ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The Cardinal picked up a pair of first-place finishes this weekend, also finishing second at the Women's ACC Finals.
“What a way to start the season – winning 8 of the 11 events in which we’ve competed while adding three seconds to that scorecard. It is without questioning the best opening to a campaign I can remember," said head coach Chris Klevan. "However, everyone on the team will tell you that it doesn’t matter how you start if we don’t finish equally strong. The fall sets the table for the spring.”
The runner-up finish at the Women's ACC Finals saw Stanford come up just short with 146 to Harvard's 139. The Cardinal A boat featured Samara Walshe and Kit Harned, who finished second with 68 points. The B boat of Annie Sitzmann, Avery Baldwin and Piper Blackband finished third with 78 points.
“I’m sure the ladies will be dissatisfied, however, I think I there’s plenty to build off here. This is the first women’s championship we failed to win since 2023 – we haven’t started a first year driver at a championship since then," explained Klevan. "At this event, Annie, Samara and Avery were newcomers to the biggest stage. And, while the team was boosted by senior and junior All-Americans in Kit Harned and Piper Blackband, it is very impressivee for this young team to be 7 points at from the victory. Congratulations to Harvard. I’m excited to see how good we could be.”
The Cardinal dominated at the weekend's two other regattas. At the Nevins Trophy, Stanford topped the 18-team field with 99 points, well clear of second-place Penn's 156. Thomas Whidden and Kate Myles were in the A boat (52 points), while Dylan Sih and Alexandra Jones were in the B boat (47 points). Both boats won their division to take the victory.
At the Captain Hurst Bowl, the Card was just as sharp. The two boats combined to win six of 20 races, finishing with 96 points to beat out Boston College's 117 points in second place. Lucas Woodworth and Avery Peterson took second in the A boat with 48 points, while Richard Sykes and Hannah Crompton took first in the B boat with 48 as well.
“It was fun to show how deep we are as a team. The top ladies were at the ACCs and several players were resting," said Klevan. "However, winning the Nevins and the Capt. Hurst Bowl, two events with a lot of history, makes it clearer what everyone at practice daily knows; every boat at practice can win a division.”
Next weekend, the Cardinal is on the road again. The program will compete at the Open ACC Final, as well as the Yale Women's regatta.