Sacred Heart
UConn
Sacred Heart Posts Strong Runner-up Finishes in Season Opener
4/3/2026 10:36:00 PM | Women's Rowing
The Sacred Heart University women’s rowing team opened its spring season with a competitive performance over 2000 meters against UConn and Marist.
Coventry, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's rowing team opened its spring season with a competitive performance over 2000 meters against UConn and Marist.
The Pioneers' Varsity Eight placed third in a tightly contested race, finishing in 7:01.5 behind Marist (6:54.5) and UConn (6:59.4).
Sacred Heart's Second Varsity Eight turned in a strong effort, taking second place with a time of 7:15.8, just over a second behind UConn (7:14.4) and ahead of Marist (7:18.2).
In the Varsity Four, the Pioneers placed second, crossing the line in 8:11.3, while UConn claimed the win (7:57.0) and Marist followed in third (8:18.7).
The Second Varsity Four also secured a runner-up finish for Sacred Heart, posting a time of 8:07.3 behind UConn (8:00.1). UConn's third boat (8:26.5) and Marist (8:37.1) rounded out the field.
Sacred Heart added another second-place result in the Third Varsity Eight, finishing in 7:24.8 behind UConn (7:18.6) and ahead of Marist (7:41.6).
Head coach Lucas Wilhelm reflected on the team's opening weekend, noting the opportunity for growth moving forward. "It's good to be back on the racecourse after an especially cold and challenging winter," Wilhelm said. "It's not about how you start a season, it's how you finish. Now we need to tighten up and grow up through the season."
Varsity Eight
Mia Bottone
Kaela Borelli
Olivia Chasse
Samantha Keith
Giovanna Ponte
Lily Holt
Meredith Sommers
Doria Lukasik-Drescher
Susan Munley
Second Varsity Eight
Annalise Yartz
Olivia Caione
Elizabeth Russell
Kadence Faucher
Olivia Kowalski
Kameron Siiss
Lauren McQuillian
Lauren Durkin
Caitlyn Bergman
Varsity Four
Sophia Bittar
Lila Shover
Sophia O'Malley
Rose Kelly
Sydney Marcy
Third Varsity Eight
Casey Leaver
Leah Mansfield
Natalia Sullivan
Giulianna McCarthy
Katherine Dudkowski
Lightweight Varsity Eight
Ava Del Greco
Gabrielle Gottschall
Elsa Friedrich
Olivia Nguyen
Sofia Fisher
Trinity Savage
Drew DiTullio
Anais Friedrich
Yelanni Diaz
Up Next:
Sacred Heart Pioneers rowing heads to New Jersey tomorrow for the Ram Invitational Regata.
Players Mentioned
