Clemson Rowing Successful in First Spring Regatta

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s rowing team finished first in three of five races on Saturday against Duke and Eastern Michigan on Lake Hartwell. Clemson’s 2nd Varsity 8+, 1st Varsity 4+ and Novice 8+ “A” each record first-place finishes to open the season.

“I am very pleased with the overall performance of our team today,” said Clemson Head Coach Robbie Tenenbaum. “Our 2nd Varsity 8, Varsity 4 and our Novices controlled their races from the start. The 1V8 has had a great winter of training but lost to a very strong Duke boat. Give a lot of credit to Duke. They have been getting faster over the last few years.  We gave it a good fight in the last 500 meters, but fell 1.9 seconds short at the line.”

Duke took the opening race of the regatta as they edged out Clemson in the 1st Varsity 8+ race. The Tigers finished second with a time of 6:46.4, just 1.9 seconds back of Duke in first with a time of 6:44.5 while Eastern Michigan finished third with a time of 7:29.2.

In the 2nd Varsity 8+ race, Clemson and Duke were tight through the first half of the race but the Tigers were able to pull away at the halfway point for the victory. The Tigers finished with a time of 6:51.6 ahead of Duke in second with a time of 7:00.7 and Eastern Michigan in third.

The third race of the day featured the 1st Varsity 4’s with The Tigers taking a full-boat length lead over the Blue Devils for half the race. Duke made a late push at the finish but the Tigers held on for a first-place finish with a time of 7:40.8 over Duke’s second-place time of 7:46.2 and Eastern Michigan in third with a time of 8:55.6.

The 2nd Varsity 4’s race saw Duke pull away early for a first-place finish with a time of 7:58.2 over the Tigers time of 8:16.4.

In the final race of the day, Clemson dominated the Novice 8+ competition as Clemson “A” finished first with a time of 7:08.8 and Clemson “B” finished second with a time of 7:21.6. Duke “A” finished third with a time of 7:26.0 while Duke “B” finished fourth and Eastern Michigan finished fifth.

Race Results1st Varsity 8+1. Duke – 6:44.52. Clemson – 6:46.43. Eastern Michigan – 7:29.2 

2nd Varsity 8+1. Clemson – 6:51.62. Duke – 7:00.73. E. Michigan – 8:11.8 

1st Varsity 4+1. Clemson – 7:40.82. Duke – 7:46.23. E. Michigan – 8:55.6 

2nd Varsity 4+1. Duke – 7:58.22. Clemson – 8:16.4

Novice 8’s1. Clemson “A” – 7:08.82. Clemson “B” – 7:21.63. Duke “A” – 7:26.04. Duke “B” – 8:09.65. E. Michigan – 8:56.9

Clemson Lineups1st Varsity 8+Katie Bruggeling (cox.), Marie Arnold, Heather Cummings, Ameerah Aly, Paula Wesselmann, Samantha Duggan, Laura Basadonna, Kate Biladeau, Laura D’Urso

1st Varsity 4+Carissa Richardson (cox.), Stephanie Cameron, Kathleen Scibelli, Sarah Monn, Maria Jose Gutierrez

2nd Varsity 8+Emily Massey (cox.), Giulia Longatti, Stephannie Allen, Kristin Manna, Caroline Hackler, Milena Heuer, Cristina Morcom, MJ Keys, Aurelia Wurzel

2nd Varsity 4+Danielle Hayden (cox.), Caroline Thomas, Vanesa Ewais, Kathryn Wiley, Kelsey Igo

1st Novice 8+Katie Eidson (cox.), Tatiana Lundstrom, Dana Zielinski, Rebecca Kretzer, Hannah DeFrank, Anna Skochdopole, Claire Wilson, Danielle Baskin, Joanna Coombs

2nd Novice 8+Emily Mutschler (cox.), Katherine Peters, Genevieve Schwemmer, Alison Rehfus, Katherine Reft, Erin Ferguson, Courtney Fallon, Kay Murphy, Julie Gilbert