DELAND, Fla. (March 14, 2026) – The Rollins women's rowing team competed Saturday at the Stetson Showdown, taking on a strong field that included Embry-Riddle, Nova Southeastern, Jacksonville, UConn, Wesleyan, and Stetson.
Racing on the St. Johns River presented a challenge throughout the day, as crews navigated variable crosswinds between 5–18 mph and choppy water conditions that changed from race to race.
Against the Division II field, the Tars held their position, finishing behind Embry-Riddle and ahead of Nova Southeastern, reinforcing their standing among the region's top programs early in the season.
Rollins competed in both the Varsity 8 (DII) and Second Varsity 8, with each boat scheduled to race twice on the day to maximize racing experience.
The Second Varsity 8 delivered one of the team's strongest performances in its opening race, finishing third behind Embry-Riddle and Stetson in a tight contest. In fact, the Tars had moved ahead of Stetson late in the race before an early stop, caused by a misread of the course buoys, cost them a potentially higher finish.
The crew was unable to race in its second event after losing a skeg while heading to the start line.
The Varsity 8 battled through the conditions in both of its races, finishing third each time. While the results did not reflect their full potential, the experience provided valuable lessons as the team continues to develop.
Rollins will take next weekend to regroup before returning to competition at the Sarasota 2K on March 28, a key regatta as the Tars prepare for the DII Invite (April 3–4), an event that will play a major role in shaping the NCAA Championship field.
