No. 14 Duke Wins Sixth Consecutive Carolina Cup

Saturday, March 5

Clemson, S.C.

Duke University

Carolina Cup

No. 14 Duke Wins Sixth Consecutive Carolina Cup

3/6/2022 2:24:00 PM | Rowing

CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 14 Duke rowing team got the spring campaign started on a strong note Saturday, sweeping five races at the Carolina Cup on Lake Hartwell in Clemson, S.C.

The Blue Devils put together a winning effort at the Carolina Cup for the sixth consecutive year, besting Clemson head-to-head in the Varsity 8, Second Varsity 8, Varsity 4, Second Varsity 4 and Third Varsity 8 to take home the Daughtry Cup. It marked Duke's first appearance on Lake Hartwell since the 2021 ACC Championship in which the Blue Devils claimed their second straight silver medal.

"It was great to finally kick off the 2022 season with solid wins across all boat classes," said head coach Megan Cooke Carcagno. "ACC rival Clemson always puts on a nice regatta, and we very much enjoyed laying down some hard strokes on the Championship site. I'm impressed with all of our boats. I think everyone did a nice job of getting out in front, especially after a very hard week of training. We look forward to being back in Clemson in a little more than two months' time."

Duke was led off by the 3V8+ crew that finished with a time of 6:48.7 – nearly 30 seconds faster than the Tigers (7:16.2). Coxed by junior Nikita Suri, the lineup also featured four freshmen making their spring racing debuts – Jane Atkeson, Natalie Ashton, Hannah Steven and Noelle Fuchs.

The Blue Devils followed up with the 2V4+ and 3V4+ boats each outpacing Clemson's 2V4 with times of 7:27.7 and 7:41.3, respectively. The Duke V4+ then crossed with a 13.6-second time differential (7:25.7 to 7:39.3).

Duke's 2V8+ (6:41.5) and V8+ (6:34.4) wrapped up the day by each grinding out wins over the Tigers. Both lineups featured a balanced mix of youth and experience, as freshman Lily Abbott sat seven-seat in the Varsity 8 boat that also had five upperclassmen. The 2V8 had six upperclassmen – including coxswain Sarah Royka and graduate-transfer Allison Carr – racing alongside two sophomores and freshman Mollie Nicol.

The Blue Devils are next in action March 19-20, when they travel to Oak Ridge, Tenn., for the Oak Ridge Invite. For more information on Duke rowing, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching 'DukeROW.'

V8+
1. Duke – 6:34.4
2. Clemson – 6:45.3

2V8+
1. Duke – 6:41.5
2. Clemson – 6:48.6

V4+
1. Duke – 7:25.7
2. Clemson – 7:39.3

2V4+/3V4+
1. Duke 2V4 – 7:27.7
2. Duke 3V4 – 7:41.3
3. Clemson 2V4 – 7:44.9

3V8+
1. Duke – 6:48.7
2. Clemson – 7:16.2

Lineups
V8 – Ithika Senthilnathan (Cox), Amelia Shunk (Stroke), Lily Abbott, Sydney Johnson, Megan Lee, Morgan Linsley, Lauren Sizemore, Kathryn Nash, Emilie Lijesen (Bow)

2V8 – Sarah Royka (Cox), Rivca Chaver (Stroke), McKendree Densel, Grace Butero, Mollie Nicol, Brenna Morley, Erin Heyeck, Allison Carr, Gabriella Salvati (Bow)

V4 – Audrey Kline (Cox), Meera Chakrabarti (Stroke), Olivia Hunt, Shae Simpson, Caeley Tierney (Bow)

2V4 – Anya Hasija (Cox), Rachel McNutt (Stroke), Ella Harris, Lauren Brandmeyer, Stella Haley (Bow)

3V8 – Nikita Suri (Cox), Jane Atkeson (Stroke), Natalie Ashton, Hannah Steven, Sydney Cikovic, Paige Knudsen, Noelle Fuchs, Haley Dion, Alice Elworthy (Bow)

3V4 – Megan Knauer (Cox), Kelsey Lackey (Stroke), Kaitlyn Roegner, Anna McKane, Natalie Katz (Bow)

#GoDuke