RowingJune 02, 2024

BETHEL, Ohio – The third-ranked Tennessee rowing team recorded the program’s best-ever NCAA Championship finish Sunday in Bethel, Ohio, finishing third overall and earning a podium spot in two of the three Grand Final events to cap Big 12 Coach of the Year Kim Cupini‘s remarkable first season on Rocky Top.

In addition to Tennessee’s third-place result marking the best team finish in UT history, each of the Lady Vols’ three NCAA Championship crews set program-best marks by boat classification. Tennessee’s First Eight placed third, its Second Eight crew placed third and its Four boat earned fifth place.

“I’m so impressed with this team and coaching staff for all they have accomplished,” Cupini said. “From the very beginning, they believed in themselves, each other, their goals and the process. I’m so proud of how every one of them handled the changes and committed to what it took to reach the podium at the NCAA’s.”

Tennessee’s First Eight crew—Sasha Radovanovic (coxswain), Emma Seawright, Sarah Abrams, Alex Pidgeon, Riley Ferdelman, Meg Flanagan, Alice Fahey, Nicole Campbell and Hannah Smith—put down a gutsy performance in the Grand Final despite steady rainfall Sunday morning.

It was a tight battle throughout the 2,000-meter contest and the Lady Vols (6:12.156) crossed the line just 2.236 seconds behind first-place, top-ranked Texas (6:09.920). Furthermore, a mere .352 seconds separated Tennessee from second-place, No. 2 Stanford (6:11.804).

UT’s 1V8+ crew finished ahead of fourth-place, No. 4 Princeton (6:15.556), eighth-ranked Brown (6:18.030) and No. 7 Washington (6:19.232) in the race.

In the Second Eight Grand Final, the Lady Vol crew—Elizabeth Walley (coxswain), Sophie Hill, Megan Hewison, Stella Mirkovic, Paige Reymann, Hannah Richardson, Gracie Condon, Katie Rice and Erin Gifford—placed third with a final time of 6:22.830. Stanford (6:18.156) and Texas (6:20.320) took the top two spots, respectively. The Lady Vols finished ahead of Washington (6:24.898), fifth-ranked Yale (6:25.776) and were nearly 10 seconds faster than Princeton’s time of 6:32.828.

a superb finish for a historic squad 💪🧡#NCAARowing | #GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/KqaWA1pK81— Tennessee Rowing (@Vol_Rowing) June 2, 2024

In the 1V4+ Grand Final, Tennessee’s crew—Laila Irigoyen (coxswain), Maylie Valiquette, Allison Lea, Natalia Loram and Sheya Lavin—placed fifth with a time of 7:07.729. The Lady Vols crossed the line ahead of sixth-place Washington (7:14.657).

Race Results
First Eight (Grand Final):
1. #1 Texas (6:09.920)
2. #2 Stanford (6:11.804)
3. #3 Tennessee (6:12.156)
4. #4 Princeton (6:15.556)
5. #8 Brown (6:18.030)
6. #7 Washington (6:19.232)

Second Eight (Grand Final):
1. #2 Stanford (6:18.156)
2. #1 Texas (6:20.320)
3. #3 Tennessee (6:22.830)
4. #7 Washington (6:24.898)
5. #5 Yale (6:25.776)
6. #4 Princeton (6:32.828)

Four (Grand Final):
1. #1 Texas (6:59.555)
2. #4 Princeton (7:03.761)
3. #2 Stanford (7:04.489)
4. #5 Yale (7:06.845)
5. #3 Tennessee (7:07.729)
6. #7 Washington (7:14.657)

so much LOVE for this team right here 🥹🧡🏆#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/F1Ne7mzZAg— Tennessee Rowing (@Vol_Rowing) June 2, 2024

The final standings for the 22-team event are determined by a tiered points format. The winner of the First Eight event earns 66 points, with the team that places second receiving 63 points, third 60, etc. For the Second Eight race, there 44 points are awarded to the winner, and the points obtained go down in steps of two for each ensuing position. For the Fours race, the winner earns 22 points, and the subsequent finishers get 21, 20, 19, etc.

Final Team Standings:
1. #1 Texas (130 points)
2. #2 Stanford (127 points)
3. #3 Tennessee (118 points)
4. #4 Princeton (112 points)
5. #7 Washington (106 points)
6. #8 Brown (99 points)
7. #9 Michigan (90 points)
8. #5 Yale (88 points)
9. #6 California (84 points)
10. #11 Pennsylvania (77 points)
11. #10 Syracuse (76 points)
12. #15 Ohio State (68 points)
13. #14 Virginia (68 points)
14. #13 Rutgers (55 points)
15. #12 Indiana (47 points)
16. #16 Duke (46 points)
17. Gonzaga (37 points)
18. Northeastern (26 points)
19. Boston (24 points)
20. Rhode Island (17 points)
21. SMU (13 points)
22. Jacksonville (10 points)