Rowing Hosting Inaugural MAC Championship Saturday

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University rowing program will host the Inaugural Mid-American Conference Women's Rowing Championship on Saturday, May 16, at Ford Lake in Ypsilanti, Mich. Racing begins at 9:02 a.m. and concludes with the Varsity Eight (1V8+) final at 10:02 a.m.

The regatta will be streamed on ESPN+ linked here. Fans can also follow live stats here.

THE SETTING:

The MAC crowns its first-ever rowing champion on EMU's home course at Ford Lake. Eastern is entered in four of the five championship finals, including the day's marquee 1V8+ event.

9:02 a.m. — Women's 2V4+ Final: Delaware, UMass, Temple, High Point

9:17 a.m. — Women's 3V8+ Final: EMU, UMass, Temple

9:32 a.m. — Women's 1V4+ Final: High Point, Temple, UMass, Delaware, EMU, Toledo

9:47 a.m. — Women's 2V8+ Final: EMU, Temple, UMass, Delaware, High Point, Toledo

10:02 a.m. — Women's 1V8+ Final: EMU, Delaware, UMass, Temple, High Point, Toledo

WHAT'S AT STAKE:

This is the first-ever MAC Women's Rowing Championship. The team title will be decided by a points system across the 1V4+, 2V8+, and 1V8+, with the 1V8+. The champion earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Rowing Championship.

KEY STORYLINES:

Inaugural Crown: Every seat and every point matters as the MAC awards its first rowing title and an NCAA berth.

Temple vs. UMass: Temple brings dominant spring form, while UMass arrives with championship pedigree and top-boat results.

The Marquee 1V8+: Set for 10:02 a.m., the 1V8+ carries the most weight in the standings and is the tiebreaker.

Home-Water Edge: EMU races on familiar Ford Lake in four of five finals (3V8+, 1V4+, 2V8+, 1V8+).

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AROUND THE LEAGUE:

Temple: Won the Overall Points Trophy at the Dad Vail Regatta; 8-0 sweep at the Old Dominion Double Duals; 1V8+ named MAC Boat of the Week after winning the Kelly Cup.

UMass: Historical powerhouse with 16 A-10 titles; 1V8+ earned MAC Boat of the Week twice and captured Knecht Cup silver.

Delaware: Competitive depth with a bronze in the Varsity 4+ at the 2024 CAA Championships and a strong 2V8+ at the Knecht Cup.

Toledo: In first varsity season with a freshman-heavy roster; swept all three events at the fall Glass City Regatta.

High Point: Building D1 program that finished fourth in the Big South; aiming for race-by-race podium opportunities.

ATHLETES AND COACHES TO WATCH:

Temple: Veteran head coach Rebecca Grzybowski (14th year) guides an experienced group paced by seniors Hannah Klein and Emma Inglis.

UMass: Senior co-captain and 1V8+ coxswain Sam Schnoerr provides seasoned leadership for a boat that has excelled this spring.

OPPONENT SNAPSHOTS:

Temple (previously AAC): Enter as favorites after a near-perfect spring and multiple team and boat honors.

UMass (previously A-10): Tradition-rich program with recent podium-speed lineups.

Toledo (MAC): Debut varsity campaign with a promising young core.

Delaware (previously CAA): Veteran squad capable of breaking onto the team podium.

High Point (previously Big South): Emerging program building experience across the lineup.

ON THE HORIZON:

The MAC champion earns the league's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Championship.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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