WORCESTER, Mass. - The Simmons College crew team was limited to just the early morning heats at the New England Rowing Championships on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. due to heavy rain and wind.

The Sharks First Varsity Eight shell fought a tough start that found them in last place in their heat, but a late surge saw them turn in a time of 8:04.800 to finish fifth with Smith College finishing ahead of them and Johnson & Wales University and Middlebury College finishing behind. Wellesley College won the heat and went on to finish fourth in the Grand Final. Junior Ronnie Bennett (Pottstown, Pa.) powered the Simmons eight from the stroke position with classmate Elsbeth Colson (Everett, Mass.) following in the seventh spot ahead of first year Kate Krawczuk (Harrisburg, Pa.), sophomore Madison Summers (Hudson, N.H.), junior Captain Alexa Frongillo (Franklin, Mass.), first years Sabrina Belozerova (Newton, Mass.), Olivia Hamilton (Sunapee, N.H.), and senior Karina Bercan (Derry, N.H.) in the bow seat. Junior Clarice Johnson (Norwell, Mass.) called directives from the coxswain seat.

Simmons saw its Second Varsity Eight place fifth in its respective heat, as well, with a time of 9:12.078. First year Hannah Dike (Leominster, Mass.) led the boat from the stroke seat, followed by sophomore Eleanor Pullan (Northampton, Mass.), junior Elizabeth Rea-Wilson (Concord, Mass.), first years Brianna Paterson (Pelham, N.H.), Rebecca Ramsey (Jefferson, N.H.), Emily Saunders (Hebron, Conn.), sophomore Captain Nicole Lee (North Reading, Mass.), and first year bow Kyetsie Heller (Sharon, Mass.) with first year Ally Fecteau (Burlington, Conn.) in the coxswain perch.

The Sharks Third Varsity Eight clocked in at 6:22.327 in a time trial. First year Jess Rush (Marion, Mass.) pulled from the stroke seat, followed by sophomore Christine Yu (Plainville, Mass.), first years Lauren Martin (Pittsfield, N.H.), Peizhu Pam Qian (Beijing, China/Developing Virtue Secondary Girls School (Calif.)), junior Captain Kaitlin Fierlit (Hamden, Conn.) in the four seat, taking up an oar after serving primarily as a coxswain throughout her career. She was followed by first years Lily Pennington (Watertown, Mass.), Sarah MacEachen (Hollis, N.H.) and graduate student Jess Randolph (Concord, N.C.) in the bow seat. Sophomore Melissa Morton (Somers, Conn.) directed the shell from the coxswain seat.

Simmons will conclude its season on Friday, May 12 when it competes at the National Invitational Rowing Championship on Lake Quinsigamond.