Bethel, OH -- Williams
Women's Crew competed in their first day of racing at the 2024 NCAA DIII championship. The 1V and 2V both finished first in their heats, securing spots in the Grand Finals.
The 2V competed in the first race of the day against Trinity, Smith, and Puget Sound.
Ariana Oppenheimer '26 coxed the boat, with
Courtney FitzMaurice '27 in stroke, followed by
Audrey Riddle '26,
Riley Galizio '24,
Prairie Resch '25,
Sophia Clavenna '27,
Carolyn Fortin '26,
Molly McWeeny '26, and
Ava Rust '25 in bow. The crew needed to finish in the top two to advance to the Grand Finals without racing in the afternoon repechage race.
The Ephs gained an early lead on the field and rowed a boat length up on Smith and Trinity and with open water over Puget Sound at the five hundred meter mark. Williams extended their lead as they rowed down the course and finished with a time of 7:18.857, six seconds ahead of second-place Trinity.
The 1V lined up at the start line with Puget Sound to their left and Tufts and Smith to their right.
Katie Scott '26 coxed the boat with
Anna Owens '25 in stroke seat, followed by
Maya Tait '26,
Ellie Davis '26,
Isabel Mikheev '25,
Lola Kovalski '25,
Abby Murphy '25,
Claire McDonald '26, and
Ellie Iorio '25 in bow. As the crews settled to their base pace off of the start, Tufts sat two seats up on Williams. The Ephs cut the lead to one seat as they crossed the 500-meter mark, and gained a two-seat lead before crossing the halfway mark.
Williams held onto their lead and finished with a time of 7:07.812, ahead of second-place Tufts with a time of 7:08.151.
"This is a race for pride and a race for confidence going into the grand final," one of the commentators said on the race broadcast.
"Williams showed up to make a statement in the heats today," Eph head Coach
Paula Thoms said. "I am so proud of how they executed the speed they have worked so hard to find. I'm confident that they are ready to put it all on the table in the finals tomorrow."
The 2V races in the Grand Final tomorrow at 10:48 a.m., and the 1V races in the grand final at 11:36.
