The University of Rhode Island rowing team competed at the Head of the Riverfront in Hartford, Connecticut, on Sunday in the Women’s Open 8+, taking the top spot.
The Rams had four entries, with their top finish being coxed by second-year Rachel Bauhas, finishing in 14 minutes, 33.792 seconds.
“It’s always great to win,” Rhode Island head coach Shelagh Donohoe said. “I think more importantly than that, we were able to go out there and hold some of our technical changes in pulling hard and competing in the race.”
Bauhas coxed the winning boat for Rhode Island, and shared the title with her teammates: second-years Danika Rogers, Charlotte Aeder, Sierra Munroe and Sasha Hanewald, third-years Nora Lake and Sage Sabatino, and fourth-years Isabella Bianchi and Anna Kann.
The College of the Holy Cross finished second, splitting the top two Rhode Island boats with a time of 14:49.721, led by second-year Bianca Hajer.
Second-year Kate Sullivan coxed URI’s second entry to a third-place finish in 14:59.445. Rogers was accompanied by first-years Emma Harvey and Ava Roe, second-year Sophia Thyer, third-years Liz Mayer and Grace Conroy, and fourth-years Amanda Cubit and Brigid McShea.
“We have been practicing a lot with our technique,” Donohoe said. “Sunday was a great day to go out there and see if we could put it all together in a race situation.”
Rhode Island also had a boat finish 15th with a final time of 15:37.862, led by second-year coxswain Amelia Warren. Warren was accompanied by first-years Sierra Kelly, Sarah Visser, Lorelei Riefler and Claire Lloyd, second-year Lucy Lyons, third-year Ava Hohl and fourth-years Maia Hembruff and Maddy Papik.
“I think having the depth is so important,” Donohoe said. “So I think going out there and being able to race four races is really important; that is something that you can’t practice unless you are in the race.”
Rhode Island’s fourth and final boat finished in 20th with a time of 15:59.762. The fourth boat was coxed by second-year Mackenzie Frodigh-Weed.
This was Rhode Island’s first race of the season and was its first first-place finish since last season’s Atlantic 10 Conference Championship on May 16, 2025.
Last season Rhode Island made the NCAA Tournament, placing 20th out of 22 teams. Rhode Island will now prepare for the Head of the Charles on Oct. 17 and 18 in Boston.
“The Charles River is a coxswain’s race,” Donohoe said. “The river has a lot of turns, and on every turn there is a bridge, and at every bridge there are a lot of boats trying to get through there at the same time. It is definitely a fun race for the coxswains and the rowers.”
