'Cuse Places 13th at NCAA Championship

Sunday, May 28

Camden County Boathouse, Pensauken, N.J.

8 AM

Syracuse University

NCAA Championship - Finals

5/28/2023 2:26:00 PM | Women's Rowing

Syracuse NCAA Championship History

The Syracuse women's rowing team finished 13th at the 2023 NCAA Championship, including an eighth-place performance from the varsity eight, a 13th-place finish by the varsity four and a 17th-place result for the second varsity eight. It ties for the third-best team finish in program history. In 2021, the Orange placed 10th, while the 2002 team placed 12th and the 2016 and 2017 squads posted back-to-back 13th place performances. The Orange V8 eighth-place finish is the second-best result in program history, and the highest finish in the current format of the national championship regatta. The 2001 varsity eight placed sixth as an at-large qualifier.

"The national championship regatta showcases team depth," said head coach Luke McGee. "It is a real positive that we jumped four spots from last year from 17th to 13th. It shows the commitment by everyone in the program. It takes physical performance, strength and speed, building a winning culture, and having confidence in one another. It shows the steps we are taking forward within the program."

Syracuse's varsity eight finished second in the petite final to take eighth place overall at the national regatta held at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, N.J. The Orange came in second to SMU by less than two seconds, 6:29.600 to 6:31.376, and beat Michigan (6:33.818), Brown (6:34.026), Virginia (6:34.030) and California (6:38.554). The varsity eight was coxswained by Hannah Murphy and included stroke Annika Maxson, Emmie Frederico, Izabela Krakic, Kamile Kralikaite, Ellie-Kate Hutchinson, India Aikens, Martyna Kazlauskaite and bow Alena Criss.

"The varsity eight had its best race today with a really exciting finish battling SMU and beating historically strong programs in Michigan, Brown, Virginia and Cal," McGee said. "I am really proud of how they came together all year. They continued to find speed every race. The result this year is nine spots ahead of last season and the majority of the boat will be back next year."

The Orange second varsity eight placed fifth in the NCAA C Final to finish 17th overall. Duke won the race in 6:42.301) followed by Rutgers (6:44.801), Southern California (6:45.603), Indiana (6:49.651), Syracuse (6:51.743) and George Washington (7:08.841). Coxswain Louise Rath guided the boat that included stroke Junior Ognovich, Madison D'Ambra, Zoe Acosta, Lena Radke, Olivia Schaertl, Haley Uliasz, Heather Stafford and bow Aphrodite Gioulekas. Last year the Orange also raced in the NCAA C finals, placing fourth and finishing 16th overall.

"The 2V has been working hard all year to make improvements, but it did not quite work out for them," McGee said. "It is a super group of people – the student-athletes and the coaches – who continuously sought to get better results. It was not for a lack of effort. I am proud of this group for fighting all the way to the end."

The varsity four won back-to-back races to close the 2023 season by winning the C final after beating the field in the C/D semifinal on Saturday. The V4 placed 13th overall in the NCAA Championship, which is the second-best result in program history. The best V4 finish in Syracuse history is 11th (2002, 2017, 2021). The Orange posted a time of 7:25.679, beating Rutgers (7:29.113), Southern California (7:34.095), Penn (7:35.315), Indiana (7:44.401) and Gonzaga (8:01.297). Junior Caileigh Grimes coxswained the boat that included stroke Elizabeth Vogt, Kaitlyn Dennis, Alice McNeill and bow Mae Sweeney.

"The four led us off with another great performance," McGee said. "They raced a good, solid race, and held their composure with challenges coming at them. They will all be back next season, which is great for the program. I am super excited for them."

Syracuse in the NCAA Championships
This year's championship marks the third consecutive appearance for the 10TH-ranked Orange and the sixth NCAA invitation in the last seven years. Head coach Luke McGee guided the team to a 10th-place finish in 2021 and a 17th-place result last year. Syracuse earned an at-large invitation to the 22-team field, which also features ACC teams Virginia and Duke.

The 2002 Orange earned the program's first NCAA Championship team invitation after the varsity eight had earned at-large invitations in 1997, 2000 and 2001.The varsity eight also earned an at-large berth in 2005. Syracuse earned team invitations in 2002, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and this year.

NCAA Championship Finals Results
Varsity Eight – Petite Final
1. SMU (6:29.600)
2. Syracuse (6:31.376)
3. Michigan (6:33.818)
4. Brown (6:34.026)
5. Virginia (6:34.030)
6. California (6:38.554)

Second Varsity Eight – C Final
1. Duke (6:42.301)
2. Rutgers (6:44,801)
3. Southern California (6:45.603
4. Indiana (6:49.651)
5. Syracuse (6:51.743)
6. George Washington (7:08.841)

Varsity Four – C Final
1. Syracuse (7:25.679)
2. Rutgers (7:29.113)
3. Southern California (7:34.095)
4. Indiana (7:44.401)
5. Gonzaga (8:01.297)

V8
Coxswain Hannah Murphy
Stroke Annika Maxson
7 Emmie Frederico
6 Izabela Krakic
5 Kamile Kralikaite
4 Ellie-Kate Hutchinson
3 India Aikens
2 Martyna Kazlauskaite
Bow Alena Criss

2V8
Coxswain Louise Rath
Stroke Junior Ognovich
7 Madison D'Ambra
6 Zoe Acosta
5 Lena Radke
4 Olivia Schaertl
3 Haley Uliasz
2 Heather Stafford
Bow Aphrodite Gioulekas

V4
Coxswain Caileigh Grimes
Stroke Elizabeth Vogt
3 Kaitlyn Dennis
2 Alice McNeill
Bow Mae Sweeney

Alternates
Lea Dahn
April Serrano
Lauren Coop

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