Rowing Headed to CAA Championships - Eastern Michigan University Athletics (2024)

Championship Site

PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (EMUEagles.com) –Eastern Michigan University rowing is off to Cooper River Park to challenge the seven Coastal Athletic Association foes in the CAA Championships, Friday-Saturday, May 17-18.

Fans can follow the competition, which is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. each day, via live results or by watching on FloSports.

Racing Schedule

CHARGING TOWARD THE CHAMPIONSHIP:Last season, Eastern Michigan finished seventh at the CAA Championships. This year's conference championship will be held in Pennsauken, N.J., May 17-18. The CAA champion will earn a bid to the NCAA Championships in Bethel, Ohio, May 30-June 2.

WORLD-CLASS COURSE AT FORD LAKE:Thanks to a ground-breaking partnership with Destination Ann Arbor, Marriott Eagle Crest, and Ypsilanti Charter Township, EMU unveiled a championship-level rowing course on Ford Lake. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the EMU Rowing Course at Ford Lake took place Friday, April 26, at Ford Lake Park.

LAST TIME OUT: VS. DAYTON, APRIL 28:EMU swept four races against the University of Dayton in the debut of EMU's new championship-level race course at Ford Lake Sunday, April 28.

All six of the Eagles' boats topped the Flyers in all four races, highlighted by the 1V8's 7:10.4 finish, as EMU also recognized its seniors following the conclusion of competition in the presence of family, friends, and fans at the Boathouse at Ford Lake.

Eastern has found success against Dayton in recent seasons as the last three times EMU has swept four races have come against the Flyers. EMU previously did so Oct. 28, 2023, and Apr. 11, 2021.

In the fours race, the Eagles started the day with a clean sweep, taking the top three spots as the 1V4 won in 8:08.1, followed by the EMU 2V4 in 8:15.1 and 3V4 in 8:28.7. Eastern's 1V8 and 2V8 both won their respective races in similar times as the 1V8 finished in 7:10.4 and 2V8 crossed in 7:13.2. EMU's 3V8 continued its run of success, topping the Flyers by 20 seconds with a 7:48.7 clip.

CRIMSON TIDE TRADITION:The Eagles have spent their spring break in Tuscaloosa, Ala., 10 times in the last 12 seasons. The only two seasons in which the Green and White did not face off against Alabama were in 2015 and 2020 (COVID-19 Pandemic), respectively.

EAGLES ON THE EAST COAST:Eastern Michigan opened up its official fall schedule, Oct. 21, at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta on the Charles River in Boston, Mass. The Eagles' club eight squad finished 14th out of 40 boats with a time of 17:09.437, improving upon the team's 17:16.227 finish in 2022. In the Eagles' five V8+ races all-time at the Head of the Charles, 17:09.437 is the squad's fastest finish while EMU's 14th-place finish is its second-highest all-time (fifth in 2019 in 17:47.52).

LAST FALL:The Green and White raced in three different fall scrimmages. On Sept. 10, Eastern Michigan faced off with the University of Michigan in Belleville, Mich., then traveled to Lake Ovid in East Lansing, Mich., to take on Michigan State University, Oct. 14. The Eagles finished off their preseason races against the University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota, Nov. 4, on Lake Mendota in Madison, Wis.

RETURNING TO THE RIGGER:Five of the nine members from the First Varsity Eight boat who took seventh at the CAA Championships are returning to the water for the Eagles this season as seniorsLaura Borchers(Troy, Ohio/Troy),Reagan Fazekas(Hillsdale, Mich./Hanover-Horton),Abby Goodwin(Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne), andAbbey Simpson(Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelt)and juniorsLily Wilhelm(Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville-Butler)andEmma Wyss(Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg)remain on the roster for the Eagles this season.

Wilhelm returns as one of the most decorated rowers on the team after she earned an All-CAA distinction at the Coastal Athletic Association Championships last season.

ASSISTANT COACH PROMOTION:Head CoachKemp SavageannouncedStephanie Lamphearas an assistant coach in the fall as she previously served in a volunteer role. Savage, Lamphear, assistant coachesDelaney McGuireandAnnie Cantu, and volunteer assistant coachesHaley DuttonandKellie Savagemake up the program's 2023-24 coaching staff.

THIS SPRING:In 2024, Eastern Michigan has traveled around the country to compete against top opponents and in renowned regattas. EMU started the season in Tuscaloosa, Ala., March 2, dueling with the University of Alabama on the Black Warrior River. Then, Eastern ventured to Cherry Hill, N.J., to take part in the Knecht Cup, April 14, competing at the Cooper River to prep for the CAA Championships. The Eagles stayed on the East Coast to compete at the George Mason Invite, April 21, before their lone home regatta against Dayton, April 28.

EAGLES IN THE CLASSROOM:A total of 46 Eastern Michigan rowers earned spots on the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll for the 2023 fall semester. Those with a 4.0 grade point average are recognized as High Honors with Distinction. Student-athletes with a GPA between 3.7 and 4.0 are recognized as High Honors. Student-athletes with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.7 are recognized as Honors. For the first time ever, the conference honored student-athletes for three different levels of achievement. The Eagles had 12 student-athletes earn High Honors with Distinction and 14 with High Honors.

ERG ROOM:Eastern Michigan unveiled a newly renovated erg room inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center during the 2022-23 academic year, making the 2023-24 offseason the first in which EMU was able to utilize the room for the entire offseason. Eagle rowers now have access to usable training space that is three times larger than the old space. Additionally, the room can now fit more than 70 ergs and 20 stationary bikes.

ON THE HORIZON: The CAA champion will earn a bid to the NCAA Championships in Bethel, Ohio, May 30-June 2.

Follow Us
For more information on Eastern Michigan rowing, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMURowing, on Facebook at Facebook.com/emurowing, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/emurowing.