Feb. 13, 2008

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LEWISBURG, Pa. - This past Sunday the Bucknell women's rowing program held the annual Erg Armageddon inside Davis Gym. Penn State, RIT, Susquehanna and the Bucknell men's rowing club-varsity team competed along with the Bison women's rowing squad. Bucknell alumni and Bucknell parents had their chance to compete in select events as well.

The Erg Armageddon, in its 12th year, featured openweight and lightweight races at the 2,000-meter distance as well as 500-meter dashes. The 1,000-meter events included mixed doubles, coxswains, master's and alumni. During racing, competitors and spectators were able to follow along by watching a large screen on the wall of Davis Gym, which showed a projection of each race.

Bucknell rowers, who all competed as unaffiliated athletes, swept the 2,000-meter events. Senior Katherine Brewster-Duffy won the varsity openweight event in 7 minutes, 17.7 seconds, while junior Whittney Henry claimed the varsity lightweight race for the second consecutive year, finishing in 7:42.0. Freshman Carol Schoenecker broke the event record in the novice openweight that had stood since 2002 with a personal-best time of 7:14.4. Classmate Stephanie Frank claimed the novice lightweight crown, finishing in 7:55.5.

"The Erg Armageddon is a great opportunity to experience a race-day situation," commented Bucknell head coach Stephen Kish. "The women definitely made the most of the opportunity."

The Bucknell alumni were well represented, with current volunteer assistant coach Christine Drasba '06 winning the 1,000-meter alumni event in 3:35.7. Erin Henry '07, Laura Roberts '07, Susan Shadle '07 and Courtney Luzzi '06 also competed.

Parents of many current Bison competed in the master's events, with Paul Mitchell, the father of sophomore Devon Mitchell, claiming the gold medal in 3:04.05. It marked the second consecutive year he won the event, and he shaved more than two seconds off his winning time from 2007. Joyce Mitchell, Devon Mitchell's mother, grabbed the bronze in the women's master's event, finishing in 4:09.1. Fellow Bucknell women's rowing fathers Jim Regan, Dick Trayes and Frank Colandro also competed.

With another Erg Armageddon complete, the Bison will now set their sights on the beginning of the spring competition season. They open up the campaign March 15 against George Mason in Elberton, Ga. Bucknell's first home event will take place April 5 against Buffalo on the Susquehanna River near Shamokin Dam, Pa.