Boston University Women’s Rowing Shines at Lake Wheeler Invite
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Boston University women’s rowing team showcased their talent during the Lake Wheeler Invite, held on April 25-26, 2023, competing against some of the top crews on the East Coast. Representing one of 18 participating schools, BU boasted four competitive crews in a challenging regatta.
Event Overview
Despite experiencing overcast weather, the Terriers benefitted from warmer conditions and calm waters, allowing for strong race performances. Over the two days of competition, BU accumulated 48 points, ranking sixth overall among participating teams and trailing only Virginia, Duke, Columbia, Clemson, and North Carolina.
Performance Highlights
Second Varsity 4+
Starting the regatta with the Second Varsity 4+, coxed by Molly Bernardo and stroked by Sonya Carson, BU achieved a notable victory in the first round, clocking in at 7:38.109. They further improved their time in the afternoon session with a 7:31.884 finish, securing third among competitors.
In the final heat, BU narrowly missed out on second place, finishing with a time of 7:27.737, just shy of Virginia’s crew.
Varsity 4+
BU’s Varsity 4+, led by coxswain Kennedy Walker and stroked by Lilly McSweeney, also excelled with an opening heat victory. They posted a time of 7:33.168, establishing a significant lead. Their subsequent time of 7:34.005 placed them third in the second round.
The final round saw them competing intensely against Duke and Gonzaga, finishing fourth with a time of 7:29.569.
Second Varsity 8+
The Second Varsity 8+, coxed by Valeria Lizarraga Ramirez and stroked by Nina Palmer, fought hard, winning their first round in 6:42.040. In a close second-round race, they took third place, finishing just 0.16 seconds ahead of Washington State. They capped off their regatta with their best time of 6:41.961 in the third round, finishing only behind Virginia and Duke.
Varsity 8+
In the Varsity 8+ events, coxed by Audrey Lucerne and stroked by Sotiria Angou, BU seized the lead halfway through their first race, finishing strong at 6:35.564. The second round had them finishing third in a time of 6:37.231. Their top performance of the weekend came on Sunday with a time of 6:28.481, defeating Gonzaga while closely trailing Duke.
Additional Races in Boston
Back in Boston, on April 26, BU sent two additional crews to compete against Harvard-Radcliffe and Yale. The Third Varsity 8+ finished third with a time of 7:53.0, while the Third Varsity 4+ placed fourth at 8:55.8.
Looking Ahead
With the Lake Wheeler Invite nearly concluded, the Terriers are now gearing up for the upcoming Eastern Sprints, scheduled for May 4 at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Lake Wheeler Results Summary
Team Standings – Top 10
- Virginia – 94 points
- Duke – 82 points
- Columbia – 73 points
- Clemson – 67 points
- North Carolina – 61 points
- BU – 48 points
- Tulsa – 31 points
- Washington State – 25 points
- Gonzaga – 22 points
- Georgetown – 22 points
Lineups for Lake Wheeler Regatta
Second Varsity 4+
Cox: Molly Bernardo | Stroke: Sonya Carson | Bow: Sophia Williams | 2: Julia Andrist | 3: Elisabeth Arnason
Varsity 4+
Cox: Kennedy Walker | Stroke: Lilly McSweeney | Bow: Maeve Keohane | 2: Sally Thoden | 3: Ada Giraldo
Second Varsity 8+
Cox: Valeria Lizarraga Ramirez | Stroke: Nina Palmer | Bow: Luisa Reussner | 2: Aryn Bailey | 3: Viktoria Zruttová | 4: Camilla Silvestri | 5: Mariana Forehand | 6: Tatum Swanwick | 7: Kate Barham
Varsity 8+
Cox: Audrey Lucerne | Stroke: Sotiria Angou | Bow: Sarah Stacey | 2: Raylynn Boston | 3: Olivia Bencze | 4: Gigi Williams | 5: Kat Robbins | 6: Lydia Pelton | 7: Ingrid Eshuis
Third Varsity 8+
Cox: Maya Wiisanen | Stroke: Anna Woodside | Bow: Cece Engel | 2: Caelan Harrington | 3: Abby Berg | 4: Julia Kraski | 5: Katie Chambers | 6: Melanie Helfenstein | 7: Elsa Marino
Third Varsity 4+
Cox: Laura Leong | Stroke: Ally Phillips | Bow: Mary Cummings | 2: Estella Woodside | 3: Lucy Schwartz
