University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Head of the Riverfront
Huskies Open Fall Season at Head of the Riverfront
10/4/2026 9:18:00 PM | Women's Rowing
HARTFORD, Conn. – The UConn rowing team opened its 2026 fall season Saturday at the Head of the Riverfront, turning in a strong performance against a competitive collegiate field on the Connecticut River.
The Huskies were led by a fifth-place finish in the Women's Open 8+, where UConn's top varsity crew recorded an adjusted time of 15:13.323. UConn also showcased its depth in the event with additional boats finishing 13th, 16th and 25th overall.
In the Women's Open 4+, the Huskies placed two crews inside the top seven. UConn's top entry crossed the line fifth in 16:40.802, while another Huskies crew followed closely behind in seventh with a time of 16:53.127. Two additional UConn boats finished 18th and 22nd, respectively.
Competing together for the first time this season, the Huskies used Saturday's racing as an opportunity to test the progress made during their first weeks of fall training.
"It was a really special day to see our team compete together for the first time," said head coach Gordon Getsinger. "We've introduced a lot of new concepts this fall, and I was impressed with the focus our athletes brought and how well they adapted to the race conditions and different lineups.
"The fall is about building the foundation of our stroke and establishing how we want to row, but racing gives us an opportunity to put that work under pressure in a way that's hard to replicate at home. We learned a lot today, and I'm excited to take those lessons back to the lake and keep building."
The excitement surrounding the Huskies' season debut was shared throughout the team.
"Coming off a big day of racing at the Riverfront today, one thing has never been more clear: how grateful I am for this team," said junior Florence Therrien. "We came into the year with a new coaching staff, new expectations, new training, and I am so proud of how we have stepped up to the plate. Today we raced hard, pushed limits, and opened our fall season as a united front. It was the beginning of accumulating all the hard work we've put in so far in this new chapter, and I'm so excited to see how we continue to grow."
Fellow junior Emma Danaher highlighted the value of the experience gained throughout the day.
"We all enjoyed getting after it with our races," said Danaher. "There were a lot of great moments that we can build from for future races. Overall, it was a great day filled with some awesome races and some great insights."
With a pair of top-five finishes and multiple crews gaining valuable racing experience, the Huskies opened their fall campaign on a positive note and will look to continue building momentum throughout the season.
LINEUPS
Varsity 8+
Coxswain – Izzy Kellman
Stroke – Katherine Naum
7 – Emma Danaher
6 – Clara Pagano
5 – Eva Radov
4 – Hannah Raddock
3 – Katelyn McNamara
2 – Alexa Lewis
Bow – Shanelle Burcher
Second Varsity 8+
Coxswain – Sarah Flynn
Stroke – Florence Therrien
7 – Calla Webster
6 – Emily Rossmeisl
5 –Ella Bretschneider
4 – Kylie Lake
3 – Ava Dardis
2 – Nola Foote
Bow – Chloe McNamee
Third Varsity 8+
Coxswain – Jordyn Chezem
Stroke – Grace Handfield
7 – Ella Luangpraseuth
6 – Carsyn Clanton
5 – Grace Condon
4 – Casey Coleman
3 – Keira Clark
2 – Evelyn Erofeyev
Bow – Sophia Balog
Fourth Varsity 8+
Coxswain – Sophia Belisle
Stroke – Grace Magee
7 – Lauren Caldwell
6 – Aly Dyer
5 – Annabelle Pituch
4 – Mia Quilici
3 – Libby Hartley
2 – Brianna Dmowski
Bow – Kate Pavlakis
Varsity 4+
Coxswain – Izzy Kellman
4 – Clara Pagano
3– Emma Danaher
2 – Alexa Lewis
1– Shanelle Burcher
Second Varsity 4+
Coxswain – Sarah Flynn
4 – Hannah Raddock
3– Katelyn McNamara
2 – Katherine Naum
1– Eva Radov
Third Varsity 4+
Coxswain – Jordyn Chezem
4 – Florence Therrien
3– Calla Webster
2 – Emily Rossmeisl
1– Ella Bretschneider
Fourth Varsity 4+
Coxswain – Nitya Tarala
4 – Nola Foote
3– Ava Dardis
2 – Kylie Lake
1– Chloe McNamee
