First Varsity Eight Wins Petite Final At ACC Championships

Saturday, May 14

Clemson, S.C.

All Day

North Carolina

ACC Rowing Championships

May 14, 2022 | Women's Rowing

CLEMSON, S.C. – The North Carolina women's rowing team wrapped up action at the ACC Rowing Championships on Saturday morning. The 1V8 crew won the petite title to highlight the final day of championship action.

"This year has been a heck of a ride for this team. A different coaching staff, different routine, new expectations, and standards. This championship weekend was the culmination of the last 10 months and all the hard work and challenges they have endured," said North Carolina head coach Erin Neppel. "They went for it, shot their shot, and while we hoped to finish higher in the standings, they made up a ton of ground from 2021."

Coxswain and true freshman Cara Cunningham guided the efforts of Alessandra De Vito, Amanda Perez, Lauren Ferner, Gigi Maroney, Kristen Siermachesky, Natalie Timinskas, Chloe Hyde, and Madelaine Johnson to traverse the course in 6:40.024 to edge Boston College and Notre Dame.

"The race of the day has to go to the Varsity 8 who won the petite final with five seniors in the boat who will close this chapter with an incredible memory, said Neppel. "If I had to dedicate this season to anyone, it would be our eight seniors, who were so grateful, stuck around with us, and we hope they check up on us from time to time."

Kristen Siermachesky, a grad transfer from New Liskeard, Ontario, and a first varsity eight squad member was named ACC Newcomer of the Year. She is the first rower in program history to receive the award. Alessandra De Vito, a senior from Newton, Mass., also a member of the first varsity eight crew, received All-ACC second-team honors.

Virginia won four of the five Grand Finals and tallied 98 total points to claim the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference Rowing Championship. Syracuse finished second with 83 points to narrowly nudge out Duke, who had 82. Clemson was fourth with 60 points, followed by Miami (52), Louisville (43), Notre Dame (29), Boston College (26), and North Carolina (21).

The 3V8 crew kicked off the day with a second-place finish in the petite final, finishing a little over 12 seconds ahead of Miami. In the 2V4 petite final, UNC fell behind Boston College for about 10 seconds in an only two-boat race. Miami edged the Tar Heels by three seconds as they finished third in the 1V4 petite final. In the 2V8 petite final race, the Tar Heels fell late in the race to Boston College to finish third.

Results

Finals

1V8 – Petite Final

UNC – 6:40.024
Boston College – 6:43.747
Notre Dame – 6:52.866

2V8 – Petite Final