CLERMONT, Fla. (April 5, 2026) – The Rollins women's rowing team faced a national field this weekend at the DII Invite, competing against Sunshine State Conference opponents and three west coast programs in a preview of the NCAA Championship landscape.
Racing began Friday afternoon under difficult conditions, with crews battling heavy wind and waves. Despite the challenging environment, the Tars remained competitive throughout the day.
Rollins finished fourth in the Varsity 8+, trailing Seattle Pacific, Embry-Riddle, and Humboldt, while the Varsity 4+ placed fifth, just three seconds out of fourth. In both races, the Tars remained in contention from start to finish, gaining confidence heading into Saturday's improved conditions.
With calmer water on Saturday morning, Rollins took advantage.
The Varsity 8+ placed sixth in its opening race before quickly turning around and improving to fifth in the second flight, finishing ahead of the University of Central Oklahoma for the second time on the weekend. The Tars also continued to close the gap with the top crews, finishing just six seconds out of third place.
The Varsity 4+ delivered one of the strongest performances of the weekend, finishing fourth, just two seconds behind Embry-Riddle and five seconds off second-place Central Oklahoma in a tightly contested race.
Overall, the weekend marked a significant step forward for Rollins against national competition.
The Tars demonstrated that they can compete with some of the top Division II programs in the country, continuing to close the gap as the postseason approaches.
Rollins now has two weeks to prepare for the SIRA Championships in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (April 18–19), where the Tars will face a mix of Division I, II, and top club programs in one of the premier regattas of the spring.
