The Eastern Michigan Womens' rowing team traveled to the University of Alabama to race against Roll Tide’s No. 15 ranked team on Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, AL. on March 5. The trip to Tuscaloosa takes place every spring break with the objective for the EMU rowing team to garner outdoor training to start the spring season.
Each race on Black Warrior River was 2,000 meters upstream.
In the first race, the Eagles 2V8+ boat went up against Alabama’s 3V8+ boat and 4V8+ boat. The Crimson Tide 3V8+ beat EMU’s 2V8+ by only four seconds, finishing with a 7:57.46 and 8:01.54. Alabama’s 4V8+ completed the race in 8:20.72 minutes.
EMU’s 2V8+ lineup consisted of Priscilla Brom, Olivia Hansen, Abbey Simpson, Ariel Sutton, Alexis Kettler, Lily Wilhelm, Claire Greenfelder, and Arden Schirru with Olivia Bray as the coxswain.
The Eagles 1V8+ executed the race well, finishing in 7:43.77 minutes, just 10 seconds behind Roll Tide’s 2V8+.
EMU’s 1V8+ lineup had Brynne Harder, Chloe Hinojosa, Emma Boersen, Laura Borchers, Caitlin Rodanhisler, Carly Szymanski, Reagan Fazekas, and Mary Hemgesberg with Abby Goodwin coxing the boat.
Alabama’s five boats dominated the 4s race, with the 1V4+ finishing with 8:21.30 on the clock. EMU put up a good effort, completing the race at 9:28.70.
The Eagles 1V4+ lineup was Brianna Gracey, Lindsay Rock, Kristen Ford, and Jessica LaRoy with Alexandra Walsh as the coxswain.
The Eagles 3V8+ completed the race in 9:34.52 minutes. That lineup consisted of Kaialani Knox, Emily Gandy, Carly Summers, Emma Wyss, Kelly Truitt, Kaycee Johnson, Libbey Lloyd, and Megan Fowler with Erin Corbley coxing the crew.
“We've had one of the best training trips I've had with EMU. As for the racing, we narrowed the gap on Alabama's boats after a much harder training week than last year,” said Coach Kemp Savage.
Coach Kemp Savage expressed his gratitude toward the rowing team's focus on improvement points.
“Particularly, we saw a really nice jump in the 2V8, and I was very happy with how the top boats raced their second half of the race. We're looking forward to getting out onto Ford Lake and finding some more speed,” said Coach Savage.
The Eagles host their first home regatta and Unite race on Saturday, April 2 against Michigan State University of the Big Ten Conference on Ford Lake in Ypsilanti, MI.
