Rowing Announces Team Captains

LOUISVILLE Ky. - University of Louisville rowing team has announced its four captains for the 2020 season as selected by the team. Senior Victoria Goldin, juniors Emily Corso and Violette Legrand, and sophomore McKenzie Sweeney will serve as captains. Legrand and Sweeney were also named captains last season. The announcement comes ahead of the team's first spring scrimmage at SMU on February 8 before traveling to UCF for another scrimmage on February 22.

During the team's annual Winter Training Trip, head coach Derek Copeland and his coaching staff implemented a new team element, leadership training. The team came together several times during the week-long trip to not only talk about what their team goals and motivations are, but as individuals, what each student-athlete can do to become a leader and help their teammates on and off the water.

"We are very excited about this group because they were clearly selected to represent the team and will challenge them to progress towards their goals. We expect a lot from our leaders, but we also expect our team to step up as they lead.

Head Coach Derek Copeland

"We are very excited about this group because they were clearly selected to represent the team and will challenge them to progress towards their goals," Copeland said. "Two of them have previously been captains, Violette and McKenzie, and they will surely lean on the experiences of Victoria and Emily to establish a strong unit. We expect a lot from our leaders, but we also expect our team to step up as they lead. We have recently focused on what makes a good leader as well as how we can support our leaders better. I am confident that both groups are operating on the same plane and will achieve it this spring. We are grateful that our team was so open to digging in to this process and look forward to the journey."

Legrand is a two-time All-ACC Second Team selection and was the 2018 ACC Freshman of the Year. She was a member of the V8+ boats at the ACC Championship in both of her seasons with the Cards. She is also a two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.

"I am very honored to be part of the captain's group for this season," Legrand says. "I am really looking forward to working with the team because we did a lot of leadership work together and I think it helped us all be in a better place. I definitely think that the team is ready to get into action for the spring season, which is very exciting."

The other returning captain, Sweeney, quickly became a regular on the V8+ crew as a freshman last season, including rowing on the V8+ boat that finished fifth at the ACC Championship. She also rowed on the 2V4+ and V4+ crews, and was an ACC Academic Honor Roll selection.

"It is an incredible honor to be voted as one of the captains this year," Sweeney said. "I am extremely excited to work with the team to keep the strong momentum we had in the fall moving into the spring racing season. Our grit is the key to our success."

"Over the course of my time at Louisville, I have had the chance to learn and grow under the leadership of some amazing captains and I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the team."

Senior Victoria Goldin

Goldin begins here final season with the Cardinals. She has rowed at the ACC Championship each of the last two seasons and is a three-time ACC Honor Roll selection. She also earned Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar-Athlete honors in 2019.

"To be identified as a leader out of a group of such incredible and capable women is an honor," Goldin says. "Over the course of my time at Louisville, I have had the chance to learn and grow under the leadership of some amazing captains and I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the team."

Corso has raced at the ACC Championship in each of her seasons at UofL, competing in the V4+ in 2019 and the 3V8+ in 2018. She is a two-time ACC Honor Roll selection and last season earned CRCA National Scholar-Athlete honors.

"At Louisville Rowing, everyone is a leader in their own way, which makes being selected as a captain incredibly humbling," Corso says. "I am excited to take on the role with the other captains and look forward to growing with them, the coaching staff, and the team. With the strides the program has made over the past season, I have no doubt in the team's ability to achieve our goals this season."

Following the scrimmages against SMU and UCF, the Cardinals officially being their spring season March 14-15 when they host the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invite in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

For the latest on Louisville rowing, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's social media accounts on Twitter @UofLRowing, Facebook /UofLRowing, and Instagram @UofLRowing.

University of Louisville Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Emily Corso

Victoria Goldin

Violette Legrand

McKenzie Sweeney

Related Videos