Results
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - Embry-Riddle Women's Rowing not only made program history but Embry-Riddle Athletics history as well as the squad became the first program in ERAU's NCAA II era to win a team title on Saturday. When including NAIA championships, this is Embry-Riddle Athletics' third team title joining men's basketball (2000) and men's tennis (2013).
Head Coach
Grant Maddock remarked, "This group has truly earned every moment of this national championship. Two years ago, we made a deliberate choice to raise the bar by training harder and racing at a higher level. That commitment set the course for where the program is today. I'm incredibly proud of how these women embraced the vision and trusted the process. What we've accomplished is special, but it's just the beginning of what this team is capable of."
Embry-Riddle is the eighth different program to win the NCAA II women's rowing championship, which has been held every year since 2002 except 2020. The Eagles are also the third-different SSC member to claim the title and the first since Barry in 2016.
Entering as the third seed in eights, the ERAU battled harsh, windy conditions in the morning to shock the field by claiming the Grand Final by about eight tenths of a second to earn the maximum 18 points. Following a weather delay of roughly 10 hours, Embry-Riddle's four boat placed third in the Grand Final and accumulated eight points to secure the overall team title with 26 tallies.
FINAL STANDINGS
1) Embry-Riddle - 26
2) Cal Poly Humboldt - 24
3) Western Washington - 21
4) Seattle Pacific - 13
5) Central Oklahoma - 13
6) Jefferson - 8
THE WATER
- Course: Mercer Lake
- Length: 2,000m
THE BOATS
- V8+ | Jolee Paulk (cox), Shelby Ernst, Sabrina Graves, Sarah Kinlocke, Emily Retty, Abby Webb, Aria Moses, Soleil Edwards, Alexandra Weilert
- V4+ | Kaitlynn Parker (cox), Lorelei Carter, Briella Goldenberg, Caterina Hart, Reagan Hurt
THE RESULTS
Grand Finals
- V8+ | The boat from Western Washington took an early lead followed by Embry-Riddle and Cal Poly Humboldt. With just over 300m to go, all three boats were still in contention with the slight edge still going to the Vikings. In thrilling fashion, the Eagles closed the narrow gap separating their boat and the crew from Western Washington, and crossed the line just 0.788 seconds ahead of the Vikings, clocking in at 6:47.178 to win the title.
- V4+ | ERAU had a quick launch to lead the field by a couple tenths in the opening 500m. However, Cal Poly Humboldt and Central Oklahoma broke away, leaving the Eagles to a third-place finish (7:41.980) ahead of Western Washington.
UP NEXT
That concludes a historic 2024-25 Embry-Riddle Women's Rowing season. It was another successful year for the Eagles as Embry-Riddle once again claimed Sunshine State Conference and Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association titles while winning Embry-Riddle Athletics' first NCAA II team title. ERAU also saw Head Coach Grant Maddock earn SSC Coach of the Year Honors, and Soleil Edwards was named the winner of the NCAA's Elite 90 award.
