WORCESTER, Mass. – No. 11 Wellesley College crew captured the 2025 NEWMAC Championships title on Saturday morning hosted at Lake Quinsigamond. The Blue won the Varsity Eight (V8+) race, while taking second in the Second Varsity Eight (2V8+), Third Varsity Eight (3V8+) and Fourth Varsity Eight (4V8+) races to win the competition.
2025 marks the 12th NEWMAC Championship win in program history and the 11th of Head Coach Tessa Spillane's illustrious career. Wellesley has now earned the NEWMAC's automatic bid into the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship, which will take place on May 30-31, 2025 at Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J.
Blue earned the NEWMAC title with 43 points, five ahead of second place WPI, who had 38. Smith College put up 36 points for third place, while Coast Guard Academy (33), Clark University (23), Mount Holyoke College (22) and Simmons University (15) rounded out the team competition. The NEWMAC Championships AQ Standings only factor the top two races.
Wellesley also tied with Smith for first place at 36 points to share a win in the Florence Jope Smith Cup Standings. The Florence Jope Smith Cup is awarded annually to the school with the highest number of points from the overall results at the NEWMAC Championship.
The V8+ pushed through the rain with a purpose, putting open water between itself and the competition by the halfway point. When Blue Crew crossed the finish line at 7:42.700, it not only did so as the winner, but did so over seven seconds ahead of second place WPI (7:49.806). Coast Guard finished third in the race, followed by Smith, Clark, Mount Holyoke and Simmons.
Smith earned the top spot in the 2V8+, crossing the finish line at 7:58.100. Wellesley was the runner-up, clocking in at 8:15.043, over eight seconds faster than third place WPI. Coast Guard, Mount Holyoke and Clark rounded out the 2V8+ field.
Blue Crew also earned silver behind Smith in the 3V8+. Once again the margins were wide, with the Pioneers' winning time of 8:30.690 followed by the Blue at 8:42.025. Wellesley held a six-second gap over third place Coast Guard (8:48.905), with WPI and Mount Holyoke taking fourth and fifth respectively.
Wellesley ended the day with a 9:03.428 showing in the 4V8+ that was good for second place. Smith again took first, and Coast Guard collected the bronze in the race.
NEWMAC Championship AQ Standings
- Wellesley - 43
- WPI - 38
- Smith - 36
- Coast Guard - 33
- Clark - 23
- Mount Holyoke - 22
- Simmons - 15
Varsity Eight Results
1. Wellesley - 7:42.700
2. WPI - 7:49.806
3. Coast Guard - 7:50.266
4. Smith - 7:53.994
5. Clark - 8:10.346
6. Mount Holyoke - 8:48.647
7. Simmons - 9:05.346
Second Varsity Eight Results
1. Smith - 7:58.100
2. Wellesley - 8:15.043
3. WPI - 8:23.611
4. Coast Guard - 8:29.785
5. Mount Holyoke - 8:31.993
6. Clark - 8:40.949
Third Varsity Eight Results
1. Smith - 8:30.690
2. Wellesley - 8:42.025
3. WPI - 8:48.905
4. Coast Guard - 9:23.249
5. Mount Holyoke - 10:07.502
Fourth Varsity Eight Results
1. Smith - 8:54.300
2. Wellesley - 9:03.428
3. Coast Guard - 9:41.654
Florence Jope Smith Cup Standings
T-1. Wellesley - 36
T-1. Smith - 36
T-3. WPI - 24
T-3. Coast Guard - 24
5. Mount Holyoke - 10
6. Clark - 8
7. Simmons - 2
All-NEWMAC First Team
Elise Beauchemin - Coast Guard - Coxswain of the Year
Katharine Morgan - Coast Guard - Rower of the Year
Martha Enestvedt - Coast Guard
Bronnie Bailey - Wellesley
Hannah Bates - Wellesley
Lucy Weil - Wellesley
Maggie Kirwan - WPI
Victoria Serrambana - WPI
Megan Tupaj - WPI
All-NEWMAC Second Team
Danielle Chace - Clark
Lucy Powdermaker - Clark
Lilla Carroll - Mount Holyoke
Katrina Holbrook - Mount Holyoke
Michaline Becknell - Simmons
Ivy Maynard - Simmons
Kathleen Bacigalupi - Smith
Greta Stekl - Smith
Katherine Lindsay - WPI
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 College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.