The Clemson rowing team is set to embark on its 22nd season of competition. With seven regattas and 12 competition dates on the docket this spring, the Tigers look to continue to improve on their season from last year.
“I have been eagerly anticipating this spring racing season since we put the boats away in May of 2019,” said Head Coach Stephen Frazier Wong. “The team came back with a mission in August and has been working every day to take another step forward. It has been a long journey, and, with racing right around the corner, we finally get a chance to put all of our hard work on the water to the test.”
Last season, the Tigers earned five first-place finishes,18 second-place finishes and 16 third-place finishes. At the Cardinal Invite, Clemson shattered program-best marks in several categories, including best overall time, 1V8 time, 2V8 time and 1V4 time, in addition to recording its first sub-six-minute performances in an 8+ race on four occasions. At the meet, the 1V8 registered record-setting efforts in its first two races of the regatta and now holds the program mark for best overall performance and 1V8 performance with a time of 5:40.7.
The 2V8 also clocked in an all-time best 2V8 performance at 5:54.9, in addition two other top times in program history, while the 1V4 grabbed the top slot in its category, finishing with a time of 6:24.1. All four program records that were broken last season were originally set on May 17, 2009, at the Aramark South/Central Sprints, which was also held in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
At the ACC Championships, the Tigers finished tied for fourth, their best finish in four seasons. Additionally, Clemson tallied its most points in an ACC Championship since 2015 with its 58-point effort. The 2V8 was the top finisher for the Tigers at the conference championship, placing third with a time of 6:46.093. The effort netted 21 points for Clemson. The Tigers also fared well in the fours competitions, where the 1V4 (7:34.133) and 2V4 (7:46.183) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Though the Tigers have graduated several athletes from last season, including first-team All-ACC selection Isla McRae, Clemson returns all eight rowers from its third-place 2V8, including Meghan McClean, Cate Schrieber, Hannah Hayes, Rebecca Pulsifer, Bridget Kane, Caroline Kranz and Chloe O’Brien. From the 1V4, rowers Emily Ash, Alex Thull, Rachel Mumau and Jasmine Lewis will suit up for another season with the Tigers while Pepper Kolman, Sam Palmer and Katelyn Kerrick remain from last year’s 2V4. Last season, the Tigers also earned recognition on the All-ACC honor roll and CRCA All-America lists.
The Tigers also bring back second-team all-ACC selection Aliute Udoka in addition to Elise Sum, Makenna Farr, Maura Chozick, Kaley Wojiechowski and Isabella Beckler from the ACC 1V8. Additionally, coxswains Kate Hadley returns for her sophomore campaign while Sarah Adams, Katie Herbolsheimer and Julia Suplick will continue their careers into their junior season.
In total, the Tigers are slated to compete in seven regattas this season and are set to host three with the Carolina Cup, the Clemson Invite and the ACC Championship all being held on Lake Hartwell. Clemson will open its season with the Carolina Cup on March 7. The Clemson Invite will take place from April 18-19, and the ACC Championship will be held from May 15-16.
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