Cards Wrap Up the Fall at Head of the Hooch

Saturday, November 2

Chattanooga, TN

All Day

University of Louisville

Head of the Hooch

Louisville rowing training on the Ohio River

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

November 02, 2024 | Rowing

Results

By: Lori Harmon

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The University of Louisville rowing team concluded the 2024-25 fall season with a strong showing at the Head of the Hooch on the Chattahoochee River Saturday.

"I am really pleased with the professionalism the team showed from top to bottom today," said associate head coach Ed Oxlade. "We had targets and goals to hit, and we succeeded in meeting them and confirming to ourselves that the hard work throughout the fall has been effective and I hope serves to galvanize the group as they head into our winter training block."

In their first race of the day, the Varsity 8A boat paced an all-Louisville field. Coxswain Mackenna Billington guided Lexi Bernard (stroke), Claire Carver-Ritter, Kaylie Leonard, Clara Jane Van Dyk, Macy Whisenand, Ellie Fazio, Haley Kunz and Isabella Ulloa (bow) to a time of 14:481.984.

"We had some great racing today to end the fall season," said sophomore Bradlie Hicks, who rowed with the Varsity 8B boat that finished in second place. "There is a lot of competition between boats and I think we're all excited to see what this momentum will bring in the spring"

The Cardinals' Novice 8 boat finished sixth out of 26 teams, crossing the line at 17:48.491. Madelyn Pleune coxed Claudia Smith (stroke), Lexi Schneider, Zoe Sanders, Avary Tomic, Julia Shoemaker, Amelia Jarzomkowski-Wade, Amanda Fogler and Addison Sorrell in their second weekend of competition.

"The development squad made decent progress and tested their resilience with a quick turnaround between races today, but acquitted themselves well, and I am certain that they will now have a better understanding of how they can push harder as they move towards joining the varsity group in the new year," said Oxlade.

"This was great race to finish out the fall season," added Pleune. "We saw some great improvement in the team and I am so excited to see what's to come next season."

Louisville closed out the day with six boats the Women's Championship 4+ race and the Cardinals' Varsity 4 claimed another first place showing. Coxswain Olivia Guarnaccia along with Lexi Bernard, Claire Carver-Ritter, Kaylie Leonard and Clara Jane Van Dyk finished at 16:04.297 leading the field of eight.

"The crews have all improved in their skill level, and the uniformity of blade work is starting to stick," said Oxlade. "We tightened the gaps between the crews from last week's racing in Nashville and squeezed a little more out of the top end in a short week's training."

The Cardinals will return to action in the spring when they host the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitation March 15-16 in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

"Overall, the team has raised its own expectations this year, and we are content with the progress this fall, but ultimately, we are in the early stages of what looks to be a confident step forward for the spring season," said Oxlade.

Head of the Hooch
Chattanooga, Tenn. | Nov. 2, 2024

Women's Championship 8+
1 – Louisville A (14:41.984); 2 – Louisville B (15:08.590); 3 – Louisville C (15:27.757); 4 – Louisville D (18:04.567)

Women's Collegiate Frosh/Novice 8+
1 – Florida (16:58.509); 2 – WashU (17:24.786); 3 – St. Louis (17:25.549); 4 – Tulane (17:27.501) 5 – UGA (17:37.288); 6 – Louisville (17:48.491); 7 – CWRU (17:55.817); 8 – Vanderbilt (18:08.864); 9 – MSU (18:18.288); 10 – Clemson (18:28.462); 11 – William & Mary (18:37.921); 12 – Texas (18:39.253); 13 – Florida B (18:42.541); 14 – Georgia Tech (18:51.617); 15 – Ohio State (18:35.588); 16 – VCU Club (18:59.612); 17 – St. Louis B (19:05.242); 18 – Murray State (19:18.990); 19 – UGA B (19:35.735); 20 – Tulane B (19:54.940); 21 – Virginia Tech (19:56.980); 22 – Rowing Club at NC State (20:33.454); 23 - Central Florida (20:44.239); 24 – Georgia Tech B (20:53.229); 25 – UGA C (21:58.075); 26 – Emory (22:14.006)

Women's Championship 4+
1 – Louisville A (16:04.297), 2 – Louisville B (16:22.332); 3 – Louisville D (16:29.973); 4 – Louisville C (16:49.115); 5 – Louisville E (16:57.476); 6 – Louisville F (17:18.070); 7 – Georgia Tech (18:52.533); 8 – Georgia Tech B (19:50.775)

Louisville Lineups
Varsity 8A
Coxswain: Mackenna Billington
8 – Lexi Bernard
7 – Claire Carver-Ritter
6 - Kaylie Leonard
5 - Clara Jane Van Dyk
4 – Macy Whisenand
3 – Ellie Fazio
2 – Haley Kunz
1 – Isabella Ulloa

Varsity 8B
Coxswain: Olivia Guarnaccia
8 – Emma Bell
7 - Bria Ragauckas
6 – Bradlie Hicks
5 – Mary Noschang
4 – Taylor Fausey
3 – Madeline Giron
2 – Magda Zelloth
1 – Alaina Holder

Varsity 8+ C
Coxswain: Cecilia Kern
8 – Cierra Chavez
7 – Graycen West
6 – Stella Mancini
5 – Angels Ventura Rodriguez
4 – Grace Rodebaugh
3 – Keira Krebs
2 – Ali Matthews
1 – Margot Kaufman

Varsity 8D
Coxswain: Madelyn Pluene
8 - Claudia Smith
7 – Lexi Schneider
6 – Zoe Sanders
5 – Avary Tomic
4 – Julia Shoemaker
3 – Amelia Jarzomkowski-Wade
2 – Ellison Koller
1 - Addison Sorrell

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

Varsity 4A
Coxswain: Olivia Guarnaccia
4 – Lexi Bernard
3 – Claire Carver-Ritter
2 – Kaylie Leonard
1 – Clara Jane Van Dyk

Varsity 4B
Coxswain: Mackenna Billington
4 – Isabella Ulloa
3 – Macy Whisenand
2 – Ellie Fazio
1 - Taylor Fausey

Varsity 4C
Coxswain: Cecilia Kern
4 – Haley Kunz
3 – Madeline Giron
2 - Emma Bell
1 – Bria Ragauckus

Varsity 4D
Coxswain: Madelyn Pluene
4 – Magda Zelloth
3 – Alaina Holder
2 – Bradlie Hicks
1 – Mary Noschang

Varsity 4E
Coxswain: Leah Watters
4 – Cierra Chavez
3 – Graycen West
2 – Ali Matthews
1 – Angels Ventura Rodriguez

Varsity 4F
Coxswain: Hannah Cease
4 – Margot Kaufman
3 – Stella Mancini
2 – Kiera Krebs
1 – Grace Rodebaugh