CHERRY HILL, N.J. – Rutgers rowing posted seven top-three finishes, including three event victories to highlight its season opener at the Cooper Sprints on Sunday, March 24 on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J.
The Cooper Sprints featured a 15-team field which included No. 20 Duke, Kansas, Clemson, SMU, Oklahoma, Villanova, West Virginia, Navy, Bucknell, UMass, North Carolina, Boston College, Drexel and Rhode Island. The top boat in each of the three heats, along with the next three fastest times advanced to the Grand Final, while the next six fastest times moved on to the Petite Final and remaining boats competed in the Third Level Final.
The Scarlet Knights advanced to the Grand Final in each of its first five events with the varsity eight, second varsity eight and second varsity four winning their respective heats. The varsity eight and second varsity four posted the fastest preliminary times overall in those two races.
The varsity eight won its opening race of the 2019 season in a time of 6:26.07 in the Grand Final, outpacing 20th-ranked Duke by four seconds and third-place Navy by nearly eight seconds. The varsity four added to the Scarlet Knights' win total, posting a time of 7:27.15 to pull ahead of Duke and North Carolina.
Rutgers claimed the top two spots in the third varsity four with its two boats taking first and second by open water. The third varsity four A boat recorded a time of 7:41.17, followed by the third varsity four B boat in 7:52.05. The second novice eight finished runner-up in its event with a time of 7:35.01 to round out the top-three finishes for RU.
The Scarlet Knights took second in the second varsity four, clocking a time of 7:38.59. In the second varsity eight, Rutgers finished third in the Grand Final with a time of 6:45.34.
Rutgers raced a pair of boats in the third varsity eight with the A boat advancing to the Petite Final while the B boat (novice eight) competed in the Grand Final. The B boat finished placed fifth in a time of 7:17.87 and the A boat took third (ninth overall) in the Petite Final in 7:28.14.
The Scarlet Knights will next compete at the Doc Hosea Invitational on Saturday, March 30.
Varsity 8
Stroke:
Sarah Johanek
Femke Paulis
Ella Toa
Kathleen Butler
Elizabeth Kogan
Laura Hegemann
Meaghan Schneid
Bow:
Natalie Summerfelt
Coxswain:
Rucha Janodia
Second Varsity 8
Stroke:
Tanisha Franke
Merve Pekdemir
Alexis Achenbach
Angelina Fomina
Olivia Maxton
Tessa Catuogno
Emily Klysen
Bow:
Sophia Catuogno
Coxswain:
Talya Ackerman
Third Varsity 8A
Stroke:
Kori Warren
Kirsten Jeansson
Rebecca Barglowski
Megan Biondi
Rosalina Guarino
Brooke Enners
Rebecca Chanin
Bow:
Omisha Jyothi
Coxswain:
Robin Koch
Novice 8 (Third Varsity 8B)
Stroke:
Olivia Ling
Emily Tarino
MaryKate McGee
Erin Miners
Elena Vargas
Jordan Policari
Madeline Agresti
Bow:
Abby Gilbert
Coxswain:
Lauren Kim
Second Novice 8 (Freshman/Novice 8)
Stroke:
Zoe Toner
Naischela Harris
Lindsey Shugar
Anna Mackinnon
Hannah Davis
Martine Delgado
Ashley Adamo
Bow:
Melina Gurunian
Coxswain:
Lalitha Vallabhaneni
Varsity 4
Stroke:
Bryanna Eichler
Mackenzie Evans
Grace Lewis
Bow:
Emily Meade
Coxswain:
Madison Sieloff
Second Varsity 4
Stroke:
Isabella Martins
Julia Wilson
Mackenzie George
Bow:
Kara McDermott
Coxswain:
Emily O'Neill
Third Varstiy 4A
Stroke:
Hannah Meade
Julia Hendricks
Allie Fontanese
Bow:
Gabriele Bagdonas
Coxswain:
Rachel Usen
Third Varsity 4B
Stroke:
Gabriella Conmy
Olivia Betz
Elisabeth Peters
Bow:
Jillian Moran
Coxswain:
Audrey O'Neill
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding rowing, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersWRowing) and Instagram (@RutgersWRowing).
