INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – No. 18 Rutgers rowing set a program record with six medal-winning performances at the Big Ten Championships on Sunday morning at Eagle Creek Park, including its first Big Ten gold medal with the 2nd Novice 8 boat winning the day's first race. The Scarlet Knights matched last Spring's best Big Ten team finish, finishing in third place behind No. 9 Ohio State and No. 6 Michigan.

Rutgers scored 137 points behind 2N8's gold and five bronze medals in the 2nd Varsity 8, Varsity 4, 2nd Varsity 4, Novice 8, and 3rd Varsity 4. The two novice boats both posted their best finishes at the Big Ten Championships since joining the conference in 2015, while the 2V8 and V4 matched their best conference regatta results in third place.

"Today was a historic day for our program with six medals and our first-ever individual boat Big Ten gold medal," said head coach Justin Price. "I am really proud of our entire squad and the way everyone raced throughout the team. This was a great step forward and we are looking forward to continuing to build competitive excellence in everything we do."

Sophomore Hannah Heideveld, who was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021, followed up in her sophomore campaign with an All-Big Ten First Team honor in 2022. Graduate student Luisa Neerschulte has been named All-Big Ten Second Team, and sophomore Emily Mahaffy has earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Big Ten Network and the FOX Sports app will provide linear coverage of the Championships on Saturday, May 21 at 11 a.m. ET.

The 2nd Novice 8 started the Championships with a photo finish victory over No. 9 Ohio State, edging the buckeyes by three-tenths of a second. The Scarlet Knights led the race at the 500-meter mark and never relinquished their lead on the way to the program's first-ever Big Ten gold medal. The boat was coxswained by Megan Cherichello and stroked by Catherine Garvey in front of teammates Natalie Davis, Jana Tarabic, Julia Galesi, Johanna Murphy, Aida Fong, Bemi Faba, Barbara Benda.

The field for the 2022 NCAA DI rowing championships will be announced Tuesday, May 17 on NCAA.com. The championship finals are May 27-29 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, featuring Varsity 8, 2nd Varsity 8, and Varsity 4 boats.
   
TEAM RESULTS

1. Ohio State – 184 points
2. Michigan – 174
3. Rutgers – 137
4. Indiana – 115
5. Iowa – 75
6. Wisconsin – 70
7. Minnesota – 59
8. Michigan State – 47

RESULTS


LINEUPS (stroke to bow, coxswain last)
Varsity 8
Femke Paulis
Olivia Maxton
Hannah Heideveld
Sorcha O'Donnell
Luisa Neerschulte
Erin Miners
Sophia Catuogno
Chloe Couillens
Victoria Grieder

2^nd Varsity 8
Meaghan Schneid
Gabriele Bagdonas
Christina Pender
Tessa Catuogno
Megan Evans
Ellen White
Hannah Meade
Emily Meade
Emily Mahaffy

Varsity 4
Jordan Policari
Margaret Kane
Tanisha Franke
Emily Kean
Julia Hoff

2^nd Varsity 4
Olivia Coffey
Molly Hopping
Grace Lewis
Julia Kennedy
Alexis Nguyen

3^rd Varsity 4
Ella Toa
Taylor Ralston
Rosemarie Marsala
Libby Snyder
Emily O'Neill

Novice 8
Ruby Hatfield
Lauren Andersen
Elli Arbogast
Kate Pitzel
Vanessa Karayiannis
Karlie Johnson
Jordan Barr
Catherine Montgomery
Anne Rudawski

2nd Novice 8
Catherine Garvey
Natalie Davis
Jana Tarabic
Julia Galesi
Johanna Murphy
Aida Fong
Bemi Faba
Barbara Benda
Megan Cherichello


Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers rowing, follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@RutgersWRowing). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersWRowing). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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