Temple University Athletics
1994 Temple Women's Crew Wins Dad Vail Gold and Respect
5.6.19 | Women's Rowing
Twenty-five years ago, the Temple men's crew team had long established itself as the dominant squad on the Schuylkill. The history of the Owls' men program started in 1966, and soon after, unbeaten seasons, countless Bergen Cup and Dad Vail titles followed. By 1994, the men were in the midst of a Dad Vail record winning streak.
But what about the women?
Established as an intercollegiate sport at Temple in 1988, the women's team had just six seasons as a varsity crew under its belt in 1994. After rowing two years as a club program in 1986 and 1987, the 1988 Owls competed as the school's first varsity women's crew team.
The Temple women rose quickly. In their first six seasons as a varsity program, Temple captured two Dad Vail medals – bronze in both 1991 and 1993.
However, the Owls still lacked the respect that many on the team thought they deserved. And this team set out to change that.
In the season preview, Head Coach Jerry Flood clearly laid out his expectation for the year.
"The Dad Vail Regatta is the most important race for us," said Flood. "Last year's goal was to make the finals, and this year's goal is to win the gold."
Early in the 1994 season, Temple faced its first test, squaring off against top schools at the Cherry Blossom Regatta in D.C.
Trailing Navy and sitting in second place with 500 meters to go, the water was choppy, so the Owls responded with lowering their stroke rate. It paid off. Temple beat Navy for the first time in history, and in the process topped the 1993 Dad Vail Champion Georgetown crew.
"I don't think any of us expected us to win," explained Athina Ginis, a sophomore in that boat. "I don't think our coach expected us to win. I don't think any other school or coach there expected us to win."
Temple proved that the win was no fluke. The Owls followed it up by capturing varsity eight titles at the Kerr Cup, the Murphy Cup, and the Kelly Cup Regattas.
With those gold medals racked up, it was time for the one that mattered. It was time for the Dad Vail Regatta.
Televised and in front of a crowd of over 30,000 spectators, the women's team opened the heats and easily got through to the finals.
"When we got to the finals, we felt even more confident that 'Yes, we can do this," said Ginis. "Not only did we want it for ourselves, we wanted to be the first because no other women's team before us had done it. We had this chance to be the first."
In the finals, Temple left no doubt. The Owls won their race in a time of 7:01.54, more than seven seconds faster than second-place Colgate.
"We felt really strong," said Owls' coxswain Stacy Scott. "Once the course straightened out, we just took them."
"They were always so good and in their own league," Schott said. "We felt like we were up to par with them now. I think we got a lot of respect from the men's crew at that point."
For the Temple women, almost more important than the gold medal, was the feeling that they belonged in the same conversation as the men. Mission accomplished.
But what about the women?
Established as an intercollegiate sport at Temple in 1988, the women's team had just six seasons as a varsity crew under its belt in 1994. After rowing two years as a club program in 1986 and 1987, the 1988 Owls competed as the school's first varsity women's crew team.
The Temple women rose quickly. In their first six seasons as a varsity program, Temple captured two Dad Vail medals – bronze in both 1991 and 1993.
However, the Owls still lacked the respect that many on the team thought they deserved. And this team set out to change that.
In the season preview, Head Coach Jerry Flood clearly laid out his expectation for the year.
"The Dad Vail Regatta is the most important race for us," said Flood. "Last year's goal was to make the finals, and this year's goal is to win the gold."
Early in the 1994 season, Temple faced its first test, squaring off against top schools at the Cherry Blossom Regatta in D.C.
Trailing Navy and sitting in second place with 500 meters to go, the water was choppy, so the Owls responded with lowering their stroke rate. It paid off. Temple beat Navy for the first time in history, and in the process topped the 1993 Dad Vail Champion Georgetown crew.
"I don't think any of us expected us to win," explained Athina Ginis, a sophomore in that boat. "I don't think our coach expected us to win. I don't think any other school or coach there expected us to win."
Temple proved that the win was no fluke. The Owls followed it up by capturing varsity eight titles at the Kerr Cup, the Murphy Cup, and the Kelly Cup Regattas.
With those gold medals racked up, it was time for the one that mattered. It was time for the Dad Vail Regatta.
Televised and in front of a crowd of over 30,000 spectators, the women's team opened the heats and easily got through to the finals.
"When we got to the finals, we felt even more confident that 'Yes, we can do this," said Ginis. "Not only did we want it for ourselves, we wanted to be the first because no other women's team before us had done it. We had this chance to be the first."
In the finals, Temple left no doubt. The Owls won their race in a time of 7:01.54, more than seven seconds faster than second-place Colgate.
"We felt really strong," said Owls' coxswain Stacy Scott. "Once the course straightened out, we just took them."
"They were always so good and in their own league," Schott said. "We felt like we were up to par with them now. I think we got a lot of respect from the men's crew at that point."
For the Temple women, almost more important than the gold medal, was the feeling that they belonged in the same conversation as the men. Mission accomplished.
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