No. 13 Blue Devils Win Lake Wheeler Invitational

Saturday, April 24

Lake Wheeler - Raleigh, N.C.

Duke University

Day Two At Lake Wheeler Invitational

No. 13 Blue Devils Win Lake Wheeler Invitational

4/24/2021 3:13:00 PM | Rowing

RESULTS

RALEIGH, N.C. – The No. 13 Duke rowing team recorded the top time in the Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Four and Third Varsity Eight Finals on Saturday to win the Lake Wheeler Invitational in Raleigh, N.C.

Duke and Clemson went back and forth throughout the morning, with each side taking the top two finishes in all five A Finals. After the Tigers bested the Blue Devils by 0.286 seconds in the 2V8 race, Duke faced a must-win in the V8 competition that closed out the regatta. Duke's top boat used a quick start, gaining nearly a full length of a lead halfway through the 2,000-meter race, and crossed the finish line at 6:42.649 to claim victory in the second installment of the Lake Wheeler Invitational.

The V8 win gave Duke 83 team points, barely edging out Clemson's total of 82. Central Florida put together several strong races to finish third with 66 points, while Duke's co-host, North Carolina, tied with Miami for fourth at 45 points. Boston College (24 points), the Wisconsin Lightweight team (20) and Stetson (17) rounded out the standings.

"I'm very proud of the team for bringing home the Pocock Cup after a challenging few weeks," said head coach Megan Cooke Carcagno. "The team is eager to work hard and have our best showing at the ACC Championship. Go Duke!"

The Blue Devils got the day started with a winning time of 7:05.794 in the 3V8 race. Coxed by junior Sarah Royka, the crew bested second-place Clemson by 3.557 seconds to give Duke an early lead on the field. Duke doubled up with a victory in the 2V4 competition, coming in at 7:38.248.

In perhaps the most entertaining race of the day, Duke's Varsity Four squad looked to get even with Clemson after falling in Friday's heat. The Tigers shot out to a narrow lead after the first 500 meters, though, and appeared to be pulling away before Duke slowly trimmed the margin. The Blue Devils got the boats side-by-side going into the final 750-meter stretch, but a late push by Clemson earned a finishing time of 7:33.477, just 0.464 ticks ahead of Duke's 7:33.941.

The Tigers grabbed the lead in the team standings with another close finish, this time in the 2V8. Duke held a steady lead for a majority of the race, but Clemson surged ahead late and clocked a winning mark of 6:49.802.

The Blue Devils' win in the V8 finale marked the boat's fourth victory of the season, while its time of 6:42.649 was the second-fastest this year. Graduate student Tara Fagan has coxed the V8 squad in each race in 2021.

Duke picked up its second team win of the season as well, after claiming the Carolina Cup on March 6.

The Blue Devils now turn their attention to the ACC Championship, which is set for May 14-15 in Clemson, S.C. Duke's last appearance at the conference regatta in May of 2019 proved to be among the top moments in program history, as the Varsity Four boat won the Blue Devils' first gold medal while helping the team finish second overall.

Team Point Totals
1. Duke – 83
2. Clemson – 82
3. UCF – 66
4. Miami – 45
4. North Carolina - 45
6. Boston College – 24
7. Wisconsin Lightweights – 20
8. Stetson – 17

V8+ A Final
1. Duke – 6:42.649
2. Clemson – 6:46.106
3. UCF – 6:50.126
4. Miami – 6:52.599

2V8+ A Final
1. Clemson – 6:49.802
2. Duke – 6:50.088
3. UCF – 7:02.932
4. Miami – 7:16.368

V4+ A Final
1. Clemson – 7:33.477
2. Duke – 7:33.941
3. UCF – 7:39.291
4. North Carolina – 7:50.741

2V4+ A Final
1. Duke – 7:38.248
2. Clemson – 7:41.168
3. UCF – 7:46.015
4. North Carolina – 7:47.742

3V8+ A Final
1. Duke – 7:05.794
2. Clemson – 7:09.351
3. UCF – 7:13.614
4. North Carolina – 7:30.710
5. Miami – 7:41.781

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

2V8 – Sarah Royka (Cox), Sydney Cikovic (Stroke), Emilie Lijesen, Erin Heyeck, Meera Chakrabarti, Caeley Tierney, Paige Knudsen, Savannah Herbek, Mia Johnson (Bow)

V4 – Megan Knauer (Cox), Laura Navarrete (Stroke), Stella Haley, Kathryn Nash, Kelsey Lackey (Bow)

2V4 – Haley Dion (Cox), Rivca Chaver (Stroke), Ryleigh Katstra, Maya Blake, Reed Kenny (Bow)

3V8 – Sarah Royka (Cox), Olivia Hunt (Stroke), Marisella Adams-Grimaldi, Sarah Hubner, Shae Simpson, Jordan Smith, Caitlyn Carlisle, Lee Ann Cunningham, Caroline Olsen (Bow)

#GoDuke