Lane 1: Dartmouth
2: Syracuse
3: Brown
4: Radcliffe
5: Penn
The Syracuse boat boasts an Olympian in SARA President Tracy Rude Smith ’90 and seven rowers with NCAA experience. Libby Graves ‘01, Jillian Kott ‘02, Rachael Kirchhoff ‘02 and Kate Modolo ‘01 were in the boat that finished sixth in 2001.
Graves, who was earning her masters’ degree, Kott and Kirchoff also competed at the NCAA’s in 2002 along with Nicole Garofalo ’02, Jordan Brophy-Hilton ’02 and current SU Assistant Coach Alicea Kochis ‘02.
Kate Todd ’09 will cox, sitting in for the NCAA coxswain Erin Gallagher who is walking at graduation with her Ph. D. this weekend.
In their prime: Graves and Kott (left)
Kochis and Kirchhoff (right)
Here’s the lineup and, yes, for those familiar with who rows on which side it is a starboard-stroked eight:
C: Kate Todd ‘09
8: Nicole Garofalo ‘02
7: Tracy Rude-Smith ‘90
6: Jillian Kott ‘02
5: Rachael Kirchhoff ‘02
4: Alicea Kochis ‘02
3: Kate Modolo ’01
2: Libby Graves ’01, Master’s ‘02
1: Jordan Brophy-Hilton ‘02
From Atlanta, where she is a spokesperson for Atlantic Southeast Airlines and her husband Ross Beattie coaches the Georgia Tech Women’s Crew, Modolo says she is “looking forward to having a good time with these girls. I haven’t seen them since 2001.”
Nicole Garofalo adds, “We all live in different states now but I try to keep in touch through FaceBook and email. These are the type of girls that you could go years without seeing but when you get together again it's like you begin right where you left off.”
“We’re excited to see Kris again.”
Head Coach Kris Sanford seems to be the major factor in getting these alumnae back into a shell together. “I am very much looking forward to seeing not only my old teammates but Kris as well.” Garofalo (right in her undergrad days) says. “I miss her!"“We’re all excited to get together and see Kris again,” Modolo says. “We all just love her so much.” Modolo served as a graduate assistant for the women’s team while she was earning her master’s degree at the Newhouse School.
"It will be a lot of fun to race with them again, and also to catch up off the water," Kirchhoff says. "Three of us in the boat have had baby boys in the past year so it will be fun to get them together - and who knows maybe they'll all end up rowing at SU together some day."
Cox Kate sees competition on more than one level.
Kate Todd (left in SU Athletic photo) says she's honored to be coxing this group." As a last minute recruit I have been brushing up on my coxing skills by ordering my boyfriend (Men's Team Coxswain Jamie Hubbell '09) around New York City in a very loud voice, critiquing his posture, strength and stamina during various outings and activities such as running, moving furniture and doing the dishes," she says. "We often debate who is the stronger coxswain and this weekend will surely reinforce my reign."
And the expectations?
On one hand Tracy Smith (left - at Crash B's this year) is keeping her sense of humor about expectations for the race. "Half-slide, high rating and seeing Jesus at the 1500.”
On the other hand, she adds this: “We must win….at all costs.” (It’s hard to tell from an email if she was keyboarding with tongue in cheek.)
Coxswain Kate Todd seems to be on the same page. "I wouldn't bet against the strength of 8 women who love rowing and Kris Sanford so much that they would return to New Jersey long after graduation to once again face the likes of Georgetown and Penn. This loyalty to the Orange, combined with my penchant for strategy and a fierce race plan that may or may not involve a race pace of 42 at half slide for the last 500m will set the stage for quite the showdown."
"I know we are all planning for a win!" Kirchhoff says. Garofalo agrees. “To win! Even though there are lots of new moms in the boat now I know my teammates are amazing athletes!”
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