VOLUME 11, NO. 1     MAY 1997

Out of water experience

Cold weather and a nearly frozen lake did not deter several area crew teams from competing in January. Rowers from WPI, Holy Cross, Assumption, Worcester State and Clark came together in Alumni Gym on Jan. 26 for the annual Ernst Mooser Indoor Rowing Competition. The 2,000-meter ergometer race provides a respite from the monotony of indoor workouts.

WPI entered the winner's circle in several categories this year. Freshman Anne-Marie Chouinard's 7:51.1 was enough for a first-place finish in the women's novice event; the women's novice A-team and the men's novice A-team captured the team crowns.

Sophomore Karen Osman and senior Nicole Robert of the women's varsity A-team finished first and second in their division with times of 7:41.2 and 7:47.6, respectively; the women's varsity A-team, assisted by Nicole Damren and Jennifer Yambert, also took the team crown; and the men's varsity team came in a respectable second behind cross-city rival Holy Cross.

"Our strong showing in this race gives us a real boost as we move toward the beginning of our season in March," says men's varsity crew coach David Ploss. "WPI's success this early in the season is something to push us as we go through the winter waiting for the lake to clear," adds women's varsity crew coach Matt Hastings.

The racing season for both men and women began on April 15 with a race against UMass-Lowell, URI and Mass. Maritime on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester. That was followed by races every Saturday at the lake, culminating in the New England Championships on May 3.

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