Alabama Rowing Medals Twice in Big 12 Championship Grand Finals

May 15, 2016

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- Alabama rowing wrapped up competition at the Big 12 Championships Sunday at Melton Hill Lake, competing in three Grand Finals and two Petite Finals. The Crimson Tide's First Varsity 4+ and Third Varsity 8+ earned top-three finishes, winning Alabama's first ever medals at the conference championship.

"To get on the medal podium at the conference championship for the first time was a great accomplishment," head coach Larry Davis said. "Even though we finished lower in the overall standings, a lot of people had great success today."

After finishing second in its heat and third overall in yesterday's preliminary race, the First Varsity 4+ turned in a second-place finish in Sunday's Grand Final, edging out a tough Oklahoma crew by just under two seconds with a time of 7:42.630. The Sooners and the Tide finished neck-and-neck in the Third Varsity 8+ as well, with Oklahoma taking second place by less than a second ahead of the third-place Alabama crew that finished in 7:10.885.

Alabama's Second Varsity 4+ finished fifth in its Grand Final (8:03.445) while the First Varsity 8+ beat West Virginia in its Petite Final (7:01.649) and the Second Varsity 8+ placed second in its Petite Final (7:09.311).

"The ability to make changes and come back improved on day two really shows that we're heading in the right direction," Davis said. "It's really encouraging. We graduated some great seniors but we also have a lot of talent coming back and a great signing class that will join us next season as well."

As a team, Alabama placed seventh with 15 points. Texas won the league title and will earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Tide senior Olivia Dennis was selected as the team's representative on the 2016 Big 12 All-Conference Team.

For all the latest information on Alabama Rowing, follow the team on Facebook (Alabama Rowing), Twitter (@AlabamaRow) and Instagram (AlabamaRow).

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS -- DAY TWO RESULTS (ALABAMA)

Third Varsity 8+ (Grand Final)
3rd: 7:10.885

Lineup: Shannon Sweatt (Cox), Meghan Hampton (8), Jacklin Byers (7), Raien Emery (6), Ali Smith (5), Laura Egeland (4), Erin Delaney (3), Katherine Scott (2), Madeleine Evans (1)

Second Varsity 4+ (Grand Final)
5th: 8:03.445

Lineup: Erin Hayes (Cox), Olivia Miller (4), Hannah Gammon (3), Anne Lehmann (2), Allie Pospisil (1)

First Varsity 4+ (Grand Final)
2nd: 7:42.630

Lineup: Tori Cohen (Cox), Miller Tuohy (4), Rachel Henderson (3), Amanda Oliver (2), Lydia Blount (1)

Second Varsity 8+ (Petite Final)
2nd: 7:09.311

Lineup: Kendall Scullion (Cox), Courtney Atkinson (8), Rachel Palmer (7), Maggie Gillespie (6), Abigail Palmer (5), Rachel Sowell (4), Abby Marks (3), Leslie Feriozzi (2), Gabby Sprio (1)

First Varsity 8+ (Petite Final)
1st: 7:01.649

Lineup: Emily Navin (Cox), Jacqueline Guezille (8), Nicole Lane (7), Olivia Dennis (6), Tayla Cabana (5), Charlotte Adkins (4), Joyce Auguste (3), Lindsey Taylor (2), Jennifer Parker (1)