CHERRY HILL, N.J. - The Skidmore men's and women's rowing teams hit the road this past weekend, traveling to Cherry Hill, NJ for the Knecht Cup. This prestigious three-day regatta brings teams together from all over the country, and Skidmore Rowing did not disappoint despite challenging conditions. Windy weather on Saturday led to the cancelation of racing, but athletes rose to the occasion and competed in a condensed schedule on Sunday across four different events.

In the Men's Open 8+ D1 race, the Skidmore men's varsity 8+ faced tough competition from Colgate, Iona, Fairfield, & Mercyhurst. Although Colgate took the heat with a time of 5:57.6, the Skidmore men's 8+ displayed resilience, crossing the finish line in 6:38 despite a last-minute lineup change due to injury. Coxswain Mya Carter led the crew, which included Sam Goldberg, Mark Miller, Ryan Capozucca, Charles Ertz, Sam van Adrichem Boogaert, Jed Prickett, Nestor Martinez, and Grant Steinberger.

Similarly, injury impacted the men's 2V 8+, necessitating a switch to the Men's D3 Varsity 4+ event. Racing with a lineup they had never practiced, coxswain Gwen Posanti guided John Sandberg, Stephen Dumresq, Jack Holtzapffel, and Kal Katz to a respectable third-place finish with a time of 7:47.  "Today's race was tough to put it simply," said Dumaresq. "We were down going into the last couple hundred meters but fought back enough to secure bronze. It's a reminder what hard work and determination can achieve."

The women's varsity 8+ was also scheduled to compete in the Division 1 race but shifted to the Division 3 race alongside the 2nd varsity 8+ due to schedule changes. Despite facing injuries, the women's 2nd varsity 8+ secured second place in their category, with coxswain Natalie Goeks making her debut alongside stroke Hannah Richards and crew members Eva Calcutt, Harper Staton-Todaro, Alice Yi, Lindsey Jacobs, Willa Bradley, Madison Lofmark, and Lila Glanville.

In the varsity 8+ event, the Skidmore women emerged victorious with a time of 7:34, overcoming a deficit at the 1000-meter mark to defeat Bryn Mawr by 5 seconds. Coxswain Hayden Carlow led the crew, which included Madelin Aho, Camilla Johnson, Molly Sullivan, Delaney Miller, Norah Jankey, Britta Arvold, McKenna Otey, and Ria Puga Gorry.  After the race, Harlow said "I don't think any moment feels as good as walking by a boat in the last 250, that had you almost the whole time, I almost started crying crossing that finish line. I am so grateful to have earned my first collegiate win with these girls!"

Reflecting on the challenges of the week, Coach Valentin emphasized the importance of entering large regattas to prepare for the second half of the season. Despite weather-related setbacks and injuries, each crew gained valuable experience and identified areas for improvement. As the team prepares for the NYS Championships in Saratoga Springs next week, they are eager to apply these lessons and continue their pursuit of excellence.

Up Next: Skidmore Rowing competes in the NYS Championships, being held in Saratoga Springs!