WORCESTER, MA. – Facing only cloudy conditions over Lake Quinsigamond, the No. 2 ranked Wesleyan women's crew team won their sixth Jennifer McLaughlin Cup since 2016, the team's second in a row, as the varsity 8 and 2
nd varsity 8 claimed first place over two Top 10 ranked teams while the 3
rd varsity 8 placed second on Saturday morning.
RESULTS
Following last weekend's first-place victory over No. 10 Coast Guard, the Cardinals returned to the water to defend their ownership of the Jennifer McLaughlin Cup, taking first in 2024's race. The V8 was the top contender entering the weekend and lived up to the building hype, crossing the finish line first with a final time of 7:14.3. No. 9 WPI fell in over the line in second, finishing with a 7:27.93. Placing third, No. 7 Smith clocked in a 7:28.58 while No. 15 Colby closed the race with a 7:38.11.
Fueling a morning of success, the Cardinals laid claim to another win as the top boat in the 2V8 race. Nearly 10 seconds ahead of the second place finalist, the Cardinals crushed the competition with a final 7:21.21 as they crossed the finish line. Smith placed second (7:31.17) as WPI filed through in third (7:39.45). Colby rounds out the race (8:17.55).
While two varsity boat wins won the overall race for the Cardinals, the team was not done and fielded a 3V8 to top off the morning. The 3V8 jumped to a shaky start, unable to initially gain their bearings but overcame the adversity as the team caught their competition in spectacular sprint fashion to finish at 7:57.58 behind Smith (7:47.8). WPI placed third (8:01.11).
The Cardinals return to the Malden River on Saturday, April 12, in a test of endurance against No. 1 Tufts, No. 5 Bates, and No. 9 Wellesley.
Featuring for Wesleyan in the three boats included:
Varsity 8:
Ava Olson '25 (coxswain),
Ruby Roberts '27,
Hailey Hutchison '27,
Alexandra Stanislaw '25,
Greta Armbrust '25,
Cadence Cole '26,
Clara Preisig '25,
Nora Printy '26, and
Em Moran '26
2nd Varsity 8:
Aria Trotta '27(coxswain),
Sydney Romer '28,
Alex Kuo '26,
Julia Lissack '27,
Annabelle Miller '25,
Sylvia Jenkins '28,
Peyton Fern '25,
Aleah Hurwitz '25, and
Kaitlin Browne '28
3rd Varsity 8:
Dana Hennings '27 (coxswain),
Coley Cassidy '28,
Sophie Braver '27,
Rebecca Lupkas '28,
Helen Gies '26,
Annie McDaniel '28,
Grace Donfield '26,
Kiki Nebolsine '28, and
Stella Tollis '27