Although the weather may have kept some of the rowing team’s boats out of competition at this weekend’s Clemson Invitational, those who were able to compete held their own against a pool that included some of the nation’s top competitors.
Competing in what UCLA coach Amy Fuller Kearney described as one of the largest invitationals in recent memory, the team took six of its eight races on Saturday, as well as two second place finishes in Sunday’s limited events.
Saturday morning, all of No. 5 UCLA’s four boats, which include two eight-person teams and two teams of four, took first place, defeating five opponents, including No. 13 Michigan and No. 14 Clemson.
Later that afternoon, however, both UCLA’s varsity eight and second varsity four teams finished second behind No. 3 Virginia.
On Sunday, however, heavy winds at South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell picked up throughout the day, forcing the varsity fours to compete in shortened races with floating starts.
Although UCLA’s varsity four team finished a decisive five seconds ahead of second place Ohio State, the results were not counted because of the non-conventional racing conditions.
Both Bruin eight-person boats finished second to the No. 4 Buckeyes, with the varsity squad trailing OSU by about five seconds and the second varsity boat coming in 11 seconds behind.
The team will now have several weeks to prepare before facing No. 1 USC on May 4.
Compiled by Liz Schneider, Bruin Sports senior staff.
