Varsity Eight Win Over No. 7 Michigan Highlights Big Ten/ACC Double Dual

Saturday, April 3

Columbus, Ohio

Duke University

Big Ten/ACC Double Dual

Varsity Eight Win Over No. 7 Michigan Highlights Big Ten/ACC Double Dual

4/3/2021 2:07:00 PM | Rowing

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 10 Duke rowing team's First Varsity Eight boat outraced No. 7 Michigan in its opening competition of the day to highlight the Big Ten/ACC Double Dual on Saturday at the Griggs Reservoir.

The Blue Devils took the top finish in four races overall, with each coming against ranked opponents. Duke's V8 crew got things started at 8:10 a.m., with a narrow victory over the seventh-ranked Wolverines, as the Blue Devils finished in 6:48.60 while Michigan came in at 6:49.48. It marked the first win in the V8 over Michigan in program history.

"Today was a good effort across the board for Duke," said head coach Megan Cooke Carcagno. "We had a very quick turnaround from last weekend's racing, so it was exciting to see most of our boats get a victory or two against the high bar set by Michigan and Ohio State. We have work to do to reach our goals, but we're in the hunt with some great competition."

Three of Duke's wins came in the second set of races, when the Blue Devils took on No. 6 Ohio State and No. 18 Minnesota. The Duke Varsity Four squad of Sarah Royka (coxswain), Laura Navarrete, Erin Heyeck, Kathryn Nash and Stella Haley clocked a winning time of 8:17.30 in the 10:40 a.m. race, after finishing in 8:04.71 to place second behind Michigan in the morning session.

The Blue Devils' 2V4 crew outpaced the Buckeyes by a margin of 0.44 seconds in the 11 a.m. slot. Duke crossed the line at 8:24.30, just narrowly besting Ohio State's time of 8:24.74.

Duke's 3V8 boat, coxed by sophomore Nikita Suri, had a strong outing on Saturday led off by a second-place time of 7:19.61 in the early session. The crew wrapped up competition for the Blue Devils with a win, finishing in 7:47.50 to defeat Ohio State at 11:30 a.m.

"It was very exciting to see the Varsity Eight pull off a win against Michigan, a first in program history," said Cooke Carcagno. "We had great racing in the Varsity Fours and 3V8 to hold off No. 6 Ohio State in rough waters on their home course."

The Blue Devils will enjoy a week off from competition before returning to the Midwest for the Big Ten Invite in Cincinnati, Ohio from April 17-18.

V8+
8:10 a.m. race
1. Duke – 6:48.60
2. Michigan – 6:49.48
3. Michigan State – 7:15.29

10 a.m. race
1. Ohio State – 6:57.60
2. Minnesota – 7:05.15
3. Duke – 7:08.88

2V8+
8:30 a.m. race
1. Michigan – 7:04.90
2. Duke – 7:11.22
3. Michigan State – 7:42.02

10:20 a.m. race
1. Ohio State – 7:16.00
2. Duke – 7:22.52
3. Minnesota – 7:38.98

V4+
8:50 a.m. race
1. Michigan – 7:50.90
2. Duke – 8:04.71
3. Michigan State – 8:27.49

10:40 a.m. race
1. Duke – 8:17.30
2. Ohio State – 8:19.91
3. Minnesota – 8:23.38

2V4+
9:10 a.m. race
1. Michigan – 8:02.50
2. Duke – 8:21.87

11 a.m. race
1. Duke – 8:24.30
2. Ohio State – 8:24.74

3V8+
9:40 a.m. race
1. Michigan – 7:14.30
2. Duke – 7:19.61
3. Michigan State – 7:50.41

11:30 a.m. race
1. Duke – 7:47.50
2. Ohio State – 7:48.80

Lineups
V8 – Tara Fagan (Cox), Amelia Shunk (Stroke), Megan Lee, Lauren Sizemore, Morgan Linsley, Ema Kuczura, Gabriella Salvati, Sydney Johnson, McKendree Densel (Bow)

2V8 – Ithika Senthilnathan (Cox), Sydney Cikovic (Stroke), Brenna Morley, Savannah Herbek, Meera Chakrabarti, Mia Johnson, Grace Butero, Caeley Tierney, Emilie Lijesen (Bow)

V4 – Sarah Royka (Cox), Laura Navarrete (Stroke), Erin Heyeck, Kathryn Nash, Stella Haley (Bow)

2V4 – Megan Knauer (Cox), Rivca Chaver (Stroke), Paige Knudsen, Maya Blake, Reed Kenny (Bow)

3V8 – Nikita Suri (Cox), Rachel McNutt (Stroke), Kelsey Lackey, Marisella Adams-Grimaldi, Ryleigh Katstra, Shae Simpson, Olivia Hunt, Caitlyn Carlisle, Sarah Hubner (Bow)

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