Rowing: UVA finishes in 13th place at NCAA Championships

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia finished 13th at the NCAA Rowing Championship Sunday at East Fork/Harsha Lake in Bethel, Ohio. UVA’s Second Varsity Eight finished ninth and the Varsity Eight and Varsity Four each rowed to 13th-place finishes.

Texas won the Varsity Eight and Varsity Four grand finals to earn the NCAA team title with 130 points. Stanford (127) placed second followed by Tennessee (118), Princeton (112) and Washington (106). Brown (99), Michigan (90), Yale (88), Cal (84) and Penn (77) rounded out the top-10.

“The team really executed today and each boat rowed really gutsy races,” Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer said. “The four stayed patient and then crushed the third 500 to solidify their win. The 2V8 rowed with a lot of heart and were able to beat two teams (Cal and Ohio State) who had beaten them earlier in the season. The V8 went toe to toe with Rutgers and Indiana for 2,000 meters and had an incredible sprint for the win.  The team and each boat all beat their seeds coming into NCAAs.”

UVA’s Second Varsity Eight placed third in the B final with a time of 6:34.089. Michigan won the race with a time of 6:31.327. Brown finished second at 6:33.107 followed by Virginia, Penn (6:35.449), Ohio State (6:36.569) and Cal (6:36.601).

UVA’s Varsity Eight topped Indiana 6:27.421-6:28.693 to win the C final. Rutgers (6:31.225) finished third followed by Duke (6:34.051), Gonzaga (6:36.761) and Northeastern (6:38.497).

The Cavaliers’ Varsity Four defeated ACC champion Duke for the second straight day7:14.352-7:17.370 to win the C final. Ohio State (7:22.771) finished third followed by Gonzaga (7:26.368), Indiana (7:27.312) and Boston University (7:34.600).

“Obviously we wish things had gone differently in the heats, but we are so proud of the way the crews progressed through the semis and raced in their respective finals today,” UVA associate head coach Kelsie Chaudoin said. “We couldn’t have asked for them to bounce back more effectively to show up on Sunday at NCAAs. It was a team effort and they raced for one another, and everyone at home in Charlottesville.”

The NCAA regatta marked the end to Sauer’s storied 29-year career at Virginia. Sauer led the Cavaliers to a pair of NCAA championships (2010 and 2012) and 22 ACC titles.

“For my last NCAAs, I am really honored by the effort and camaraderie displayed by our team.” Sauer said.

“I think I speak for the whole team and all Virginia alums that we are eternally grateful to have been coached by Kevin and learned from him in his time as head coach at UVA,” Chaudoin added. “What a legacy he has built, and we are all so proud to be a part of it.”

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

1. Texas
2. Stanford – 127
3. Tennessee – 118
4. Princeton – 112
5. Washington – 106
6. Brown – 99
7. Michigan – 90
8. Yale – 88
9. Cal – 84
10. Penn – 77
11. Syracuse – 76
12. Ohio State – 68
13. Virginia – 68
14. Rutgers – 55
15. Indiana – 47
16. Duke – 46
17. Gonzaga – 37
18. Northeastern – 26
19. Boston Univ. – 24
20. Rhode Island – 17
21. SMU – 13
22. Jacksonville – 10

FINAL RESULTS

Varsity Four C Final

1. Virginia, 7:14.352, 2. Duke, 7:17.370, 3. Ohio State, 7:22.771, 4. Gonzaga, 7:26.368, 5. Indiana, 7:27.312, 6. Boston University, 7:34.600

Varsity Eight C Final

1. Virginia, 6:27.421, 2. Indiana, 6:28.693, 3. Rutgers, 6:31.225, 4. Duke, 6:34.051, 5. Gonzaga, 6:36.761, 6. Northeastern, 6:38.497

Second Varsity Eight B Final

1. Michigan, 6:31.327, 2. Brown, 6:33.107, 3. Virginia, 6:34.089, 4. Penn, 6:35.449, 5. Ohio State, 6:36.569, 6. Cal, 6:36.601

VIRGINIA LINEUPS

Varsity Eight: Coxswain: Nora Grabcheski, Stroke: Lauren Jochims, 7: Catherine Williams, 6: Jenna Hajji, 5: Skylar Morrison, 4: Kate Kelly, 3: Eva Frohnhofer, 2: Kelsey Gems, Bow: Meagan Goldsmith

Second Varsity Eight: Coxswain: Zoe Tekeian, Stroke: Sophia Coppola, 7: Cameron Bentley, 6: Lauren Benedict, 5: Paige Loh, 4: Izzie Bird, 3: Sheila Joyce, 2: Lila Henn, Bow: Kate McGee

Varsity Four: Coxswain: Emma Bradish, Stroke: Teagan Orth, 3: Lily Jarrett, 2: Sydney Fratamico; Bow: Kennedy Housley