Gophers Earn B1G Boat of the Week Recognition
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The University of Minnesota’s First Varsity Eight crew was named one of two Big Ten Conference Boat of the Week honorees thanks to its performance at the Rocky Top Invite last weekend.
The experienced boat led by junior coxswain Ashley Ohlemacher featured two senior captains (Manon Field, Nuala Macfarlane), five other juniors (Kimberly Klassen, Alexa Mueller, Sophia Pirigyi, Emilie Rish, Lexi Schimnowski), and one sophomore (Madeline Fincham).
The Golden Gophers shined during the semifinal race from Oak Ridge, Tenn., early Saturday morning as they upset a pair of nationally-ranked opponents, No. 14 Penn and No. 25 USC, advancing to the ‘A’ final. The crew used a strong second half of the race to register its fastest time of the regatta’s three sessions, erasing a three-second deficit to rally past Penn by a half second, covering the 2,000-meter course in 6:36.341.
The boat turned in a fifth-place finish to close the event and helped Minnesota place sixth amongst a loaded field that competed on Melton Hill Lake.
Almost exactly one year ago, the Maroon and Gold saw its First Varsity Four crew secure B1G Boat of the Week for its performance at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Duel, while this is the first weekly award of the 2025-26 campaign for Minnesota. The selection extends a streak of three-straight years a Gophers’ boat has been honored by the conference.
The experienced boat led by junior coxswain Ashley Ohlemacher featured two senior captains (Manon Field, Nuala Macfarlane), five other juniors (Kimberly Klassen, Alexa Mueller, Sophia Pirigyi, Emilie Rish, Lexi Schimnowski), and one sophomore (Madeline Fincham).
The Golden Gophers shined during the semifinal race from Oak Ridge, Tenn., early Saturday morning as they upset a pair of nationally-ranked opponents, No. 14 Penn and No. 25 USC, advancing to the ‘A’ final. The crew used a strong second half of the race to register its fastest time of the regatta’s three sessions, erasing a three-second deficit to rally past Penn by a half second, covering the 2,000-meter course in 6:36.341.
The boat turned in a fifth-place finish to close the event and helped Minnesota place sixth amongst a loaded field that competed on Melton Hill Lake.
Almost exactly one year ago, the Maroon and Gold saw its First Varsity Four crew secure B1G Boat of the Week for its performance at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Duel, while this is the first weekly award of the 2025-26 campaign for Minnesota. The selection extends a streak of three-straight years a Gophers’ boat has been honored by the conference.