Courtesy UVA Media Relations
No. 6 Virginia advanced all three boats to the Grand Finals at the 2026 NCAA Rowing Championship on Friday at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga.
Friday’s racing included the heats and semifinals due to inclement weather forecasted for Saturday. All racing for Saturday has been canceled and the finals will be held as scheduled on Sunday.
In the afternoon, A/B semifinals, UVA’s Varsity Eight turned in a sparkling performance finishing second behind Tennessee (6:04.129) and holding off Princeton (6:05.573-6;05.681) for second place. California finished fourth followed by Washington and Rutgers. UVA’s Second Varsity Eight raced to a runner-up finish behind Texas.
The Longhorns won the race at 6:06.910, followed by Virginia (6:09.522), Tennessee (6:10.058), Washington (6:12.110), California (6:16.114) and Miami (6:27.126). The UVA Varsity Four placed third in its A/B semifinal. Stanford defeated Tennessee 6:46.090-6:53.354 to win the race. Virginia (6:57.084), California (7:02.236), Syracuse (7:10.778) and Miami (7:24.968) completed the top six.
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
In the morning heats, UVA’s Second Varsity Eight won its heat, while the Cavaliers’ Varsity Eight and Varsity Four finished second in its respective heats. Stanford defeated Virginia 5:59.078-6:04.226 in heat three of the Varsity Eight. Brown finished third followed by Brown, Columbia, Northeastern and Jacksonville.
Virginia outraced Yale 6:07.114-6:12.132 in heat three of the Second Varsity Eight. Miami placed third followed by Oregon State, Boston and Jacksonville. Washington topped the Cavaliers 6:50.965-6:53.611 in heat three of the Varsity Four. Princeton finished third followed by Ohio State, Rhode Island and Northeastern.
NCAA championship action concludes Sunday. UVA’s Varsity Four will race in a grand final at 9:36 a.m., followed by the Second Varsity Eight at 10 a.m. and Varsity Eight at 10:24 a.m. Live video is available on NCAA.com.
FRIDAY RESULTS
Heats
Varsity Eight Heat Three
1. Stanford, 5:59.078, 2. Virginia, 6:04.226, 3. Brown, 6:07.104, 4. Columbia, 6:09.154, 5. Northeastern, 6:30.636, 6. Jacksonville, 6:36.510
Second Varsity Eight Heat Three
1. Virginia, 6:07.114, 2. Yale, 6:12.132, 3. Miami, 6:15.246, 4. Oregon State, 6:21.352, 5. Boston, 6:24.944, 6. Jacksonville, 6:43.802
Varsity Four Heat Three
1. Washington, 6:50.965, 2. Virginia, 6:53.611, 3. Princeton, 6:58.157, 4. Ohio State, 7:06.485, 5. Rhode Island, 7:14.151, 6. Northeastern, 7:15.185
A/B Semifinals
Varsity Eight Heat Two
1. Tennessee, 6:04.129, 2. Virginia, 6:05.573, 3. Princeton, 6:05.681, 4. California, 6:07.145, 5. Washington, 6:07.279, 6. Rutgers, 6:12.177
Second Varsity Eight Heat Two
1. Texas, 6:06.910, 2. Virginia, 6:09.522, 3. Tennessee, 6:10.058, 4. Washington, 6:12.110, 5. California, 6:16.114, 6. Miami, 6:27.126
Varsity Four Heat Two
1. Stanford, 6:46.090, 2. Tennessee, 6:53.354, 3. Virginia, 6:57.084, 4. California, 7:02.236, 5. Syracuse, 7:10.778, 6. Miami, 7:24.968
VIRGINIA LINEUPS
Varsity Eight: Coxswain: Brie Joe, Stroke: Paula Lutz, 7-seat: Skylar Morrison, 6-seat: Elsa Hartman, 5-seat: Flynn Greene, 4-seat: PJ Balazy, 3-seat: Riley Richardson, 2-seat: Madeleine Agudelo and Bow: Lila Henn*
Second Varsity Eight: Coxswain: Ashlyn McGinn, Stroke: Emma Alimbau-Borrás, 7-seat: Claudia Kerry-Roger, 6-seat: Georgia Allen, 5-seat: Sophia Cavalieri, 4-seat: Katie Rapaglia, 3-seat: Savannah Fox*, 2-seat: Ayla O’Neill and Bow: Ava Cathey
Varsity Four: Coxswain: Samara Coakley*, Stroke: Reilly Katz, 3-seat: Skylar Gash, 2-seat: Lindsay O’Neil and Bow: Dylan Bentley
Spares: Coxswain Clementine Riegelhaupt, Enya Gilroy, Eva Morton, Elena Bloom, Ella Weeks
*Boat Captain
“I am incredibly proud of the group preparation and performance today. To put three crews in the A final takes a lot of things to go right, and we’re grateful for the opportunity on Sunday to race for a National Championship.” – Coach Ng 🔶⚔️🔷 #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/y8D20uphc9
— Virginia Rowing (@UVARowing) May 30, 2026
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
