On Thursday, August 2, 2012, the United States the women’s eight crew successfully defended its gold medal at Eton Dorney Lake. The team has been undefeated since 2006. On Sunday, July 29, 2012, the crew won its heat against Australia by more than seven seconds. The teammates are Mary Whipple, Caryn Davies, Caroline Lind, Meghan Musnicki, Susan Francia, Esther Lofgren, Erin Cafaro, Taylor Ritzel and Eleanor (Elle) Logan. In addition to spending countless hours training together, the latter three women have another connection.
They are the Monmouth Duo’s representatives in Olympic Rowing. And what’s more, there was a Monmouth Duo in the 2008 Olympics! Erin and Elle took gold medals home from the Beijing, too!
A Monmouth Duo Dance Card Cover, 1961
Two of the three are members of Pi Beta Phi. Erin Cafaro is a member of the Pi Phi chapter at the University of California – Berkeley and Taylor Ritzel is a member of Yale University’s Pi Phi chapter. Elle Logan is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Stanford University chapter. Both Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma were founded at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. The two groups are known as the Monmouth Duo.
Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi chapter members and alumnae celebrate their shared connection in many ways – at luncheons and dinners, participating in philanthropic events and with guest speakers. Isn’t it terrific to celebrate the connection with Olympic medals? Congratulations to the Monmouth Duo Gold Medalists Elle, Taylor and Erin (and your teammates, too)!!!
