DELAND, Fla. (March 15, 2025) – The Rollins Women headed to DeLand on Saturday for the Stetson Scramble. The teams in attendance were a mixture of Division 1 and Division 2 (Embry-Riddle, Nova Southeastern, Stetson, Wesleyan and Jacksonville). Rollins was fortunate to be in the events with Nova Southeasters since they were the only Southern Region Division 2 team that the Tars had not raced yet. The wind proved a factor in all events during the mornings racing increasing from 8-17 mph. The women's Varsity 8 pushed through the conditions beating Nova Southeastern by 12 seconds. This was not how the race began. Off the line Rollins was down one-half boat length after the start and shift. The crew (
Maria Littman,
Abby Klesa,
Maria Carla Gutierrez,
Khloe Smith,
Olivia Prelog,
Sofia Prieto,
Sophie Bolan,
Kinsley Sparks,
Lillian Groves) kept their composure and worked to control the controllables. By the thousand-meter mark Rollins had taken a half a boat lead over Nova and never looked back. Rollins handled the conditions decently and opened up water on the Sharks to post the 12 second win over Nova. The Varsity 4 race was a five boat race and was Rollins and Nova's Division 2 four which needed to race for the NCAA rankings. Embry-Riddle did not boat their DII 4 but were entered in the event. Rollins placed 3rd in the event, 17 seconds behind the winning Jacksonville boat, 19 seconds ahead of Stetson and 29 seconds ahead of Nova. These boats set their places early and it was just the margin of finish that changes throughout the event. The final race of the day for the Rollins Women was the 2nd Varsity 4 where Rollins raced two novice 4's that placed 3rd and 4th behind two Jacksonville boats and ahead of a Nova Southeaster boat. These crews had the worst conditions by far and they handled themselves well. "We don't ever row in the conditions we faced today," said Coach Pistor. "All any of the crews can do is focus on the basics and execute to the best of the crews' abilities. These ladies went out with the right mentality and made the most of the situation."
Rollins hits the road again on Friday as they head to Gainesville, Georgia for the John Ferriss Regatta. The teams will see new club and varsity teams that they have not competed against this season and ones they will likely face again at SIRA in April.
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