Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357 (w); 804-443-2703 (h)
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPRING SPORTS WRAP UP
CREW
Led by Head Coach Jenn Klar, St. Margaret's first ever rowing team competed in 5 of 7 regattas in its debut season with the National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Association at the Occoquan in northern Virginia; competitor schools included, Thomas Jefferson (Alexandria), Walt Whitman (Bethesda, MD), St. Alban's (DC) and, more locally, Mathews and Christchurch.
In the 3rd race of the season, the SMS varsity 4+ team of Laura Austin, coxswain; Catherine Redfearn, stroke; Claire Stephenson, Hannah Bowen, and Ruth Redfearn led all boats for the first 800 meters; by the 4th race, both the varsity 4 and freshman 4 boats raced as 2nd varsity 4+ teams.
At the Mathews regatta on the East River, April 17, SMS varsity 4 placed first overall (6:47.30); the freshman 4: Anne Czechanski, coxswain; Sarah Taliaferro, stroke; Olivia Dix, and Kelly Proctor, placed second (5:08.97). SMS novice 8: Laura Austin, coxswain; Nina Van Rooijen, stroke; Hilary L'Allier, Katy Challoner, Kathleen McDermott, Kasey Horowitz, Anna Mobley-Johnson, Emily Fisher, and Katie Hawks finished the 1500 meter short course in 7:36.40, placing second behind Gloucester (7:36.40).
On May 8, on the Lafayette River in Norfolk, SMS competed against Cox, Norfolk Academy, Norfolk Collegiate, Hickory, Gar-Field, and Potomac. The SMS varsity 4 won the Petite Final; the freshman 4 finished 2nd in the Grand Final.
"The girls have amazed me with their newfound passion for rowing that has promoted in them not only physical, but emotional fitness, through unity and dedication. What a legacy in each girl's life and for St. Margaret's," recollects Klar.
LACROSSE
Despite a roster full of many first-time players, this spring Coach Phoebe Rittenhouse (SMS ’94), guided her lacrosse team to a remarkable season in its first year at the varsity level. SMS opened the season with 2 wins, 2 ties, and 2 losses at a tournament hosted by St. Anne's-Belfield in Charlottesville.
The team's inexperience showed as SMS dropped many close games early in the season but, said 1999-2000 school president Sara Pirtle, "It was a learning year, and we did a good job not letting our losses discourage us."
SMS entered the L.I.S. tournament a number 3 seed but fell to VES in the first round, despite a close match. Losing only 2 seniors, next year's team will feature a core group of returning players. Three players were honored at season's end as L.I.S. Division II All-Stars: 1998-99 school president Anne Worthington, of Gloucester, who will attend James Madison University this fall; Ginny Moncure ’00, of Tappahannock, and Sara Pirtle ’00, of Champlain, both will return for their senior season.
SOFTBALL
Head Coach Sue Saunders, with 8 of 9 starters returning from her 1998 L.I.S. regular season and tournament championship softball team, anticipated another great season. In a pre-season tournament at The Dream Fields in Lancaster Country, SMS won 2nd place. Unfortunately, SMS soon suffered a number of costly injuries: starting right-hander Shannon Davis missed several weeks with mononucleosis; second baseman Sara Newman, of White Stone, was sidelined several key games due to a severely sprained ankle. The Scotties were unable to rebound. SMS finished the regular season 4 - 6.
A number 4 seed in the L.I.S. tournament, SMS pummeled 5th seed St. Catherine's in the first round. In the tournament semi-final, SMS was pitted against the top-seeded and undefeated St. Gertrude's Gators. SMS scored one run in the top of the eighth to take a 5 - 4 extra innings lead. With 2 outs in the bottom of the eighth, St. Gertrude's drew a walk. An error and two hits later, St. Gertrude's defeated SMS 6 - 5.
Named to the 1999 L.I.S. Division II All-Star Team were: Melissa Mancuso, catcher; Elizabeth Sadler, short stop; and Caroline Nickel, left field.
Coach Saunders comments, "The most rewarding part of coaching this team was the fact that no matter how far we were down, we never gave up. To lose because you played poorly is frustrating. To lose when you played your best is probably more frustrating. But you move on with the satisfaction of knowing you did your best."
TENNIS
Led by senior Roz Rogers, of Annandale, who went undefeated in doubles and lost only twice in singles through ten regular season matches and the L.I.S. conference tournament, St. Margaret's 1999 tennis team enjoyed a winning season.
SMS posted key regular season victories over Christchurch 8 - 1 on the road, St. Vincent's 7 - 2, St. Catherine's 9 - 0, and Mathews 5 - 4. SMS finished the regular season 6 - 3 overall; 2 - 3 L.I.S. conference.
At the L.I.S. Division II tournament held May 14 - 15 in Lynchburg, SMS finished 3rd place behind STAB and L.I.S. tournament champion VES. Rogers and her number two doubles partner Katie Farmer, of Millers Tavern, after winning the doubles championship, both made it to the finals of their singles bracket as well.
Despite losing Rogers and fellow senior Katherine Davant, coach Katie Spiegler, of Tappahannock, is optimistic about her team's chances in 2000.