The Stockton University women's rowing program made tremendous strides during a breakthrough season that set the Ospreys on a path toward future success. After competing in three regattas during Fall 2018, Stockton's transformation began during the spring semester with the arrival of
John Bancheri as the program's first full-time head coach.
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Bancheri returned to his native New Jersey to lead the Ospreys, bringing nearly 35 years of coaching experience. His hiring was one of several key factors in the program's rapid growth. The highly successful Rowing & Growing fundraiser, the purchase of new equipment and the team's first-ever spring break trip to Florida also were important steps.
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The Ospreys settled into their home base at the Atlantic City Boat House and hosted the University of Rochester and Cabrini in the inaugural Stockton-AC Boat Race. The team made progress on the water with its best finish ever at the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference Championships, third place, plus its first varsity eight medal ever at the famous Dad Vail Regatta with bronze.
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The Stockton varsity eight finished 20th in the final cMax NCAA Division III rankings, vaulting up from 33rd early in the season. The Ospreys also posted their best finish ever in the varsity eight at the MARC Championships with fourth place while the second varsity notched a best-ever performance as the runner-up at the conference meet.
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Three rowers from the varsity eight were recognized with MARC all-conference accolades.
Olivia Hurley and
Lily Ludgate were selected All Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference varsity while
Michaela Pope was chosen All Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference novice. All three Ospreys received all-conference honors for the first time.
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Ludgate, Hurley and Pope were joined by
Emily Culmone,
Chloe Schulze,
Julia Iannelli,
Jazlyn Quish,
Sofiya Lebedeva and coxswain
Kaitlyn Bradley in the varsity eight at the MARC Championships.
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Catelyn Andrews,
Desarae Dempsey,
Amanda Guida,
Kayla Bokor,
Caitlyn Fogarty,
Jany Anderson,
Marie Carney,
Claudia Bowman and coxswain
Julianna Hanson comprised the second varsity eight that competed at the MARC Championships.
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The rowers who made Stockton history in the varsity eight at Dad Vails were Culmone, Schulze, Iannelli, Hurley, Carney, Bowman, Ludgate and Pope, with Bradley as the coxswain. Their bronze medal not only was the first medal ever by Stockton in a Dad Vail eight race, but also the first medal in any event at the largest collegiate regatta in North America in 21 years.
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Overall, the Ospreys competed six times during the spring in a campaign that laid the foundation for the future of the program. With Bancheri now established in his role as the head coach after a whirlwind first few months, Stockton can continue building toward its aspirations as a national power.
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