WORCESTER, MA—The conditions were hot and windy on Lake Quinsigamond today as Williams competed in their last full team championship race of the season, the National Invitational Rowing Championships. Williams won the NESCAC championship for the first time in 7 years.
Williams brought 4 eights compete in a day of fast and competitive races. The day began with heats for 1V, 2V and 3V, with the top 2 boats in each heat advancing to the Grand Final.
The 1V raced in first, coxed by
Julia Lim and stroked by
Maya Tait, followed by
Emily Hugo,
Erin Barry,
Isabel Mikheev,
Ellie Davis,
Ella Napack,
Prairie Resch and
Gabby Fazzalari in bow seat. Williams raced Wellesley, Smith, Skidmore, Clark, Connecticut College and Saint Lawrence in this heat. Williams was down off the start from Wellesley and Smith but began to walk back after the high strokes with a forceful settle into their pace. Williams walked back up to even with Smith at 800 meters in and began to push into Wellesley's lead as they neared the halfway point. Williams walked up a length on Smith in the third 500 meters, gained a few seats on Wellesley and maintained these margins through the last 500 meters. Williams finished with a time of 7:08.7, 3 seconds behind Wellesley and 5 seconds ahead of Smith.
The 2V raced next, coxed by
Sarah Gantt and stroked by
Ava Rust, followed by
Riley Galizio,
Anna Owens,
Ellie Iorio,
Audrey Riddle,
Abby Murphy,
Marie Brewer and
Madeleine Horn in bow seat. The boat raced Wellesley, WPI, Clark, and the Rochester Institute of technology in this heat. Williams was down on all boats off the start but started to move as they settled into their calm rhythm. The crew took a move over the 400 and started taking back seats from Wellesley and WPI ahead of them. Williams walked through WPI through the middle 1000 meters of the race with grit and a focus on quick drives. Wellesley walked away from Williams in the sprint, gaining open water, but Williams maintained open water on WPI and all the other crews. Williams finished with a time of 7:19.9, 4 seconds behind Wellesley and 5 seconds ahead of WPI.
The 3V was next to race, coxed by
Katie Scott and stroked by
Molly McWeeny, followed by
Carolyn Fortin,
Emma Caruso,
Claire McDonald,
Arden Fluehr,
Mia Kabillio,
Isabelle Zollinger and
Ella Potee in bow seat. Williams raced Tufts, Wellesley, Ithaca and WPI in this heat. The boat jumped off the start, behind Tufts but right alongside Wellesley and Ithaca. Williams settled into their rhythm with power as Wellesley and Williams pulled away from Ithaca together in the first 500 meters of the race. Williams held on to Wellesley as both crews pushed into Tufts leads in the second 500. Williams steadily increased their margin on Ithaca and gained open water over the 1000-meter mark. Williams had a strong third 500, maintaining their rhythm and composure, and walked a seat up on Wellesley, but Wellesley was able to walk away in the sprint of the race. Williams finished with a time of 7:30.7, 9 seconds behind Wellesley and 12 seconds behind Tufts.
The 1V raced in the Grand Final first in the afternoon, against Tufts, Wellesley, WPI, Bates and Trinity. Williams had a competitive start, but Wellesley and Tufts were able to jump ahead in the first 300 meters. Williams took a move over the 400 to walk back into their lead and walk through Bates. Williams was bow to stern on Bates, WPI and Trinity over the 1000-meter mark, and took a focus 10 to recommit to their rhythm. Williams began to walk into Tufts lead as they headed towards the sprint, and the boats pushed one another forcefully to the line. Williams got even in the last 200 meters and ended 1 second ahead of Tufts and 2 seconds off of Wellesley. Williams finished with a time of 6:41.01, the fastest 1V NESCAC time of the day. The boat earned a silver medal and the NESCAC championship trophy. 6 seat and senior
Erin Barry shared that "I think we rowed our best race of the season. I'm really proud of how the team all came together. We had an incredible race, we fought the whole way through and we all pulled for each other with trust and love."
The 2V raced next in the Grand Final, against Bates, Wesleyan, Wellesley, Tufts and Hamilton. The boat was half a length down off the start, as Bates and Wesleyan jumped ahead of the pack, but they stayed internal. Williams took a move and started taking seats over the 500-meter mark and fought up to even with Wellesley and Tufts in the middle 1000 meters of the race. The two other crews walked away from Williams in the sprint, and Williams finished in fifth with a time of 6:58.0, 3 seconds off of Wellesley's time. Stroke seat
Ava Rust shared that "we had two really solid races. we found our rhythm, we had super strong middle thousands, and we have a good understanding of what we are going to work on for nationals. There is so much speed left to find."
The 3V raced in their Grand Final against Tufts, Hamilton, Wellesley, Bates and Smith. Williams was even with the other crews off the start, and they jumped off the line with a higher rate than they have been able to hit previously. The boat held this pace throughout the first 1000, as Williams, Tufts, Hamilton and Bates remained close. Williams took a move 750 meters in that pushed them into second place, and they kept this margin into the sprint. Hamilton walked back into their lead over the 300-meter mark, but Williams pushed back to cross the line with a time of 6:59.5, 5 seconds off Tufts' time of 6:54.5. 5 seat
Claire McDonald shared that "it was the best race of our entire season, energy wise and split wise. Katie had incredible coxing had it really made a difference."
The 4V raced their final against Tufts and Smith. The boat was coxed by
Ariana Oppenheimer and stroked by
Alex Bonat, followed by
Brenda Jaroker,
Katie McKenna,
Grace Clarke,
Annie Refermat,
Amaka Ibekwe,
Greta Gruber and Bri Palmieri in bow seat. This was an exciting final race for this boat, as they lined up to compete against the same crews as last weekend. Williams had a fast and effective start, and settled into a calm rhythm in the first 500 meters. Williams maintained contact with the two other crews for much longer than in previous races, pushing into their lead through the 1000 meters. Although the other boats walked away as they headed towards the last 500, Williams remained determined and confident. The boat had their fastest race of the season and left the course proud of the progress they made this season. Williams finished with a time of 7:32.9, 19 seconds off Smith's time of 7:13.8. 7 seat
Brenda Jaroker reflected that "it was a really good race, it was a boat PR. I wish we could have a million more races—it was great. We all pulled hard for everyone in the boat."
Williams drove back to Williamstown proud of all that each boat accomplished this season. It was an exciting last race for much of the team and for many seniors. The 1V and 2V are excited to build on this trajectory as they head to NCAA DIII Championship in New Jersey in just a couple weeks.
