Sacred Heart University’s women’s rowing teams competed with full varsity and lightweight lineups in Worcester and at the Boston Beanpot, showing continued growth across both squads, according to an April 18 announcement.
The results are seen as important steps as the team prepares for the upcoming Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championships. Head coach Luke Wilhelm said he was pleased with the performance of his athletes. “I’m proud of the 1V8 for putting down a more complete performance,” Wilhelm said, noting improvements in consistency and race execution.
In Worcester, Sacred Heart’s Varsity Eight placed fifth with a time of 6:43.3. The Second Varsity Eight finished fourth in 6:59.5 after what Wilhelm described as an excellent week of training that translated into a stronger race day pace. “The 2V8 had an excellent week of training, and it really showed on race day with the ability to push some new pace,” he said.
Both varsity four boats also delivered competitive results, finishing fourth and third respectively. Assistant coach Steph Allgood praised their efforts: “This was a really encouraging performance from both crews. The 1V4+ and 2V4+ showed growth in their rhythm and confidence, and they’re starting to put full pieces together when it counts.” Wilhelm summarized the experience by saying consistent competition has helped foster overall team development as they look ahead to key races.
At the Boston Beanpot regatta, Sacred Heart’s lightweight crews gained valuable experience against top programs. The Varsity Lightweight Four earned its first win over Gordon College—a milestone for Sacred Heart’s lightweight program—while other lightweight entries improved their times or gained additional racing experience despite challenging conditions. Assistant coach Dawson Shyne reflected on this achievement: “Today was another step forward for the Sacred Heart lightweight program… the V4 raced past Gordon’s four to secure the first lightweight victory in any boat class.” Wilhelm added that competing against elite programs helps set a new standard for future Pioneers crews.
With several strong performances behind them, Sacred Heart now looks toward building further momentum during its next stretch of races leading up to conference championships.
