Tigers Finish Strong at Clemson Invitational

CLEMSON, S.C. — Four different Tiger boats earned top-four finishes Sunday to highlight the final session of rowing action at the Clemson Invitational. The event brought 20 teams together on Lake Hartwell for three action-packed sessions in the span of 24 hours.

“We talked about having the trust in our plan and in each other,” said head coach Stephen Frazier Wong. “Our coxswains asked for more, and they trusted the rowers to respond. As coaches we asked for more, and our trust was rewarded. The resilience from Saturday afternoon was excellent to see, and that’s the step we wanted.”

Sunday morning began on a good note, with the First Varsity 8+ pushing past Oregon State to take fourth in its heat. The Tigers compiled a time of 6:52.5, almost 10 seconds ahead of Saturday morning’s pace when the conditions were difficult. The 2V8 followed suit, placing third after beating Tennessee by nearly a full boat length at the line (7:01.0).

The 1V4 turned in an impressive performance in its third and final race of the weekend. Clemson took second place in the final heat, and its time of 7:42.3 was ninth-best out of 20 boats on Sunday. The 2V4 also earned a top-three finish and even made a strong push for second before falling just short of Indiana at the line (7:39.2). Clemson was seventh-fastest in the 2V4 field that featured 17 boats.

Following the session, Frazier Wong and director of athletics Dan Radakovich honored 14 members of the senior class, including manager Darby Ward.

“We’re graduating a lot of leadership, but that vacancy also leaves room for several student-athletes to step up next year,” Frazier Wong said. “They’ve been a rock for us, and our underclassmen can look to them to provide that steady hand. Part of the Senior Day tradition at Clemson is to connect as a family. For the parents to see the enjoyment these ladies bring to the sport, and what they bring to each other, was great. Wins and losses fade away over time, but the bonds they formed will remain the rest of their lives.”

The Tigers return to action on May 1 in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to take on Tennessee, Iowa and UCF. Clemson will close out its home season on May 13-14 by hosting the ACC Championships.

Lineups

1V8: Emily Goff (cox), Emily Goff, Paula Wesselmann, Dana Zielinski, Milena Heuer, Rachel Salvia, Becca Kretzer, Ashley Robinson, Giorgia Bergamasco, Courtney Fallon

2V8: Katie Eidson (cox), Erin Ferguson, Cassidy Davidson, Julia Meredith, Gaia Nencini, Amber Rewis, Jenny D’Anthony, Lydia Hanewich, Lorena Croft

3V8: Rebekah Stein (cox), Emma Neat, Sarah Decker, Brynn Hentschel, Sarah Suddarth, Amelia Shein, Isla McRae, Hannah Maeser, Tatiana Lundstrom

4V8: Megan Kauffeld (cox), Emma Knight, Katherine Peters, Maddie Macrone, Rebecca Simonetti, Alison Rehfus, Taylor Bigger, Elizabeth Sessinger, Lauren Ackerman 

1V4: Kasi Sweisford (cox), Anna McLean, Alexis Georgia, Claire Prevost, Emily Radziwon

2V4: Rita Catherine O’Shea (cox), Anna Skochdopole, Sophia Porach, Julia Mathews, Megan Mars