Louisville Concludes Lake Wheeler Invitational

Saturday, April 26

Raleigh, NC

All Day

University of Louisville

Lake Wheeler Invitational

April 26, 2025 | Rowing

By: Lori Korte

RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Louisville rowing team wrapped up competition at the 2025 Lake Wheeler Invitational Saturday afternoon.

"I feel that we showed intent and developed more of the aggressiveness that is required for us to truly compete as we aspire to in the ACC, this weekend," said Associate Head Coach, Ed Oxlade. "The crews were tested heavily by the caliber of the competition yet achieved most of the goals that we set in a short week prior to the event. Closing margins and flipping results from earlier in the season, has been reward for the effort the team has made over the past few difficult weeks."

The highly-competitive field featured 18 teams, four of which are ranked among the Pocock Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association top 25 including: No. 12 Virginia, No. 18 Duke, No. 20 Columbia and No. 24 North Carolina. Fellow ACC schools Boston College, Clemson and Miami are also among the schools competing as well as Boston University, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Jacksonville, Kansas, Navy, Rhode Island, Tulsa, Villanova and Washington State.

Overall, the Cardinals registered seven top-three finishes through three rounds to total 20 points, to place 11^th in the field of 18.

The 2V8 boat placed third in its heat as coxswain Mackenna Billington guided Haley Kunz, Ellie Fazio, Taylor Fausey, Clara Jane Van Dyk, Cierra Chavez, Lauren Stedry, Madeline Giron and Lexi Bernard to a time of 6:44.565 and the crew's third top-three finish of the weekend.

"In the 2V8, we set out with large goals, and we are proud that we achieved them," said sophomore Lauren Stedry. "We made large steps forward, placing pressure on others. We are headed in the right direction and hyped to race again."

Louisville's 3V8 boat also raced to a third-place showing with Hannah Cease coxing Keira Krebs, Stella Mancini, Alana Cureton, Kate Eisenbeis, Addison Sorrell, Julia Shoemaker, Olivia Koproski, Claudia Smith to a time of 7:28.280.

"I'm proud of how hard the whole team has worked this weekend. We faced some competitive teams, but we stayed true to our rowing and left everything out there 110 percent," said freshman Claudia Smith. "I'm very excited to see what we do with the results from this weekend and work to get even better and faster in the next few weeks."

The Varsity 8s placed fourth at 6:49.081 while Varsity 4 and 2V4 boats finished fifth in their heats at 7:51.62 and 7:37.481 respectively.

Following this weekend, the Cardinals will prepare for the 2025 ACC Rowing Championships which will be held May 16-17 in Clemson, S.C.

We are very much looking forward to building some much-needed momentum and continuity in the next couple of weeks, as we return to the Ohio, after the recent floods," said Oxlade. "The team is motivated and striding forward boldly, and we can't wait to learn, build and continue to grow as we press towards the post season."

For the latest on Louisville Rowing, visit GoCards.com follow the team on X, Facebook and Instagram at LouisvilleROW.

Lake Wheeler Invitational
Dates: Saturday, April 26
Location: Raleigh, N.C. – Lake Wheeler
Complete Results

Third Varsity 8 (Heat 1, Round 3)
1 – Columbia (6:43.701); 2 – Clemson (7:01.626); 3 – Louisville (7:28.280); 4 – Jacksonville (7:45.768)
Second Varsity 4 (Heat 1, Round 3)
1 – Columbia (7:30.845); 2 – Clemson (7:34.238); 3 – Washington State (7:38.298); 4 – Miami (7:40.622); 5 – Louisville (7:51.620); 6 – Jacksonville (7:58.358)
Varsity 4 (Heat 1, Round 3)
1 – Columbia (7:18.783); 2- Washington State (7:22.809); 3 – Clemson (7:26.691); 4 – Miami (7:31.279); 5 – Louisville (7:37.481); 6 – Jacksonville (7:41.561)
Second Varsity 8 (Round 3)
1 – Columbia (6:38.279); 2 – Clemson (6:38.485); 3 – Louisville (6:44.565); 4 – Miami (6:45.775); 5 – Washington State (6:46.805); 6 – Jacksonville (7:06.769)
Varsity 8 (Round 3)
1 – Columbia (6:26.263); 2 – Washington State (6:28.017); 3 – Miami (6:30.085); 4 – Clemson (6:30.499); 5 – Louisville (6:36.227); 6- Jacksonville (6:50.045)

Louisville Lineups
Varsity 8
Coxswain - Olivia Guarnaccia
8 – Isabella Ulloa
7 – Macy Whisenand
6 – Mary Noschang
5 – Kaylie Leonard
4 – Grace Rodebaugh
3 – Donata Elez
2 – Claire Carver-Ritter
1 - Emma Bell

Second Varsity 8
Coxswain – Mackenna Billington
8 – Haley Kunz
7 - Ellie Fazio
6 – Taylor Fausey
5 – Clara Jane Van Dyk
4 – Cierra Chavez
3 – Lauren Stedry
2 – Madeline Giron
1 – Lexi Bernard

Varsity 4
4 – Angels Ventura Rodriguez
3 – Gabriella Allen
2 - Bradlie Hicks
1 – Emilie Moreira
Coxswain – Leah Watters

Second Varsity 4
4 – Graycen West
3 – Bria Ragauckas
2 - Neala Marshall
1 - Ali Matthews
Coxswain - Cecilia Kern

Third Varsity 8
Coxswain - Hannah Cease
8 – Keira Krebs
7 – Stella Mancini
6 – Alana Cureton
5 – Kate Eisenbeis
4 – Addison Sorrell
3 – Julia Shoemaker
2 – Olivia Koproski
1 – Claudia Smith