WORCESTER, Mass. - The No. 1-ranked Williams College women's crew team's first, second and third varsity eight boats earned second-place medals during the New England Rowing Championship Saturday on Lake Quinsigamond, proving to be a strong force in the region and NESCAC.
Conditions were mostly favorable, with a slight headwind in the morning heats. The women's third varsity eight raced first in its heat against Wellesley, Bowdoin and Middlebury, needing a top-two finish to secure a place in the grand final.
Charis Woo '27 coxed the boat with
Jordan Bose '29 in stroke seat, followed by
Isolde Rayman-Moore '28,
Olivia Thurman '27,
Caroline Ripsteen '29,
Annika Binstadt '29,
Ellery Franceschini '29,
Laela Clark '28 and
Lily Clemens '28 in bow.
Off the start line, the Ephs had a powerful first few strokes, holding Wellesley by a few seats and quickly walking it up half a length on Bowdoin and Middlebury. By the 700-meter mark, the boat had bow ball on Wellesley and continued the last 1,300 meters with a commanding lead, holding off a solid sprint from Wellesley.
The crew finished with a time of 7:23.296, over five seconds ahead of second-place Wellesley.
To secure a spot in the grand final, the second varsity eight similarly had to finish at least second in a heat that included Bates, Wellesley, Middlebury, Bryant and Connecticut College. The boat was led by coxswain
Ayanna Keshav '28, with stroke seat
Lindsay Gadsden '27, followed by
Betsy Owens '28,
Anne Moghtader '29,
Catherine Farman-Farmaian '26,
Charlotte Ragozin '27,
Annie Refermat '26,
Molly McWeeny '26 and
Maya Tait '26 in bow.
The Ephs and Bobcats both got off the line fast, battling it out in the first 500 meters. The second varsity eight did not falter and used Bates' challenge as motivation. The Ephs pulled ahead at the 800-meter mark and began to walk it away with open water above all crews.
Williams crossed the line first in its heat with a time of 7:07.034, over six seconds ahead of second-place Bates.
The first varsity eight also needed a top-two finish in its heat to secure a spot in the grand final, against competitors Smith, Wellesley, WPI, Merrimack, UNH and Connecticut College. Coxswain
Ariana Oppenheimer '26 brought the boat to the line, followed by stroke seat
Courtney FitzMaurice '27,
Carolyn Fortin '26,
Vivian Johnson '27,
Ellie Davis '26,
Madeleine Lasell '29,
Claire McDonald '26,
Miranda Miller '29 and
Audrey Riddle '26 in bow.
The crew started two seats down off the start to competitors Smith and Wellesley, but soon began to walk it back up 400 meters into the race. At the 1,000-meter mark, the Ephs continued to walk it up, getting bow ball first on Wellesley and soon after on Smith, as those two battled it out for second place.
The Ephs finished their heat first with a time of 7:07.644, the fastest heat time of the day in the women's varsity eight category.
The women's third varsity 4+ lined up for its final next, coxed by
Qi Wang '26 and stroked by
Amelie Etter '29, followed by
Piper Widmer '28,
Rendell Belanger Curren '29 and
Megan Finando '29. The 4+ dealt with some strong gusts and a rain shower, but persevered and fought back and forth with the Amherst B boat for third place. The Ephs put up a great fight, but ultimately finished in fourth place with a time of 9:54.532, less than one second behind Amherst's B boat.
After a morning of fast races, the third, second and first varsity eights secured spots in the grand finals.
In the afternoon, the third varsity eight lined up for its grand final alongside competitors Tufts, Trinity, Bates, Wellesley and Smith. The Ephs started behind in the first 500 meters, while Tufts held a three-seat lead through 750 meters. At the halfway point, Woo called some strong moves, which brought the third varsity eight in contention for first, but in the final 500 meters, Tufts managed to sprint and gain a slight lead. Ultimately, the Ephs crossed the line in second place with a time of 7:10.120, less than two seconds behind Tufts.
In the second varsity eight grand final, the crew lined up against Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity, MIT and Bates. All crews started off hot, with the six boats bow ball to bow ball through the first half of the race. At the 1,000-meter mark, the Jumbos began to walk away, taking a half a boat length lead, while Williams fought with Trinity and Wesleyan for second place. These three crews traded leads for the third 500 meters, but at the sprint, the Ephs surged ahead to secure second place ahead of Trinity.
The crew finished with a time of 6:55.838, second to Tufts' second varsity eight, which was over three seconds ahead.
In first varsity eight grand final, the Ephs lined up against MIT, Smith and three NESCAC schools with Middlebury, Bates and Tufts.
Williams got off to a strong start, neck and neck with MIT and Middlebury. These three boats got a half a length lead over all other boats in the final and continued to walk away. At the 1,000-meter mark, the Ephs and MIT began to push off Middlebury, trading seats with each move. In the end, MIT was able to propel itself two seats ahead of Williams with a strong final 500 meters, while the Ephs finished strong holding off sprints from Bates and Middlebury.
MIT crossed the line first with a time of 6:44.602, followed closely by the Ephs with a time of 6:46.132, the fastest Division III crew finish in the final.
The Ephs finished second in team points, despite having far fewer boats than first-place Tufts.
"The team showed up exactly how I hoped we would execute," said head coach
Paula Thoms. "I am looking forward to sharpening the edges and returning to Worcester next weekend for the National Invitational Rowing Championships."
