The University of Pennsylvania women’s rowing team earned a silver medal in the Third Varsity Eight and a bronze in the Varsity Four at the Orlando Invitational, which concluded on April 18. The event took place on Lake Pickett and was hosted by the University of Central Florida, featuring six teams ranked in this week’s CRCA national coaches’ poll.
These results highlight Penn’s competitive performance against nationally ranked programs outside their usual Northeast opponents. Head coach Bill Manning said, “UCF hosted a wonderful regatta and we were thrilled to be involved in some great racing against high-level programs this weekend. It’s always a good opportunity when you can race against programs from outside the Northeast.”
In the Varsity Eights B Final, Penn finished first with a time of 6:35.2, ahead of Clemson and SMU. Manning said, “Makeda Harrison stroked our top boat to an open-water victory. It wasn’t the race we wanted to contest, obviously, but I was very pleased with the enthusiasm and professionalism the crew displayed.” The Second Varsity Eight placed fourth in its A Final with a time of 6:49.5; Manning said they raced courageously but narrowly missed medaling.
The Varsity Four claimed bronze with a time of 7:19.9 after aggressive racing that put pressure on eventual winner UCF. “This was another great race from Coach Josie Konopka’s Four, claiming Bronze with open water ahead of those behind us,” Manning said.
Penn’s Third Varsity Eight secured silver after overtaking Alabama late in their final heat and nearly catching UCF for gold. “The crews were fairly level in the early going then UCF and Alabama pushed out a couple seats in the middle,” Manning said. “Stroke Zola Young started bringing us back with 600 to go and lifted beautifully to overtake Alabama and nearly catch UCF.” He called it “a well-earned silver for our women in this seven-boat field”.
Looking ahead, Penn will compete next against Princeton and UCF at Lake Carnegie before heading into Ivy League Championship races scheduled for May.
