Sacred Heart Rowing Places Two Athletes on FSN 2026 Watchlist
2/6/2026 12:27:00 PM | General, Women's Rowing
Sacred Heart women’s rowing earned national recognition on For Stars Network’s Division I Women’s Rowing Watchlist.
Fairfield, Conn. – Sacred Heart University's women's rowing program earned national recognition this preseason as Kaela Borelli and Lily Holt were named FSN 2026 Honorees, earning spots on For Stars Network's 3rd Annual Division I Women's Rowing Watchlist.
The honor places Borelli and Holt among 196 selected athletes nationwide representing 94 Division I programs, a highly selective group identified as the sport's most promising and fast-rising competitors heading into the 2026 college rowing season. With only one to three athletes chosen per team, the recognition highlights not just performance, but trajectory.
FSN's Watchlist is designed as a projection-based award, focusing on athletes whose development, consistency, and upward momentum suggest a breakout season ahead. Selections are determined through a holistic evaluation process that includes regular-season and championship results from 2024-2025, national championship lineups, fall racing performances, erg comparisons, international experience, and direct coaching staff nomination.
Head coach Lucas Wilhelm praised both athletes for the growth and impact they have already shown within the program.
"Kaela has come in with a true love for rowing and believes in what our program is doing," Wilhelm said. "We see that she is pushing the standards and even earning a spot in our top eight for the fall as a freshman."
Wilhelm also highlighted Holt's continued development and her standout performance during winter training.
"Lily has constantly been a top performer on our team, but this year started off different," Wilhelm said. "During our Florida training camp, she established herself as one of the real boat movers in our program. Well deserved!"
Rather than labeling honorees as finished products, FSN emphasizes growth potential—athletes who are improving rapidly, pushing internal team leaderboards, and contributing to the evolving competitive landscape of Division I rowing. In a sport where lineups are fluid and breakthroughs can happen quickly, these honorees represent the next wave of impact athletes across the country.
For Sacred Heart, the inclusion of Borelli and Holt underscores the program's continued development within the MAAC, which featured 21 athletes across 11 teams on the Watchlist. Their recognition reflects both individual progression and the broader momentum of the Pioneers as they prepare for the Spring 2026 racing slate.
The honor places Borelli and Holt among 196 selected athletes nationwide representing 94 Division I programs, a highly selective group identified as the sport's most promising and fast-rising competitors heading into the 2026 college rowing season. With only one to three athletes chosen per team, the recognition highlights not just performance, but trajectory.
FSN's Watchlist is designed as a projection-based award, focusing on athletes whose development, consistency, and upward momentum suggest a breakout season ahead. Selections are determined through a holistic evaluation process that includes regular-season and championship results from 2024-2025, national championship lineups, fall racing performances, erg comparisons, international experience, and direct coaching staff nomination.
Head coach Lucas Wilhelm praised both athletes for the growth and impact they have already shown within the program.
"Kaela has come in with a true love for rowing and believes in what our program is doing," Wilhelm said. "We see that she is pushing the standards and even earning a spot in our top eight for the fall as a freshman."
Wilhelm also highlighted Holt's continued development and her standout performance during winter training.
"Lily has constantly been a top performer on our team, but this year started off different," Wilhelm said. "During our Florida training camp, she established herself as one of the real boat movers in our program. Well deserved!"
Rather than labeling honorees as finished products, FSN emphasizes growth potential—athletes who are improving rapidly, pushing internal team leaderboards, and contributing to the evolving competitive landscape of Division I rowing. In a sport where lineups are fluid and breakthroughs can happen quickly, these honorees represent the next wave of impact athletes across the country.
For Sacred Heart, the inclusion of Borelli and Holt underscores the program's continued development within the MAAC, which featured 21 athletes across 11 teams on the Watchlist. Their recognition reflects both individual progression and the broader momentum of the Pioneers as they prepare for the Spring 2026 racing slate.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
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