Sacred Heart
Knecht Cup
Pioneers Show Depth and Growth Across All Boats at Knecht Cup
4/13/2026 10:27:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Cherry Hill, N.J. – Sacred Heart continued to build momentum at the Knecht Cup, with all four boats showing progress and the varsity four leading the way with a strong finish.
Cherry Hill, N.J. – Sacred Heart continued to build momentum at the Knecht Cup, with all four boats showing progress and the varsity four leading the way with a strong finish.
Sacred Heart competed at the Knecht Cup with all four boats showing growth across the weekend, highlighted by a strong performance from the varsity four and continued development throughout the lineup.
The 1V8 placed 17th out of 33 overall, finishing fifth in the Third Final with a time of 7:06.980. The crew continued to build chemistry throughout the weekend, showing progress with each race. Coxswain Mia Bottone noted, "We're really starting to come together as a crew and getting back to what it truly means to have fun and be fast, especially when we lock in for a killer sprint." Head coach Luke Wilhelm added that the flagship crew is "getting close to their racing gear" and continues to improve day by day.
The 2V8 also placed 17th overall out of 32 entries, finishing fifth in the Third Final with a time of 7:22.730. The young boat showed steady improvement across its races, gaining experience against strong competition. Coxswain Annalise Yartz reflected on the weekend, saying, "Knecht Cup was a weekend of new growth and learning for the 2v8. Every race we came away with new discourse and opportunity to elevate what we've already accomplished. I'm excited for the future of this boat along with the changes we continue to make." Wilhelm praised the crew's development, noting they "grew each race and made sure to learn something as we come down the track."
The varsity four turned in one of the top performances of the weekend, placing ninth out of 29 overall and third in the Petite Final with a time of 8:31.600. The crew remained competitive throughout and delivered strong finishes against conference opponents. Coxswain Sophia Bittar said, "This weekend the V4 came in hungry to take names and we showed the depth of this program. We're bringing this mentality into next weekend and going to come in faster and continue to close the margins." Wilhelm highlighted the group as the standout boat, saying they "put together a great, complete weekend, including some good results against conference rivals and impressive finishes to each of their races."
The No. 8 lightweight eight finished sixth in the Grand Final with a time of 7:32.530 in its first spring competition against a highly competitive field. The crew showed resilience and improvement across both races. Assistant coach Dawson Shyne-Appignani said, "In our first-ever spring lightweight competition, this crew showed their resilience bouncing back from a tough heat to lay down their most complete race of the year in the grand finals. There is no fear of the mountain we will need to climb to reach the competitive teams at the top of this league, and we have teammates back home ready to help close those gaps for the rest of the Spring." Wilhelm echoed that sentiment, noting the lightweight eight improved with each run and emphasizing the strength of the national field.
Overall, Wilhelm summarized the weekend by emphasizing the team's progress and long-term focus, stating, "The message to the team is simple – it's not how you start the season. It's how you finish it. Eyes up!"
