Minnesota First Varsity Eight Named Big Ten Boat of the Week

The University of Minnesota’s First Varsity Eight crew has been named one of two Big Ten Conference Boat of the Week honorees. The recognition follows the crew’s performance at the Rocky Top Invite, which took place on April 3-4, 2026.

The honor, announced on April 7, 2026, represents the first weekly award of the season for the Golden Gophers rowing program.

Semifinal Performance at Melton Hill Lake

The crew’s selection for the honor was driven by a standout performance during the semifinal race on the morning of April 4, 2026. Competing at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on Melton Hill Lake, the Minnesota boat upset two nationally ranked opponents: No. 14 Penn and No. 25 USC.

Minnesota secured a position in the ‘A’ final by utilizing a strong second half of the race. The crew successfully erased a three-second deficit to rally past Penn by a half second.

The boat covered the 2,000-meter course in 6:36.341, which marked the fastest time the crew recorded across the three sessions of the regatta.

Event Results and Team Standings

The First Varsity Eight concluded the Rocky Top Invite with a fifth-place finish. This performance helped the University of Minnesota secure a sixth-place overall finish among the field of competitors.

Crew Composition

The First Varsity Eight is led by junior coxswain Ashley Ohlemacher. The boat features a mix of experience, including senior captains Manon Field and Nuala Macfarlane.

The remaining members of the crew include:

• Kimberly Klassen (Junior)
• Alexa Mueller (Junior)
• Sophia Pirigyi (Junior)
• Emilie Rish (Junior)
• Lexi Schimnowski (Junior)
• Madeline Fincham (Sophomore)