INDIANAPOLIS – Rutgers rowing, previously ranked 13th, finished 11th at the 2019 NCAA Championship, collecting 70 team points on the third day of racing at the Indianapolis Rowing Center at Eagle Creek Park on Sunday, June 2. The Scarlet Knights raced in the varsity eight Petite Final, varsity four Petite Final and second varsity eight C Final. 

"I'm really proud of this entire team," said head coach Justin Price. "The whole group, top to bottom, has really done a great job of working hard, good attitudes and a lot of hard work. We talk a lot about improvement and this group has improved a lot from the beginning of this year until the end.
 
"I think we learned that what we're doing is working. We're making a lot progress and improvements and we're really excited about it. Moving forward to the future, we want to continue to do what we're doing, continue to be who we are and continue to represent Rutgers with a lot of pride."    

The Scarlet Knights placed fourth in the Petite Final and 10th overall in the varsity eight with a time of 6:16.509. Rutgers also finished fourth in the Petite Final (10th overall) in the varsity four with a time of 7:08.564. In the second varsity eight, RU placed 14th in the C Final with a time of 6:30.233.
 
Rutgers advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first time in 18 years, highlighting one of the best seasons in program history.
 
The 2019 campaign was one of several firsts for the rowing program, including the team's first-ever national ranking in the USRowing/CRCA Coaches Polls. Rutgers earned several ranked wins throughout the season with victories over then-No. 20 Duke, No. 15 Minnesota, No. 14 Syracuse and No. 13 Harvard. The Scarlet Knights also captured team titles at the Doc Hosea Invitational and Women's Eastern Sprints. The win at the Eastern Sprints was the first in program history.
 
Rutgers turned in its best performance at the Big Ten Championships, finishing fourth in the team standings, the highest showing for RU since joining the conference in 2015. The fourth-place showing was ahead of No. 15 Indiana and No. 12 Iowa. The second varsity four claimed second place at the event, while the third varsity finished third in its race to give Rutgers its first medals in program history at the conference championship.
 
The Scarlet Knights also collected three Big Ten Boat of the Week honors after earning the first award in program history during the 2018 season. Rutgers was ranked as high as No. 13 and spent seven consecutive weeks in the polls since first appearing in the week three poll on April 3.
 
NCAA Championship Team Standings

1. No. 1 Washington	132
2. No. 4 Texas	125
3. No. 5 Michigan	119
4. No. 2 Stanford	116
5. No. 7 Ohio State	105
6. No. 3 California	103
7. No. 6 Princeton	94
8. No. 9 Yale	83
9. No.8 Brown	79
10. No. 10 Virginia	77
11. No. 13 Rutgers	70
12. No. 15 Indiana	65
13. No. 14 Iowa	63
14. No. 16 Harvard	53
15. No. 11 Wisconsin	52
16. No. 12 Duke	47
17. Navy	40
18. UCF	31
19 Northeastern	26
20. Gonzaga	18
21. Rhode Island	16
22. Marist	6

 
Varsity 8 Petite Final
7. No. 6 Princeton 6:11.529
8. No. 9 Yale 6:14.337
9. No. 14 Iowa 6:15.619
10. No. 13 Rutgers 6:16.509
11. No. 8 Brown 6:16.550
12. No. 10 Virginia 6:18.908
 
Varsity 8 Lineup
Stroke: Sarah Johanek
Femke Paulis
Ella Toa
Kathleen Butler
Elizabeth Kogan
Laura Hegemann
Meaghan Schneid
Bow: Natalie Summerfelt
Coxswain: Rucha Janodia
 
Second Varsity 8 C Final
13. No. 16 Harvard 6:25.441
14. No. 13 Rutgers 6:30.233
15. No. 14 Iowa 6:32.721
16. Northeastern 6:36.083
17. Navy 6:39.404
 
Second Varsity 8 Lineup
Stroke: Mackenzie George
Merve Pekdemir
Olivia Maxton
Sophia Catuogno
Bryanna Eichler
Olivia Betz
Alexis Achenbach
Bow: Angelina Fomina
Coxswain: Talya Ackerman
 
Varsity 4 Petite Final
7. No. 6 Princeton 7:03.634
8. No. 8 Brown 7:06.083
9. No. 15 Indiana 7:08.084
10. No. 13 Rutgers 7:08.564
11. No. 9 Yale 7:09.636
12. No. 12 Duke 7:10.592
 
Varsity 4 Lineup
Stroke: Grace Lewis
Mackenzie Evans
Tanisha Franke
Bow: Emily Meade
Coxswain: Rachel Usen
 
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).