SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Union College women's crew team earned a state title in the second varsity 4+ boat to highlight an excellent day of rowing at the New York State Championships, held on Saturday at Fish Creek.
 
The highlight of the day for Union came in the second varsity 4+ race, where the quintet of first-year Lizzie Vandam (coxswain) and sophomores Sarah Hannan, Emma Friedman, Amy Gagliardi and Olivia Werkema battled both a pouring rain and three other crews to take home the title with a time of 8:22.5, defeating Colgate University by five seconds and Marist College by over 10 seconds.
 
The women's varsity 4+ boat also had a solid showing, taking second in their heat to reach the grand final, where the Garnet Chargers finished sixth behind five Division I boats. The boat, consisting of junior Melina McGovern (coxswain), junior Sadie White and seniors Olivia Anderson, Julia Cole and Sara Beckwith, finished their heat in 8:55.35 to place second and earn a spot in the final, where the group took 22 seconds off their time racing against quality competition.
 
The women's novice 4+ boat earned a fourth-place finish and missed third by less than two seconds after a strong push to the finish nearly overtook the University of Rochester. The boat was helmed by first-year coxswain Isabelle Canaveral and featured junior Nora Hillery and first-years Isabelle Dudek, Gabbi Dowling and Elizabeth Canaveral.
 
Union will return to action next Saturday at the Novak Memorial Metropolitan Championships, hosted by Iona College in New Rochelle.