WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The University of Pennsylvania women's rowing team finished 17th at the NCAA Championships, which concluded Sunday on Mercer Lake. The Quakers scored 39 points across the weekend, tying Dartmouth for 16th in the overall team points standing, but the Big Green was awarded 16th and Penn 17th based on Dartmouth's Varsity Eight having a higher overall finish.
 
Final Results (RegattaTiming.com) | Penn Boatings (PDF)

Penn's Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four met their seeds in Sunday's racing on Mercer, as both boats took third place in their respective Third Finals on Sunday and ended up 15th overall. The Varsity Eight, also seeded 15th entering the weekend, ended up sixth in what was a fantastic Third Final and took 18th overall.

"Our 2V8 and V4A raced incredibly well again today," said Penn's first-year head coach, Bill Manning. "I am so proud of them and pleased for them. Both boats improved on their placing at the Ivy League Championships and took down some of the bigger teams as well. Unfortunately, the 1V8 came out a little flat this morning and struggled a bit after a terrific race last night when it won won its semifinal. Overall, though, we are pleased to have firmly established ourselves as a top eighteen team in the country and we aspire to more."
 
Varsity Eight
Syracuse led this race at all four markers on the way to victory, but this was a race that saw great competition as just seven seconds separated all six boats. Penn got out to a quick start but fell off in the second 500 and was chasing the rest of the way. The Quakers nearly caught Oregon State but couldn't quite catch the Beavers for fifth place.
  (17) Syracuse 6:20.367
  (16) Harvard 6:22.937
  (13) UCF 6:23.115
  (11) Dartmouth 6:24.173
  (18) Oregon St. 6:26.071
  (15) Penn 6:27.151

Second Varsity Eight
Really great race as all six boats were within contact of each other throughout and only six seconds separated first place from sixth. Rutgers took the lead during the second 500 and never relinquished it, while UCF and Penn alternated between second and third with the Knights ultimately besting the Quakers by less than a second. Penn beat Dartmouth by a little more than a second for third place.
  (9) Rutgers 6:34.238
  (11) UCF 6:36.666
  (15) Penn 6:37.494
  (13) Dartmouth 6:38.672
  (19) Northeastern 6:39.158
  (17) Indiana 6:40.556

Varsity Four
Virginia took control of this race early and led at all three checkpoints—500, 1000 and 1500—with UCF and Penn staying in contact throughout. The Knights eventually ran down the Cavaliers and nipped them at the finish line by a little more than a second, while UVA bettered the Quakers for the second time in as many days, this time by a little more than a second. Penn was comfortably ahead of Oregon State for third in this race and 15th overall.
  (14) UCF 7:14.147
  (17) Virginia 7:15.423
  (15) Penn 7:16.671
  (18) Oregon St. 7:21.125
  (16) Indiana 7:22.829
  (19) BU 7:29.613
 
For the latest on Penn women's rowing, follow @PennWomensRowing on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.