The University of Rhode Island women’s rowing team wrapped up its fall season over the weekend, traveling to Princeton, New Jersey, for the Princeton Chase.
Hosted by Princeton University over two days at Lake Carnegie, the event featured colleges and universities from across the country. The event is a time-trial head race where crews race single-file against the clock for 2-3 miles, according to RegattaCentral. The event served as URI’s final test before offseason training.
“Our boats raced well,” Rhode Island head coach Shelagh Donohoe said. “The athletes were able to put it together, and we had a good showing. It’s nice to be able to go up against some of the fastest crews in the country and hang with them.”
The Rams competed against 64 boats in the Women’s Open 8+ Race on Saturday. The first varsity boat was coxed by second-year Rachel Bauhaus, joined by third-years Nora Lake, Sage Sabatino, Liz Mayer, second-years Charlotte Aeder, Sasha Hanewald, Sierra Munroe, Danika Rogers and fourth-year Brigid McShea.
The boat placed 13th with a time of 14 minutes, 43.449 seconds, just behind the University of Iowa with a time of 14:39.464. The University of Pennsylvania finished closely behind Rhode Island with a mark of 14:44.776.
Rhode Island’s second varsity boat placed 27th, with a time of 15:22.766. This boat consisted of second-year coxswain Kate Sullivan, first-years Sierra Kelly and Ava Roe, second-year Sophia Thyer, third-year Grace Conroy, fourth-years Maddy Papik, Amanda Cubit, Eryn Wale and Isabella Bianchi.
One of Princeton’s boats followed closely behind with a final mark of 15:25.221, followed by Drexel University with a mark of 15:26.688.
The third varsity boat finished 48th in 16:20.866. The team of second-year coxswain Amelia Warren, first-years Megan Scarbrough, Lorelei Riefer, Emma Harvey and Sarah Visser, second-years Linea Jacobsen, Tessa Johnson, Lily Raskind and third-year Ava Hohl finished with a mark of 16:04.094.
The University of Virginia won the Women’s Open 8+ with a finish of 13.31.211. The event also included several Atlantic 10 Conference schools that the Rams will face throughout the spring season, including George Washington University and Fordham University.
“We were able to top a lot of the A10 schools,” Donohoe said. “I also think we have to be realistic because this is the fall; there is time to gain more speed. It leaves us in a good position as we get off the water within the month.”
The fall season allowed Rhode Island to sharpen its technique, build rhythm and improve racing times. Rhode Island will focus on the offseason, as the Rams aim to defend their third straight Atlantic 10 title ahead of the spring season.
“It’s nice to have this in our pocket,” Donohoe said. “A lot of hard work is done in the winter. These are the building blocks; especially with such a young team, we need to gain strength and add fitness. I have a lot of young rowers on the team, and we’ll see a lot of improvement.”
Rhode Island will begin the spring season at the end of March.
