Proud Purdue Finishes Women's Henley Regatta With Thrilling Second-Place Finish

Henley-on-Thames, England — Following three victories at the Women’s Henley Regatta, including a nail-biting victory in Sunday’s semifinals, the Purdue University women’s varsity eight fell to ASR Nereus (Holland) in the finals of the G.P. Jeffries Cup on Sunday afternoon on the River Thames.  

In a week-long experience that few will forget, the Purdue crew of Kaitlyn Egan (Jr. Cox), Samantha Warner (Sr., bow), Amanda Elmore (So., 2 seat), Emily Rhiver (So., 3 seat), Rachel Young (Sr., 4 seat), Molly Powers (So., 5 seat), Maggie Busse (So., 6 seat), Louisa Mattingly (Sr., 7 seat) and Ellen Rohlfing (Sr., stroke) represented the United States and the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta to the highest degree and made its supporters proud on both side of the pond.

“I told them afterward that they rowed a great race and made it all the way to the finals in something they had never done before,” said head coach Sandy Calfo.  “They made it as far as they could get and that was what it was all about.  They were a boat — together — and they did a lot of great things this year.”

The Boilermakers made a valiant run at the finals, but the Nereus boat rowed the 1,500-meter Thames course in a powerful time of 5 minutes, 2 seconds for the second straight race and won by roughly three lengths.

Purdue won arguably the most riveting race of the day in the semifinals with a quarter of  a length victory over University College Dublin.  The crew had only a two-hour turnaround after the emotionally draining race to regroup and prepare for the championship.

Following the loss to Nereus, there were a few tears at the finish line, but they were not of grief or sadness.

“We think our last race was the strongest we had all weekend so there are no regrets,” Ellen Rohlfing said.  “The tears were because everything was over and we couldn’t be more prouder of our season and each other.  We’ve just had such a great ride over these last couple of weeks.  This really brought us all together.”  

Having knocked off England’s Tyne Rowing Club, Northern Ireland’s Queen’s University and Ireland’s University College Dublin, Purdue’s women’s varsity eight beat three international crews from across the British Isles over the course of the three-day Women’s Henley.  Though the sting of defeat is sharp now, the crews’ accomplishments will resonate far longer.

“It’s going to take a little while for all the things we’ve done to really set in,” Kaitlyn Egan said.  “This was big for Purdue history and our club.  I think in a few weeks we will be calling and texting each other, saying, ‘Hey, we actually got second at Henley.”

Seeded as the No. 12 boat at the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta in May, Purdue secured its trip to the Women’s Henley by shocking the field to capture the Aberdeen Trophy as Dad Vail’s women’s varsity eight champion.  The crew’s trip abroad was sponsored by the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee and Aberdeen Asset Management.

“Going into Dad Vail we were such an underdog and our goal was just to make it the semifinals and then to make it to the finals,” Egan said.  “Lo and behold, we won the whole thing and then got the amazing opportunity to come to England and race against these great international crews.  I would have never imagined that we would have gotten to do all this.  It was a great honor to represent our program and Dad Vail here.”

The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta and Aberdeen Asset Management congratulate Purdue University on a wonderfully hard-fought effort at the 2011 Women’s Henley Regatta.

PHOTO & STORY: Brendan F. Quinn

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