OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The Old Dominion rowing team wrapped up its season on Sunday at the American Athletic Conference Championships on Lake Melton in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
The Monarchs had three boats race in the championships, a varsity 4 and two varsity 8 boats.
The first race that ODU took part in was the varsity 4. The boat that featured Libby Guindon as the coxswain and her crew Kelly Bailey, Gillian Battersby, Bekka Kimman, and Gabby Cook took sixth with a time of 8:43.99.
The second race for the Monarchs was the second varsity 8 race that featured Ellie Gortz as the coxswain and her crew was made up of Emma Spinelli, Ainsley Diesi, Afton Stahl, Lauren Norris, Haven Habhab. Marie Ahern, Mary Rust, and Jenna Protacio. This boat finished in sixth with a time of 7:20.11.
The final race for Old Dominion was the first varsity 8 with a boat made up of Sydnee Blackburn, Lily Baumann, Maddie Enns, Jay Weber, Anniemarie Hoff, Lucy Brennan, Kinley Zink, Sophia Bespalova and the coxswain was Illianna Romanzo. They finished in sixth place as well with a time of 6:53.05.
"The team took a lot of steps forward this weekend and season that can and will lead to future success. We are also disappointed in the results and will use this as fuel as we train in the off season. I think we have set a good foundation to build from," said head coach Brian Conley. "I'm proud of our seniors to have one of their best races as their last one. I'm also excited for our first team all-conference award winner Sofia Bespalova who has consistently been the top performer this spring."
Sophia Bespalova was named first team All American Athletic Conference and has been a top performer in the first varsity 8 boat all season for the Monarchs.
Final Team Scores
| SMU | 168 |
| Tulsa | 140 |
| UCF | 112 |
| Temple | 108 |
| Sac State | 72 |
| ODU | 48 |
Coaching Staff of the Year
SMU
First-Team All-Conference
Emma Leavens, UCF
Sofia Bespalova, Old Dominion
Sydnie Bain, Sacramento State
Emily Baker, SMU
Daisy Butterworth, SMU
Alice Fahey, SMU
Megan Hewison, SMU
Sasha Radvanovic, SMU
Gemma Wollenschaeger, Temple
Isabella Musollino, Tulsa
Anna Shaw, Tulsa
Second-Team All-Conference
Anna Kayser Gallego, UCF
Emily Puia, UCF
Deanna Frack, Sacramento State
Victoria Franklin, SMU
Kate Hadley, SMU
Sydney Suntrup, SMU
Olivia Elliott, Temple
Maggie Page, Temple
Emily Bell, Tulsa
Johanna Kristof, Tulsa
Karen Undset, Tulsa