Smith used a late push to claim second in the varsity eight and then pulled away in the middle part of the second varsity eight to claim its 10th overall team championship and just trails defending national champion Wellesley by just one for most overall titles in conference history. With the victory, Smith earns the NEWMAC's automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship at East Fork/Harsha Lake on Bethel, OH on May 31st and June 1st. It will be the Pioneers first appearances at the NCAA Championships in 14 years.
WPI (7:09.70) led wire-to-wire in the varsity eight en route to winning the V8 for just the second time in program history and first time since 2019. Smith (7:11.38) surged ahead of Wellesley (7:11.84) over the final 250 meters to take second. The 0.46 margin of victory proved to be the difference in determining the conference's automatic qualifier, which is comprised of the varsity eight and the second varsity eight. Coast Guard (7:17.66) was fourth followed up Clark (7:27.54), Mount Holyoke (7:38.51) and Simmons (8:17.49).
In the second varsity eight, Wellsley jumped out to a quick lead but Smith (7:24.40) took it to another gear just past the Donahue Rowing Center to reach the finish line over second ahead of the Blue (7:31.74). WPI (7:37.65) broke away late from Coast Guard (7:37.65) to take third while Clark (7:48.43) was fifth and Mount Holyoke sixth (8:01.18).
Smith also won the final two races of the morning. In the third varsity eight, the Pioneers (7:36.42) reached the final buoys ahead of Wellesley (7:40.20), WPI (7:52.7), Coast Guard (7:57.16) and Clark (8:40.78) while in the fourth varsity eight the Pioneers reached Regatta Point in 7:46.0 followed by Wellesley (7:55.91) and Coast Guard (8:11.41).
In the conference championship standings, which accounts for points in the varsity eight and second varsity eight boats, Smith earned 42 points to take first place, while WPI was second with 41 points. Wellesley (37) and Coast Guard (30) were third and fourth and were followed by Clark (25), Mount Holyoke (20), and Simmons (15).
The Pioneers also took the Florence Jope Smith Cup, awarded annually to the school with the highest number of points from the overall results at the event. Smith, which won for the ninth time and first time since 2010, finished first with 40 points followed by Wellesley with 32 points and WPI with 20. Coast Guard (20), Clark (12), Mount Holyoke (6), and Simmons (2) rounded out the final standings.
Smith's
Linnea Schultz (Woodinville, WA) was voted as the conference's Rower of the Year while teammate
Sofia Trotta (Guilford, CT) and WPI's
Emily Howard (Riverside, RI) shared Coxswain of the Year accolades.
Joining Schultz, Trotta and Howard on the All-Conference first team were WPI's
Maggie Kirwan (Wolfeboro, NH),
Jules Prisco (Pelham, NY)
Megan Tupaj (Amherst, NH),
Anya Hanitchak (Andover, MA) and
Kaylee Liu (Acton, MA) of Wellesley and
Megan Holm (Flagstaff, AZ) and
Anna Boden (Seattle, WA) of Smith.
The second team included
Katherine Morgan (Glenside, PA) and
Amanda Nasti (East Northport, NY) of Coast Guard,
Katie Woods (Meridian, ID) and
Anna Tinklenberg (Bloomington, MN) from Clark, Mount Holyoke's
Emma Waldron (Pittsburgh, PA) and
Lilla Carroll (Birmingham, AL) and
Dalila Marzialo (Tolland, CT) and
Michaline Becknell (Arlington, VA) of Simmons.
Varsity Eight
1. WPI - 7:09.70
2. Smith - 7:11.38
3. Wellesley - 7:11.84
4. Coast Guard - 7:17.66
5. Clark - 7:27.54
6. Mount Holyoke - 7:38.51
7. Simmons - 8:17.49
Second Varsity Eight
1. Smith - 7:24.40
2. Wellesley - 7:31.74
3. WPI - 7:35.48
4. Coast Guard - 7:37.65
5. Clark - 7:48.43
6. Mount Holyoke - 8:01.18
Third Varsity Eight
1. Smith - 7:36.42
2. Wellesley - 7:40.20
3. WPI - 7:52.7
4. Coast Guard - 7:57.16
5. Clark - 8:40.78
Fourth Varsity Eight
1. Smith - 7:46.0
2. Wellesley - 7:55.91
3. Coast Guard - 8:11.41
NEWMAC Championship AQ Standings
1. Smith - 42
2. WPI - 41
3. Wellesley - 37
4. Coast Guard - 30
5. Clark - 25
6. Mount Holyoke - 20
7. Simmons - 15
Florance Jope Smith Cup Standings
1. Smith - 40
2. Wellesley - 32
3. WPI - 28
4. Coast Guard - 20
5. Clark - 12
6. Mount Holyoke - 6
7. Simmons - 2
Results
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime (Football) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.