NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – No. 16 Rutgers women's rowing varsity eight won the Big Ten Boat of the Week award on Tuesday, May 7. It is the second weekly honor this season for the varsity eight and the third overall as the varsity four captured the award last week.
In back-to-back weeks, Rutgers was recognized with the conference weekly award as the varsity eight posted an upset victory over No. 13 Harvard at the Women's Eastern Sprints on Sunday, May 5 on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. RU turned in a winning time of 6:31.422, defeating the Crimson in second (6:35.622). It was the first-ever win for Rutgers in the varsity eight at the Eastern Sprints.
The winning varsity eight was comprised of
Sarah Johanek,
Femke Paulis,
Ella Toa,
Kathleen Butler,
Elizabeth Kogan,
Merve Pekdemir,
Meaghan Schneid,
Natalie Summerfelt and coxswain
Rucha Janodia.
The Scarlet Knights finished at the top of the team standings at the Eastern Sprints for the first time in program history, winning the Charles Willing Jr. Trophy with 138 points, ahead Harvard (129) in second and Dartmouth (106) in third.
Rutgers captured its first-ever Big Ten of the Week award last season under head coach
Justin Price, who was in his first season at the helm of the program. The Scarlet Knights now have four weekly honors over the two seasons.
The Scarlet Knights will travel to Barboo, Wis., the site of the
2019 Big Ten Championships on Sunday May 19.
Big Ten Boat of the Week
March 26
Varsity Eight
April 30
Varsity Four
May 7 Varsity Eight
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