Stotesbury gold for Mount St. Joseph eight

Caught up in the major high of a triumphant ride in the varsity eight, Mount St. Joseph Academy coxswain Erin McElroy lunged forward and into the arms of stroke Dana Lerro.

Seconds later, as McElroy had taken a quick break from calling out directions, the Legacy crashed into an abutment of the Columbia Avenue Bridge. "I guess we were all kind of in the moment," senior second seat Rose Ehrlich said.

McElroy endured some light ribbing - and, as is tradition, was tossed in the drink by her teammates - at the end of Saturday's 86th Stotesbury Cup Regatta.

Mount St. Joseph gained its second varsity eight crown in three years, crossing the line in 4 minutes, 48.34 seconds. The talented and senior-dominated crew beat out runner-up National Cathedral School (4:50.32) and third-place James Madison (4:51.29).

"They did a great job of living up to the expectations they put on themselves," varsity eight coach Mike "Stubbs" McKenna said. "Finishing the deal at Stotesbury is not easy."

The boat, undefeated on the Schuylkill this season, consists of, in order from coxswain, McElroy, Lerro, Julie McGlynn, Katie O'Connell, Darian DiCianno, Dana Zielinski, Emily Carbone, Ehrlich, and Kiera McCloy. All but McCloy are seniors.

McElroy and O'Connell, the sixth seat and captain, are ticketed for Northeastern. Ehrlich and McGlynn, following in the footsteps of McKenna and 13th-year head coach Meg Kennedy, are bound for Drexel.

Lerro (Duke), DiCianno (USC), Zielinski (Clemson), and Carbone (Georgetown) will likewise row for Division I programs.

"I'm going to try to carry on this legacy next year," said McCloy, the junior bow.

In the girls' senior four, Merion Mercy (5:19.29) held off South Jersey's Mainland (5:20.52) and Egg Harbor Township (5:23.94).

Merion Mercy's crew included coxswain Maddi Ratfield, stroke Elissa Jensen (headed to UCLA), third seat Emily Buongiorno (Georgetown), second seat Sarah Klippel, and bow Giovanna Crozier-Fitzgerald.

"We rowed an eight all year," Merion Mercy coach Mike Brown said. "We had an injury to a girl, so we had to break it down to a four. Friday was the first time the girls were together."

On the boys' side, Gonzaga, of Washington, D.C., captured the varsity eight title in 4:06.69. St. Joseph's Prep, catching a crab on the second stroke and slowed by an ill fourth seat (breathing issues), was ousted in the semifinals.

The Prep, as expected, won the lightweight eight. "Those kids row every day like they're heavyweights," Hawks coach Jim Glavin said.

Conestoga, guided by head coach Paul Coomes and assistant Colleen Greway, took gold in the girls' senior quad. "I'm beyond excited," sophomore bow Meagan Hudson said. "There are no words to describe it."

In the boys' senior quad, North Jersey's Montclair (4:30.36) held off Conestoga (4:33.64) and Malvern Prep (4:35.07).

The Holy Spirit girls repeated as lightweight eight champions. "It really wasn't a surprise," coach Rory Roberts said, "but it's great to see the girls come together and have a great performance in an event like this."

Complete results are at www.boathouserow.org.