Clemson Places Second at ACC Rowing Championship

April 19, 2008

theACC.com Photo Gallery (Photos by Mark Crammer)

Clemson, SC – Clemson finished runner-up in the team race at the ninth annual ACC Rowing Championship on Saturday at Lake Hartwell. Virginia, who has won the championship the past eight years, once again came away as champions. The Tigers Novice 8+ crew came in first in their race, while Clemson finished as the runner-up in each of the other three races held this morning. Clemson’s second place overall finish marked the fifth time the Tigers have been the runner-up in the league championship.

The Cavaliers won the team title with a total of 59 points, followed by Clemson with 51. Duke finished third with 33 points, followed by the Tar Heels from North Carolina in fourth with 28 points. Miami finished fifth with 24 points, and Boston College rounded out the field with 12 points.

Suzanne Van Fleet was named All-ACC for the second consecutive year. Joining her on the All-Conference team were Liz Robb and Jessica Leidecker. The three Clemson rowers named to the All-ACC team tied the school record for most Tiger rowers honored in a single season. In addition to being named to the All-ACC team, Robb was also named the ACC’s Freshman of the Year. This is the first time a Clemson rower has received this honor.

The morning began with the Varsity 4+ race, which saw Virginia finish on top with a record time of 7:18.6. The Tigers were not far behind with a time of 7:25.9. The remainder of the teams finished well behind UVa and Clemson, with Duke finishing third (7:43.7) and Miami finishing fourth (7:46.5). North Carolina (7:50.8) and Boston College (8:13.3) finished fifth and sixth.

In the Novice 8+ race, Clemson finished first with an ACC record-setting time of 6:46.3. Virginia finished just behind Clemson with a time of 6:47.9, followed by North Carolina (7:06.0) and Miami (7:31.1). The Tiger’s victory marked only the third time Virginia has been defeated in an individual event in the history of the league championship. Clemson’s Varsity 4+ took first place in 2001, and Clemson’s Novice 8+ crew also won in 2005.

Virginia also finished first in the Second Varsity 8+ race (6:31.4), while Clemson again finished in second (6:36.8). Fifth-seeded North Carolina came in third (6:55.1), while Duke finished fourth with a time of 6:58.9. Boston College finished fifth (7:03.1) and Miami crossed the finish line last (7:03.7).

The final race of the morning was the Varsity 8+. For the ninth consecutive year, Virginia came out on top with a record time of 6:22.0. Clemson was not far behind with a time of 6:32.6. Duke finished third (6:40.1), followed by Miami (6:46.3), North Carolina (6:48.1), and Boston College (6:48.6).

“I am happy and excited about our novice program having won the Novice Eight. I look forward to their future at Clemson,” said Head Coach Richard Ruggieri. “I look forward to learning from this experience today at the ACC’s as we prepare for regionals.”

The Tigers will return to action on May 17-18 at the Central/South Regionals held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.