Cardinals Close SIRA Championship with Two First-Place Finishes

Sunday, April 21

Oak Ridge, TN

University of Louisville

SIRA Championship

Cardinals Close SIRA Championship with Two First-Place Finishes

April 21, 2024 | Rowing

Cards finish first in varsity eight and second varsity eight finals

By: Lori Harmon

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The University of Louisville posted two first-place finishes on the final day of the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Sunday at Melton Hill Lake.

"This is the first time we have been to this race in many years," said UofL head coach Derek Copeland. "We have not been able to get on the water at home recently and the team has remained focused as they continued to put in the work. It is nice to see them keep their foot on the gas, and we are glad they came down and got the job done."

The varsity eight, featuring coxswain Izzy Hussey, Lexi Bernard, Claire Carver-Ritter, Evey Peplowski, Kaylie Leonard, Macy Whisenand, Payton Stinson, Madeline Giron and Isabella Ulloa led the field of six, finishing with a time of 6:38.351 – four seconds ahead of second-place Kansas State (6:42.239).

The Cards also claimed Sunday's second varsity eight final as Mackenna Billington coxed Graycen West, Cierra Chavez, Taylor Fausey, Alaina Holder, Bradlie Hicks, Mary Noschang, Emma Bell and Gabrielle Zanoni to a time of 6:48.097, beating the Kansas State B crew by nearly five seconds. Louisville's B boat placed fifth (7:08.939).

The novice fours posted a fifth-place finish in their A final with a time of 8:07.514.

The Cardinals will return to action next weekend when they head to Raleigh, N.C. for the Lake Wheeler Invitational.

Results – SIRA Championship
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Varsity 8 – A Final
1-Louisville (6:38.351); 2- Kansas State (6:42.239); 3- Jacksonville (6:42.292); 4- Mercyhurst (6:53.228); 5- Vanderbilt (6:57.533); 6- Purdue (7:00.041)

Second Varsity 8 – A Final
1-Louisville (6:48.097); 2- Kansas State B (6:53.688); 3- Jacksonville (6:55.916); 4- Kansas State (6:58.846); 5- Louisville B (7:08.939); 6- Dayton (7:14.130)

Novice 4 – A Final
1-Tennessee (7:25.621); 2- Jacksonville B (7:48.712); 3- Tampa (7:56.562); 4- Jacksonville (7:59.325); 5- Louisville (8:07.514); 6- Dayton (8:27.183)

Louisville Lineups – SIRA Championship
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Varsity 8
C - Izzy Hussey
8 – Lexi Bernard
7 – Claire Carver-Ritter
6 – Evey Peplowski
5 – Kaylie Leonard
4 – Macy Whisenand
3 – Payton Stinson
2 – Madeline Giron
1 – Isabella Ulloa

Second Varsity 8
C - Mackenna Billington
8 - Graycen West
7 - Cierra Chavez
6 - Taylor Fausey
5 - Alaina Holder
4 - Bradlie Hicks
3 - Mary Noschang
2 - Emma Bell
1 - Gabrielle Zanoni

Second Varsity 8B
C - Olivia Guarnaccia
8 - Haley Kunz
7 - Daya Wilde
6 - Grace Rodebaugh
5 - Neala Marshall
4 - Victoria Iorillo
3 - Bria Ragauckas
2 - Margot Kaufman
1 - Ali Matthews

Novice 4
4 - Stella Scott
3 - Kate Eisenbeis
2 - Carlie Pennington
1 - Stella Mancini
C - Cecilia Kern