PENNSAUKEN, N.J. – Wrapping up the 2024 season with a standout performance at the CAA Championships, the UC San Diego women's rowing team came in second place as a team at this weekend's conference championships at Cooper River.
Earning a total of 40 points across the six races the Tritons competed in, UC San Diego's crews earned a pair of first place finishes, a trio of second place and rounded out the weekend with a four-place finish.
The Tritons Varsity 8+ crew had a tremendous weekend as they started on Friday with a first-place finish in their heat with a time of 7:03.21 to move on to Saturday's grand final. Racing for a medal, UC San Diego earned silver as they came in second place to wrap up their season with a time of 6:53.31 in New Jersey.
Taking home some hardware after their strong weekend of racing, UC San Diego's trio of
Sophia Gordon,
Sabrina Koldinger and
Bianca Tung each earned All-CAA recognition for their tremendous springs. Leading the Tritons' scholar-athletes to their success throughout the season, head coach
Colin Truex also took home the CAA Coach of the Year honor.
RESULTS
UC San Diego Varsity 8+
Cox:
Bianca Tung
8:
Kiera Cooper
7:
Ciara Auran
6:
Iza Gwizdak
5:
Annica Ford
4:
Sophia Gordon
3:
Lily Feagler
2:
Natalie Norstad
1:
Natasha Vallancey
Women's V8+: Race 1: 1
st Place (7:03.21)
Women's V8+: Race 2: 2
nd Place (6:53.31)
UC San Diego Second Varsity 8+
Cox:
Sabina Petersen
8:
Rachel Cuneo
7:
Jacqueline Byun
6:
Sabrina Koldinger
5:
Laine Bradley
4:
Charlotte Hunter
3:
Audra Lawler
2:
Indianola Scott
1:
Matti Key
Women's 2V8-: Race 1: 1
st Place (7:24.82)
Women's 2V8-: Race 2: 2
nd Place (7:07.39)
UC San Diego Varsity 4+
Cox:
Melinda Pullin
4:
Deanne Balsbaugh
3:
Jamie Press
2:
Ameli Tucker
1:
Peyton Fisk
Women's V4-: Race 1: 2
nd Place (8:31.14)
Women's V4-: Race 2: 3
rd Place (7:50.25)
QUOTABLE
"Wow, what a great end to our season!" UC San Diego head women's rowing coach
Colin Truex said. "This team was amazing today with their effort, execution, intensity and fight. To end the season this way exceeded our expectations and I couldn't be happier. I am so proud of them! The seniors:
Sabrina Koldinger,
Sophia Gordon,
Bianca Tung,
Audra Lawler and
Jamie Press all finished their careers on top and they should be proud of how much this team has grown during their time together. The season was great and the future is bright, let's go women's row!"
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
