Cards Impressive in Fall Debut at Music City Head Race

Saturday, October 26

Nashville, TN

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University of Louisville

Music City Head Race

Cards Impressive in Fall Debut at Music City Head Race

October 26, 2024 | Rowing

Complete Results

Cards earn eight top-three finishes

By: Lori Harmon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Louisville rowing team was solid in its fall season debut at the Music City Head Race on the Cumberland River Saturday.

The Cardinals raced a total of 11 boats with two first-place finishes among eight top-three showings on the day.

"We're glad to have an opportunity to knock off the racing cobwebs a bit and remember what it's like to see other blades coming down the course," said assistant coach Egan Berne. We need to be more aggressive out of the gate next weekend at Hooch if we want another strong performance."

The stage was set in the Collegiate 8+with four Cardinal boats finishing among the top five in the field of 12. The Varsity 8 boat led the way. Mackenna Billington guided the boat that included Lexi Bernard, Isabella Ulloa, Macy Whisenand, Claire Carver-Ritter, Taylor Fausey, Kaylie Leonard, Magda Zelloth and Ellie Fazio paced the field with a time of 17:46.2, nearly 24 seconds ahead of Vanderbilt. Louisville's 'B' and 'C' boats place third (18:35.0) and fourth (19:00.2) respectively.

"Music City was a good first race of the season," said Ulloa. "I think it was a great opportunity to have fun and give the team confidence. We have lots of opportunities to grow, but the racing gave us some good energy to lead us into next weekend."

In their collegiate debut, the Novice 8 posted a second-place showing among seven boats as Madelyn Pleune (Coxswain), Claudia Smith, Lexi Schneider, Zoe Sanders, Avary Tomic, Julia Shoemaker, Amelia Jarzomkowski-Wade, Amanda Fogler, and Addison Sorrell turned in a time of 20:29.7.

Louisville raced six boats in the Collegiate 4+, sweeping the top three spots while all finished in the top eight of the 21-team field. The Varsity 4A crew coxed by Olivia Guarnaccia included Lexi Bernard, Claire Carver-Ritter, Madeline Giron and Isabella Ulloa finished with a time of 18:01 - in a dead heat with Vanderbilt while the Varsity 4 C (18:21.3) and B boats (18:28.6) earned silver and bronze medals respectively.

The day closed with an impressive performance by freshman Clara Jane VanDyk and Magda Zelloth who dominated the Women's Open 2x six team field with a time of 18:48.1, finishing faster than the winner of the equivalent men's race.

"A boy once told me I wasn't as fast as him, and I said you're right, I'm faster," quipped Van Dyk.

The Cardinals will return to action next weekend when they travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the Head of the Hooch.

Music City Head Race Results
Oct. 26, 2024
Women's Collegiate 8+
1 – Louisville A (17:46.5); 2 – Vanderbilt (18:10.9); 3 – Louisville B (18:35.0); 4 – Louisville C (19:00.2); 5 – Illinois (19:18.6); 6 – Virginia Tech (19:54.1); 7 – UGA (20:02.8); 8 – Georgia Tech (21:14.9); 9 – Miami University (22.33.5); 10 – Wheaton (23:13.5); 11 – Virginia Tech (23:35.1); 12 – LSU – (26.13.0)

Women's Collegiate Novice 8+
1 – Illinois (19:45.2); 2 – Louisville (20:29.7); 3 – Georgia Tech (21:19.1); 4 – Georgia Tech B (21:19.1); 5 -Vanderbilt (21:26.2); 6 – Murray State (21:40.5); 7 – Miami University (21:49.9)

Women's Collegiate 4+
T1 – Vanderbilt (18:01.1); T1 – Louisville A (18.01.1); 3 – Louisville C (18:21.3); 4 – Louisville B (18:28.6); 5 – Louisville D (18:36.4); 6 – Louisville E (18:48.4); 7 – Illinois (19:14.4); 8 – Louisville F (19:36.2); 9 – Vanderbilt (19:39.8); 10 – Georgia Tech (20:03.1); 11 - UGA (20:03.2); 12 – Georgia Tech B (20:19.1); 13 – Tennessee (20:24.1); 14 – Virginia Tech B (20:38.3); 15 – Virginia Tech (21:01.0); 16 – Sewanee (21:20.4); 17 – LSU (21.41.8); 18 – Miami University (21:55.2); 19 – Wheaton (22:33.3); 20 - Murray State (23:45.2); 21 – UGA (23:50.7)

Women's Open 2x
1 – Louisville (18:48.1); 2- Wichita State (20:48.8); 3 – Illinois (21:52.6); 4 – Wichita State (23:11.0); 5 – High Point (23:28.7); 6 – High Point B (25:41.5)

Varsity 8A
Mackenna Billington (Coxswain)
8 – Lexi Bernard
7 - Isabella Ulloa
6 – Macy Whisenand
5 - Claire Carver-Ritter
4 – Taylor Fausey
3 – Kaylie Leonard
2 – Magda Zelloth
1 – Ellie Fazio

Varsity 8B
Olivia Guarnaccia (Coxswain)
8 – Cierra Chavez
7 – Madeline Giron
6 – Alaina Holder
5 – Bradlie Hicks
4 – Mary Noschang
3 – Emma Bell
2 – Clara Jane Van Dyk
1 – Haley Kunz

Varsity 8C
Cecilia Kern (Coxswain)
8 – Graycen West
7 – Bria Ragauckas
6 – Olivia Koproski
5 – Stella Mancini
4 – Grace Rodebaugh
3 – Gabriella Allen
2 – Angels Ventura Rodriguez
1 – Ali Matthews

Novice 8+
Madelyn Pleune (Coxswain)
8 – Claudia Smith
7 – Lexi Schneider
6 – Zoe Sanders
5 – Avary Tomic
4 – Julia Shoemaker
3 – Amelia Jarzomkowski-Wade
2 – Amanda Fogler
1 – Addison Sorrell

Varsity 4+ A
Olivia Guarnaccia (Coxswain)
4 – Lexi Bernard
3 – Claire Carver-Ritter
2 – Madeline Giron
1 – Isabella Ulloa

Varsity 4+ B
Mackenna Billington (Coxswain)
4 – Macy Whisenand
3 – Alaina Holder
2 – Taylor Fausey
1 – Ellie Fazio

Varsity 4+ C
Cecilia Kern (Coxswain)
4 – Haley Kunz
3 – Kaylie Leonard
2 – Emma Bell
1 – Bria Ragauckas

Varsity 4+ D
Leah Watters (Coxswain)
4 – Cierra Chavez
3 – Graycen West
2 – Mary Noschang
1 – Bradlie Hicks

Varsity 4+ E
Madelyn Pluene (Coxswain)
4 – Ali Matthews
3 – Grace Rodebaugh
2 – Stella Mancini
1 – Angels Ventura Rodriguez

Varsity 4+ F
Hannah Cease (Coxswain)javascript:void(0)
4 – Margot Kaufman
3 – Gabriella Allen
2 – Keira Krebs
1 – Lauren Stedry

2X
2 - Clara Jane VanDyk
1 – Magda Zelloth