News

CAPE COD, Mass. - Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Rudy Keeling announced today that Brown University has earned the 2008 ECAC Turfer Athletic Rowing Trophy. It is the second straight year that the Bears have won the ECAC Turfer Athletic Rowing Trophy.

The ECAC Turfer Athletic Rowing Trophy is given annually to the ECAC college or university men's and women's rowing programs that best demonstrate the core values of the ECAC (tradition, diversity, and service), and the values of Turfer Athletic (determination, perseverance, resilience, and commitment). 

At the 35^th Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges (EAWRC) Sprints, the Brown women claimed both the Ivy League championship and the Charles Willing Jr. Team Trophy with a dominating performance. All five of Brown's boats competed in the grand finals, and the Bears finished first in the varsity (6:24.024), second varsity (6:36.972) and novice eight (6:44.968) races. Brown's third varsity four A (7:15.782) and third varsity four B (7:36.318) entries each turned in silver medal performances. 

Coach John and Phoebe Murphy's team capped off their season by winning the overall team points trophy at the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Women's Rowing Championships for the second consecutive year.  It was the program's sixth NCAA championship title in the 12-year history of the event.  

"We are pleased and honored to receive the Turfer Rowing Trophy for the second consecutive year," John Murphy said. "We wish to thank the ECAC for this award and for all of their hard work on behalf of collegiate rowing."

The men's team led by head coach Paul Cooke had an equally impressive showing at the 63rd Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) Sprints. The varsity eight (6:13.210) was edged out by Wisconsin in the grand final, but won the Ivy League championship in a tight race with Princeton. The Brown second varsity and freshman eights both won bronze medals.

At the 106^th Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships, the Brown men advanced three boats to the grand finals and placed fifth in the team standings. The freshman eight finished fifth, while the second varsity eight and varsity four with coxswain were sixth in their respective finals.  

The Bears will receive the trophy during the annual ECAC Honors Dinner on Sunday, September 28, at the Crowne Plaza in Albany, N.Y., in conjunction with the ECAC Convention and Trade Show presented by Clark Companies, Clough Harbour Sports, Musco Lighting, and Sportsfield Specialties. Previous recipients include Harvard University/Radcliffe College (2002, 2004), Princeton University (2003, 2005), Trinity College (2006) and Brown University (2007). 

About Turfer Athletic
For more than 40 years Turfer Athletic has developed a reputation for excellence that makes it unique among sports apparel companies. It has been a Turfer tradition to provide the most innovative and authentic product in the industry. Our management team has three generations of manufacturing and textile experience. This powerful combination of manufacturing and marketing experience offers solutions to your apparel needs that are unparalleled in the industry.

About the ECAC^®
The ECAC is the nation's largest athletic and the only multi-divisional conference in the country with 321 Divisions I, II, and III colleges and universities.  The ECAC stretches from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Illinois. Established in 1938, the ECAC, a non-profit service organization, sponsors more than 100 championships in 37 men's and women's sports and assigns more than 4,400 officials in 12 sports.  The ECAC also administers eight affiliate sports organizations and six playing leagues, and through the public relations arm of the conference, more than 2,500 student-athletes in 23 sports are recognized annually.  Finally, the ECAC serves as the primary conference for select members in the sports of men's and women's ice hockey and men's lacrosse.