CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 9 California had a successful first day at the ACC Rowing Championships on Friday morning at Lake Hartwell in Clemson, South Carolina, as all five of its boats placed in the top three of their preliminary heats to advance to their respective grand final races on Saturday morning. The Golden Bears' V8+, 2V4+ and 3V8+ won their heats while the 2V8+ and V4+ placed second.
 
Cal was one of three teams in the field to qualify for all five grand final races, joining No. 1 Stanford and No. 12 Syracuse.
 
In the first race of the day in the 3V8+ heat, Cal took a slight one-seat lead over Syracuse after the first 250 meters. After the halfway point it was a battle between the Bears and Orange for first place as the two boats were fairly even. Cal made a move over the third 500 meters and took a three-seat lead, then held the lead through the finish in a time of 06:42.526, just a second ahead of Syracuse.
 
In the second heat of the V8+, Cal jumped out quickly and took a one-seat lead over Syracuse for first position after the first 10 strokes. The Orange responded and took a half-boat lead after 750 meters. The Bears got back in the race for first and walked back two seats over the third 500 meters. Cal's momentum continued and it eventually took a two-seat lead over the final 500 meters and held off the Orange for the win in a time of 06:18.966.
 
In Cal's 2V8+ heat, the Bears and Orange broke away from the pack in the opening 250 meters with Syracuse taking a half-boat lead over Cal. Syracuse went ahead bow to stern by the halfway mark and Cal took a half-boat lead for second position over SMU. The Bears were unable to make up any ground against the Orange over the second half of the race, but did hold off the Mustangs for second place in a time of 06:33.399.
 
In the V4+ heat, Cal and Syracuse were fairly even ahead of the pack in the opening 250 meters. The Orange took a slight lead at the 1,000-meter mark with the Bears just two seats behind. Cal walked back the deficit and pulled nearly even over the third 500 meters, but the Orange responded and took a half-boat lead with 750 meters to go and increased its lead to almost a full boat over the final 500 meters. The Bears finished second in a time of 07:09.514.
 
In the Bears' final race of the day in the 2V4+ heat, Cal got off to a quick start, taking a two-seat lead over the pack after 10 strokes. Cal's momentum continued and it took an open-water lead over second-position Virginia by the halfway point. The Bears' lead continued to slowly grow over the second half of the race and they were able to cruise to the win in a time of 07:19.830.
 
Saturday's finals of the 2025 ACC Rowing Championship will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra from 8-10:30 a.m. ET.
 
Saturday Schedule (all times ET)
8:15 am - 3V8+ Grand Final
8:40 am - 2V4+ Grand Final
9:05 am – V4+ Grand Final
9:30 am - 2V8+ Grand Final
9:55 am – V8+ Grand Final
 
Friday Results
V8+ heat 2
1. California - 06:18.966
2. Syracuse - 06:20.879
3. Clemson - 06:28.339
4. Louisville - 06:28.729
5. SMU - 06:33.999
6. Notre Dame - 06:37.769
 
2V8+ heat 2
1. Syracuse - 06:30.026
2. California - 06:33.399
3. SMU - 06:35.532
4. Clemson - 06:39.532
5. Louisville - 06:43.286
6. Miami - 06:48.786
 
V4+ heat 2
1. Syracuse - 07:05.751
2. California - 07:09.514
3. North Carolina - 07:12.957
4. Miami - 07:30.021
5. SMU - 07:32.114
6. Louisville - 07:37.774
 
2V4+ heat 2
1. California - 07:19.830
2. Virginia - 07:26.263
3. Syracuse - 07:33.650
4. Clemson - 07:40.673
5. Boston College - 07:55.256
6. SMU - 08:08.320
 
3V8+ heat 2
1. California - 06:42.526
2. Syracuse - 06:43.716
3. North Carolina - 06:44.759
4. Duke - 06:46.036
5. Boston College - 07:04.839
6. Miami - 07:07.099
 
Lineups
V8+
Coxswain - Piper Melnick
8. Della Luke
7. Minou Bouman
6. Ella Berger
5. Julia Hunt-Davis
4. Shannon Kearney
3. Star Rose Miller
2. Ella Wheeler
1. Izzy Campbell
 
2V8+
Coxswain - Julia Fullington
8. Julia Irmler
7. Lily Pember
6. Lily Abbott
5. Lola Crampin
4. Olivia Roth
3. Amy Furlonger
2. Katie McDermott
1. Sophie Ward
 
V4+
Coxswain - Kira Obsitnik
4. Alex Pearson
3. Ella Lwerenz
2. Annie Brown
1. Madeline Cox
 
2V4+
Coxswain - Samantha Jaffe
4. Vivi Spitz
3. Zara Hoadley
2. Miya Meskis
1. Zoe McKernan
 
3V8+
Coxswain - Emily Nowak
8. Claire Banks
7. Allegra O'Sullivan
6. Francesca Hammerer
5. Gwyneth Fagg
4. Pippa Jamieson
3. Maude Smith-Montross
2. Charlotte Hill
1. Filippa Ljunggren
 
STAY POSTED
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