Syracuse Takes Home First ACC Women’s Rowing Title In Program History

By Alex Burstein | @alex_burstein

For 13 straight years, no one in the ACC could dethrone Virginia Women’s Rowing. After a runner-up finish in 2009, the Cavaliers had not lost a title since 2010. Syracuse changed that Saturday morning at Lake Wheeler in North Carolina.

After finishing second to the Cavaliers in back-to-back seasons, the Orange clinched their first-ever ACC title with a tiebreaker win. Both Virginia and Syracuse had 90 points, sending the results to the first tiebreak, the Varsity Eight Grand Final. In the biggest race of the weekend, Syracuse had set an ACC-Championship record with a 6:09.814 finish.

The record-breaking win gave SU the championship, as well as ACC Crew of the Year honors.

SU’s success went beyond that boat though. SU’s Second Varsity Eight set a Championship Record of 6:19.406.

This year’s championship figured to be one of the best chances the Orange had to take home a title. Syracuse had the top seed in its top two varsity eight races. SU also was ranked #10 in this week’s Coaches Poll, well ahead of the next ACC team, #18 Virginia.

Syracuse’s first ACC championship appearance came in 2014, with a top-three finish every season since then. This included five runner-up finishes to Virginia.

With the victory came plenty of honors for Syracuse. Emmie Frederico, Kamile Kralikaite, Aphrodite Gioulekas, and Caileigh Grimes were all named first-team ACC. Alena Criss was second-team. Additionally, Head Coach Luke McGee won ACC Coach of the Year for the second straight year.

Syracuse now clinches an NCAA Championship bid. The Orange will compete at East Fork/Harsha Lake for the championship in Bethel, Ohio from May 31 to June 2.