Virginia Rowing Shines: Second Varsity Eight Heads to Grand Final at NCAA Championship
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A wave of excitement rippled through the ranks as the No. 10 Virginia Second Varsity Eight secured their spot in the grand final at the 2025 NCAA Rowing Championship, held at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., this past Saturday, May 31.
Thrilling Semifinal Performance
Under challenging weather conditions characterized by choppy waters and gusty winds, the Cavaliers’ 2V8 crew showed resilience, edging out the University of Tennessee with a time of 6:20.084 compared to their competitor’s 6:21.368. This performance earned them a vital third place in the A/B semifinal, securing one of the coveted six spots in tomorrow’s grand finale.
Stanford took the lead in the race with a stellar time of 6:12.600, followed closely by Texas at 6:17.724. The final standings of this nail-biting semifinal were:
- Stanford – 6:12.600
- Texas – 6:17.724
- Virginia – 6:20.084
- Tennessee – 6:21.368
- California – 6:22.656
- Syracuse – 6:38.244
Other Notable Performances
While the 2V8 shined, the Varsity Eight did not have the same fortune in their A/B semifinal, finishing fourth with a time of 6:12.258. Yale dominated this race, clocking in at 6:04.090. The standings were as follows:
- Yale – 6:04.090
- Tennessee – 6:07.532
- Brown – 6:09.822
- Virginia – 6:12.258
- California – 6:15.062
- Indiana – 6:27.172
The Varsity Four claimed victory in its C/D semifinal, solidifying its place in tomorrow’s C final. UVA triumphed over Pennsylvania with a time of 7:10.567, compared to 7:13.633 for the runner-up. The results were as follows:
- Virginia – 7:10.567
- Pennsylvania – 7:13.633
- Boston – 7:14.917
- Dartmouth – 7:15.293
- Rhode Island – 7:59.271
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for UVA?
The final races of the NCAA championship promise to be exhilarating, with the Varsity Four kicking off at 7:20 a.m., followed by the Second Varsity Eight at 8:24 a.m. and concluding with the Varsity Eight at 8:32 a.m.. Fans can catch all the action live on NCAA.com.
Virginia Lineups
Varsity Eight
- Coxswain: Brie Joe
- Stroke: Kennedy Housley
- 7: Kate McGee
- 6: Flynn Greene
- 5: Sheila Joyce
- 4: Jenna Hajji
- 3: Elsa Hartman
- 2: Sky Dahl
- Bow: Meagan Goldsmith
Second Varsity Eight
- Coxswain: Chloe Lee
- Stroke: Sophia Coppola
- 7: Paige Loh
- 6: Sydney Fratamico
- 5: Paula Lutz
- 4: Teagan Orth
- 3: Savannah Fox
- 2: Lindsay O’Neil
- Bow: Lila Henn
Varsity Four
- Coxswain: Samara Coakley
- Stroke: PJ Balazy
- 3: Helene Dimitrijev
- 2: Riley Richardson
- Bow: Ayla O’Neill
As the hour of competition draws near, anticipation builds for what promises to be a memorable conclusion to the championship. Will UVA’s Second Varsity Eight take the title? Only time will tell!
