FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's rowing will compete at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships this weekend. The Championship takes place on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, N.J. on Sunday morning.
The Championship will includes crews from Canisius University, Drake University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Jacksonville University, Marist University, Robert Morris University, Sacred Heart University, and Stetson University.
The Stags are coming off their participation at the Sacred Heart Invitational which was highlighted by the varsity 8's first-place finish. The shell earned the MAAC Boat of the Week for their performance. Fairfield will look to build that success considering the team faced fellow MAAC schools.
"Based on the times posted, I would say our first varsity 8 is the closest to the gold medal standard of times they produced this season," Women's Rowing Head Coach David Patterson said. "I also expect that the spread from first to sixth is going to be the closest ever with all the grand finalists within 10 seconds of each other."
The Stags' varsity 8 boat will include
Arianna Welton, Shawon O'Brien,
Kelly Cullen,
Zuzanna Janusz,
Victoria Conrad, Molly Squire,
Catherine Morrissey,
Sarah Wendling, and coxswain Lexi Tomlinson.
The second varsity 8 took second place at the Sacred Heart Invitational and could challenge for a spot in the top five at this year's MAAC Championships. The crew will be comprised by
Megan Rourke,
Cailey Chechitelli, Sasha Antencio,
Mia Van Mater, Emma Schachta, Julie Pedrazzi,
Miranda Schmidt,
Grace McDonough, and
Marianna Kalin.
"Our second varsity 8 will have a really important battle with Canisius for the top five places and that will bring both boats closer to the chance to sneak a medal which could disrupt the overall team points."
The varsity 4 will also be in the hunt as the boat comes into the MAAC Championship as the fourth seed. The group competed at the Sacred Heart Invitational as well and will look to make a run this Sunday. The Stags will be represented by Gia Enderle, Caity Gregitis, Audrey DeMarino,
Catherine Martin, and coxswain
Grace Tyszka.
"We are seeded fourth and will have to go out and do something special to challenge the fours of Jacksonville, Sacred Heart, and Marist," Coach Patterson said. "If the battle gets too hot for one of these three crew, we have to be in a position to strike."
The 2025 MAAC Championship opens at 10 am with the first heat of the varsity 4. The second varsity 8 begins with its first heat at 10:20 am with the varsity 8 beginning with its first heat at 10:40 am.
