GENESEE VALLEY PARK – The University of Rochester women's rowing team picked up four medals in Saturday's action at the annual Head of the Genesee Regatta along the Genesee River, turning in impressive performances across off the teams events.
 
Saturday's race was technically not a home event, with the Head of the Genesee being hosted by the Genesee Rowing Club (GRC), but the strong turnout of parents and spectators made it feel like one.
 
URochester's novice eight boat earned a win in its event, with the varsity eight and double entries securing runner-up positions. To close action on the afternoon, the Yellowjackets varsity four boat finished in third place during its competition.
 
The morning racing started with the premier event of the day, the collegiate eights. In head racing, crews race against the clock, starting at intervals in an order determined by the previous year's results. The Yellowjackets' varsity eight started third, behind two William Smith crews. William Smith finished third at the NCAA Championships in the spring, setting a high standard for the competition.
 
Rochester's boat finished with a time of 19:00.54 to claim second place, behind Liberty League rival William Smith who ended in 18:19.79 over the course. UR's second varsity eight ended ninth of ten entries in the same event, clocking in at 23:09.77.
 
UR's varsity eight did earn several nice wins, defeating conference rivals RIT, St. Lawrence and Nazareth in the racing.
 
Up next, the novice eight boat took to the water and was a winner by 14 seconds against Ithaca's novice eight entry. The Yellowjacket group clocked in with a time of 20:46.69.
 
Later in the day, the doubles took to the water, with Rochester's Sophia Fietkiewicz and Katelyn Wilmarth earning the silver medal after finishing in 22:30.52. Ithaca claimed the event win, while Rochester's other doubles team of Leah Gillette and Olivia Fioravanti placing sixth overall in 26:42.87.
 
Both silver medalists developed their skills locally but came from rival programs, with Wilmarth rowing for Pittsford Crew and Fietkiewicz for Mercy Crew. They have since proven to be a powerful partnership. On Saturday, the pair helped make Rochester's presence felt across three events, with all three crews finishing on the podium.
 
In finishing up the rowing in the afternoon, both of UR's four entries placed in the top half of the 14-boat field in that event.
 
UR's top boat of Wilmarth, Fietkiewcz, Julia Tricomi, Erin Seitzer and Asha Limaye secured third in 21:14.07, while the second entry featuring Ashley Maddocks, Sabrina Butori Valdivia, Quinn Seawright, Devyn LaRue and Ella Peddicord ended in 22:13.18, scoring seventh place.
 
Up next on the schedule is the world-renowned Head of the Charles Regatta, with that event set for Sunday, October 18 in Boston.
 
"I think both fours are in a good place heading into next week. The Charles is our chance to test our speed against top national crews. Today, all the boats raced well, not just the top boats. The second eight had their best row of the season. It was a great day for us," said Director of Rowing Ethan Curren.
 
Boat lineups:
V8 – Limaye, Wilmarth, Fietkiewicz, Tricomi, Seitzer, Maddocks, Butori Valdivia, Seawright, LaRue.
2V8 – Darissel Martinez, Fioravanti, Gilette, Veronica Waters, Natalie Dundas, Katelynn Everett, Georgia Hargreaves, Lubna Shah, Julia Dorman.
Novice 8 – Charlotte Berman, Kate Ewy, Shannon Madaras-Inca, Julia Barber, Rose Tohanczyn, Arden Williams, Emily Twehues, Lyla Patton, Jenna Babushkin.
2x 'A' – Fietkiewicz, Wilmarth.
2x 'B' – Gillette, Fioravanti.
V4 – Limaye, Wilmarth, Fietkiewicz, Tricomi, Seitzer.
2V4 – Peddicord, Maddocks, Butori Valdivia, Seawright, Larue.