MINNEAPOLIS - The Drake rowing team competed well today in all of its races at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta. The Bulldogs strongest competition in most of today's race was the University of Minnesota, one of the best rowing teams in the country. Drake entered eight teams that competed in four different races.

"We are happy with how we rowed today," head coach Charlie DiSilvestro said. "Minnesota is one of the best teams in the country but we competed with them and weren't intimidated by them."

The novice four team of Hannah Hennessy (cox.) (Morris, Ill.), Stephanie Boylan (Greenleaf, Wis.), Kelsey Pfeifer (Whitefish Bay, Wis.), Shelby Hill-Killerlain (Madison, Wis.) and Bri Varela (Olathe, Kan.) won their race in a time of 22:36. The Bulldogs had one other team in the race and they finished fourth overall with a time of 25:37.

Alison Armstrong (cox.) (New Berlin, Wis.), Katie Serbin (Hannibal, Mo.), Kelsey Leahy (Madison, Wis.), Alex Lueck (West Allis, Wis.), Leah Robison (St. Paul, Minn.), Boylan, Hill-Killerlain Varela and Pfeifer took second in the novice eight race with a time of 19:57 behind Minnesota (19:41).

"Our freshman had good races and our varsity had strong races against some very powerful teams from Minnesota," said DiSilvestro. "It's early and we will get a chance to see them again in three weeks in Iowa City. We bumped up our race schedule this fall to see how we measured up against good crews like Minnesota. We have some work to do but we have plenty of time to improve and we will be better in three weeks."

Drake will have a couple of weeks before its next regatta. The team will travel ninety miles east to the Head of the Iowa Regatta on Sunday, Oct. 28. The annual event is hosted by the University of Iowa rowing team in Iowa City. For full results from today visit the official site of the Head of the Mississippi.