CHERRY HILL, N.J. – A chance to row twice against some of the top NCAA Division II programs was what the Seattle Pacific Falcons had in mind as they traveled coast to coast for the Knecht Cup.
 
The weather had other ideas, leaving the Falcons with just one chance.
 
When that chance finally came on Sunday afternoon, they made the most of it.
 
SPU finished fourth among the six teams in the Club 8 Division and third among five in the Club 4 Division under much more conducive competitive conditions on the Cooper River.
 
"Honestly, because we flew across the country on a redeye, having an extra day to rest and sleep certainly helped us to be in a better position to get out there and race and adjust to our borrowed equipment," head coach Caitlin McClain said. "It was a bummer to come all this way and not have two races But we did get what we needed out of it, and that's seeing where we stack up on a national level early in the season."
 
The regatta featured six of the eight teams that are ranked in the April 8 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll, including No. 3 SPU. Central Oklahoma came at No. 1, with Embry-Riddle No. 5, Mercyhurst at No. 6, Thomas Jefferson at No. 7, and Barry at No. 8.
 
"Staying ahead of other regions' second-place teams and staying tight to Central Oklahoma – in terms of what we wanted to do out here, both boats took care of that," said McClain, whose team also was hampered by bad weather at last week's Pioneer / Pilot Invitational on Vancouver Lake in Washington. "They did a really nice job of handling the cancellation on Saturday and being ready to go after it today."
 
In the fours, the Falcons clocked 8:18.57. Central Oklahoma led the way in that one, finishing in 8:07.48. Embry-Riddle was close behind in 8:08.88.

McClain made some changes to her four lineup in the week leading up to the race. She liked what she saw, not only in how they came together, but in how they secured a top-3 finish against NCAA-caliber competition. Sunday's crew had one junior (Emma Ely in the No. 3 seat), three sophomores (including cox Aleksia Haugen) and one freshman (Emerson Spencer at stroke).

 

"They did a really nice job of handling it and recognizing that they were new, but ultimately being able to come together as a crew," she said. "That was one of their goals was that they were really rowing well together in the week or so that they had to prepare.
 
"Being able to challenge the lane next to them (Barry) and put themselves in a top-3 position is what we were really hoping for to put our region and our team in the mix for a potential (NCAA) at-large bid," McClain added.
 
The eights completed their 2,000 meters in 7 minutes, 7.95 seconds, hanging right with second-place Mercyhurst (7:05.98) and third-place Embry-Riddle (7:06.41). Well out in front of everyone was Central Oklahoma, crossing the finish line in 6;59.67.
 
"They raced hard and raced aggressively and made some moves early in the race that put them in the mix of top three," McClain said. "At the end, other boats started moving, as well. All of that said, it was a really positive place for us to be."
 
UP NEXT
The Falcons now have two weeks to prepare for their trip to Lake Natoma in Rancho Cordova, California, for the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships. Heat races are set for Saturday, April 27, with petite finals and grand finals on Sunday the 28th.
 
"We're looking forward to having some training time," McClain said. "I think I'm excited to do a little more direct coaching and start fine-tuning some things, which we just haven't had the opportunity to do as much."
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S ROWING
Knecht Cup
Sunday, April 14, 2024
2,000 meters @ Cooper River / Cherry Hill, N.J.
 
 
D2 Club Eight
1, Central Oklahoma 6:59.67
2, Mercyhurst 7:05.98
3, Embry-Riddle 7:06.41
4, Seattle Pacific 7:07.95
5, Thomas Jefferson 7:49.80
6, Barry 8:41.07
 
SPU lineup:  Cox – Lucy Sandahl; Stroke – Natalie Korolenko; 7 – Megan Popielak; 6 – Ixchel Watson; 5 – Audrey Rekedal; 4 – Bella Lisenby; 3 – Megan Rouse; 2 – Anna Boatman; Bow – Gem Gatmaytan.
 
 
D2 Club Four
1, Central Oklahoma 8:07.48
2, Embry-Riddle 8:08.88
3, Seattle Pacific 8:18.57
4, Barry 8:23.30
5, Mercyhurst 8:43.48
Thomas Jefferson did not start.
 
SPU lineup:  Cox – Aleksia Haugen;  Stroke – Emmerson Spencer;  3 – Emma Ely;  2 – Emma Jones;  Bow – Amelia Pape.