALE 2008-09 Kensie Phillips SCHOLAR-ATHLETE 2009-10 Caroline Rettig (Varsity) 2010 Kimberly Benda Ellen Shular (Novice) 2010-11 Shannon Gribbons (Varsity) TEAM CAPTAINS Christina Mehrtens (Novice) 2000-01 Tina Griffith 2001-02 Tina Griffith 2002-03 Risha Kelley Tina Griffith 2003-04 Meg Ayers [ 2012 ROWING ] 55 Record Book [ awards and honors ] ERG HAMMER AWARD IRON MOUNTAINEER This award is given to the member of the team that has the best 2008-09 Caroline Rettig 2,000-meter ERG score 2009-10 Brett Krumholz 2001-02 Kirsten Leslie Shannon Gribbons 2002-03 Gaetane De La Bourdonnaye 2010-11 Shannon Gribbons 2003-04 Meg Ayers Rachel Purych 2004-05 Meg Ayers Teresa Dugan 2005-06 Mollie Welty Whitney Blume 2006-07 Teresa Dugan Megan Ostrom 2007-08 Teresa Dugan 2008-09 None 2009-10 Shannon Gribbons (Varsity) Megan Neckelmann (Novice) 2010-11 Kate Brownson (Varsity) Sara Olenich (Novice) FLAME AWARD This award represents the most spirited rower 2008-09 Alita Meyers 2009-10 Jordan Burns 2010-11 Keyara Stevenson (Varsity) Alea Hipes (Novice) The 2003 Mountaineers WVU at the 2001 Women’s Royal Henley Regatta in England 56 [ WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ] Record Book [ henley royal regatta ] INCHES MAKE CHAMPIONS you get that and you know what that feeling is, you’re able to get coaches that in a lot of those races. Instead of four rowers, we were able to rowers The sport of rowing is not one in which achievements are often become one which is really what drove us.” preview recognized. The Mountaineers earned a much deserved victory that day review So when the West Virginia University rowing team acquired a new before heading back to Morgantown to finish school and start the records Varsity 4+ Vespoli racing shell and was contemplating a name, the deci- beginning of their summer vacations. They never anticipated what sion to reach out and ask some former team members for help came as would happen next. wvu a pleasant surprise. “After we won Vails, we didn’t know right away that we were media “It was such an honor,” said former coxswain Christine DiRienzo. going to go to Henley,” Nisbet reminisced. “There were a few weeks “When Tina Griffith sent us an email telling us that they were going to in between and then we got the call and we had to come back to name the boat and wanted us to help, I immediately pulled out my old school. We had all just started our summer jobs and the next thing photo album and starting looking through everything.” we know we get a call saying that we need to come back to school DiRienzo had many fond memories to reminisce upon, including for a few weeks to train.” the 2001 season when she led the women’s Varsity 4+ to a first-place “My parents had got me a graduation trip to Mexico and we finish at the Dad Vail Regatta, subsequently earning an invitation to the couldn’t go,” laughed DiRienzo. “My brother was so mad at me!” Women’s Royal Henley Regatta in England, one of the most prestigious Invitations to Women’s Royal Henley are few and far between. events in women’s rowing. After the team’s convincing win, the Dad Vail Regatta organiz- In fact, it was this very accomplishment that had five women travel- ers selected the West Virginia team to travel to Henley because it ing from all areas of the country in early October, from both East and felt that the team had the best chance of winning, despite the fact West coast, to come to Morgantown and participate in a boat christening that no team the committee had ever selected had ever made it in their honor. past the second round. It had been nearly 10 years since Griffith, Risha Kelley, Erin Nisbet, Upon arriving in England, the women noticed right away that Noelle Dodge and DiRienzo had come together for a crew related event, things were done much differently in Europe. and for a few, the first time they had seen each other in nearly a decade. “I remember that the course was 1,500-meters for the women There was laughter, hugs, and memories to share, but perhaps because as a women’s crew you couldn’t finish or go over the most importantly, a lasting legacy to leave behind for future generations men’s finish line which was at 2,000-meters,” explained Dodge. of Mountaineer rowers. “We trained for 2,000-meters and we only had to race 1,500. It A legacy of what can happen when hard work, determination and made it somewhat easier, but in Europe they row at a much faster enthusiasm are put forth every day. rate and every stroke was faster. So the faster pace made it much The journey to Henley began during the team’s spring training trip in more challenging because the way we rowed was slow, strong and Miami. The coach at that time, Nancy LaRocque, noticed right away that steady.” this group of women had something special. “You’d think it would be easier just because it’s shorter,” “She noticed that we had really good flow and really good body added DiRiezno. “But your body is already trained for 2,000-meters mechanics,” said Dodge. “When she saw that she kept telling us that we so you know how to hold it.” could be great and that we could be the best. We believed that, and we In addition, instead of racing four to six crews at a time as just felt unstoppable. We were all mentally in it to win it.” they do in the United States, at Henley, only two crews race in each The team won its first race of the season convincingly, beating heat. Due to this, the women had to race in three rounds, each Cincinnati and Louisville to the finish line at Hersha Lake with a time of with a quick turnaround. They sailed through the first round, easily 7:23.6. But it was the second race of the season that really changed the defeating Bowdoin’s crew. way they looked at things. The next race wasn’t so easy, however. After making it to the finals at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing “The second race was really close; it had the feel of a final Association’s (SIRA) Regatta, the team came in second to Jacksonville by race. It was against Birmingham and we emptied the tank on that mere inches. It was a loss that would spur the team on to great success, one because it was such a neck to neck race,” said Dodge. “We though they didn’t know it at the time.