RESULTS  WATCH (REPLAY)
 
RALEIGH, N.C. (SMU) - SMU Rowing finished in eighth at the ACC Rowing Championship on Saturday at Lake Wheeler Park. Graduate senior Kate Kulig was named third-team All-ACC.

"Really pleased with the team's performance today in the finals," said third-year head coach Chase Graham. "We improved on last years finish and are hungry for more. I'm proud of our seniors and fifth years, they've given so much to the team and it's great to see them go out the way they did. Conversely, it was impressive to see some of our younger athletes sit in some big seats and do a great job. Throughout the season we talked a lot about never being satisfied, and I think our squad really lived by that. They keep showing up and improving, no matter what. I'm really excited to see what we can do, the jobs not done yet."
 
The Mustangs were slated to compete in five petite finals on Saturday. In the first, the 3v8, the Mustangs finished in 5^th with a time of 7:13.870.
 
In the 2v4, the Mustangs placed in second with an impressive 7:38.700 time, 8.35 behind first place Duke. The team finished in front of Miami, Louisville, Clemson and Boston College.
 
In the 1v4, the Mustangs' boat finished in fourth with a time of 7:31.850. They crossed the line ahead of Louisville and Clemson.
 
The Mustangs placed second in the 2v8 with a time of 6:41.550. They finished in front of Louisville, Clemson, Notre Dame and Boston College.
 
In the final SMU race, the Mustangs placed in second with a time of 6:29.520. The boat topped Clemson, Louisville, Boston College and Notre Dame.
 
The 47 points scored by the Mustangs in the team standing were 10 points better than the ninth-place team. SMU replicated its 2025 eight-place ACC finish. Stanford won the team competition.
 
Next up, the Mustangs await their NCAA fate with the selection show slated for Tuesday, May 19 at 4 p.m. CT on NCAA.com


SMU TEAM QUOTES

Paige Horton
"While I'm feeling a little speechless at the moment I want to thank this team for giving me the best years of my life. To my boat thank you for giving me an unforgettable last race and pulling me down the course one last time. There's really no words to describe the last moments of something that has defined me for the last years. I owe it all to you. It's been an honor leading you this year- only up from here my girls"

Kate Kulig:
"My time at SMU has been so special and is something I will remember forever. Our team has come so far over the past nine months and I couldn't be more proud. We came into this weekend so excited to show what we are capable of, and we did just that. Our boat has spent the past few weeks imagining walking through other teams and today it was real, we protected the family and accomplished what we set out to do. This team is full of support, dedication, and courage and we carry that with us everywhere. Thanks for a fire year SMU rowing."

Tara Phelan: 
"During my time as a Mustang, I've gained unforgettable racing experiences, built lifelong friendships, and developed a deeper love for this sport. Today's performance was a true reflection of the commitment and hard work this team has poured in all year long. From the very first strokes, we fought to establish ourselves and raced for one another every step of the way. This team has become a second family to me, and I'm incredibly grateful to have been a part of this championship. This is only the beginning. Pony Up!"

Francesca La Marca
"Over the past 4 years, I have seen the team in every up and down. This year alone we have made huge moves on the water and gained valuable friendships, it's been incredible to see all the hard work this year come together this weekend.  This team will be my forever family and I am incredibly grateful for having been given the opportunity to make this 8 go fast and the patience to grow personally. These girls can do incredible things and I can't wait to see where they end up in the coming years!"

Team Scores
1. Stanford – 132
2. Virginia – 118
3. California – 108
4. Syracuse – 103  
5. Miami – 77  
6. North Carolina – 75
7. Duke – 69  
8. SMU – 47
9. Notre Dame – 37
10. Louisville – 35
11. Clemson – 29  
12. Boston College – 25
 
2026 All-ACC Rowing Awards
ACC Coach of the Year: Derek Byrnes, Stanford
ACC Newcomer of the Year: Georgia Allen, Virginia
ACC Crew of the Year: Stanford Varsity Eight (Coxswain: Ella Casano, Nora Goodwillie, Celia Dupre, Matilda Drewett, Emma Bagrie, Claire Van Praagh, Charlotte Jett, Annika Jeffery, Quincy Stone)
 
2026 All-ACC Rowing Team
First Team
Ella Casano, Stanford
Annika Jeffery, Stanford
Matilda Drewett, Stanford
Celia Dupre, Stanford
Elsa Hartman, Virginia
Flynn Greene, Virginia
Paula Lutz, Virginia
Ella Wheeler, California
Ellie-Kate Hutchinson, Syracuse
 
Second Team
Brie Joe, Virginia
Nora Goodwillie, Stanford
Minou Bouman, California
Olivia Roth, California
Acorn Cassidy, Syracuse
Katia Ustiuzhanina, Syracuse
Naroa Zubimendi Varela, Miami
Carmen Sagues, North Carolina
Chloe Zollman, Duke
 
Third Team
Kira Obsitnik, California
Jovana Stanivuk, Miami
Maya Schultz, North Carolina
Lena Mills, Duke
Kate Kulig, SMU
Emma Hopsicker, Notre Dame
Macy Whisenand, Louisville
Rose Imbesi, Clemson
Lauren Bauer, Boston College
 
 
SATURDAY RESULTS
 
3V8
1 Notre Dame 6:55.220
2 Boston College 6:58.010
3 Louisville 6:59.600
4 Duke 7:02.590
5 SMU 7:13.870
 
2V4
1 Duke 7:30.350
2 SMU 7:38.700
3 Miami 7:39.990
4 Louisville 7:44.590
5 Clemson 7:46.360
6 Boston College 8:01.250
 
1V4
1  Duke 7:24.790
2 Miami 7:29.540
3 Boston College 7:31.550
4 SMU 7:31.850
5 Louisville 7:33.490
6 Clemson 7:38.710

2V8
1  North Carolina 6:39.760
2 SMU 6:41.550
3 Louisville 6:48.930
4 Clemson 6:49.710
5 Notre Dame 6:51.960
5 Boston College 6:59.290


 
1V8 
1 North Carolina 6:27.740 
2 SMU 6:29.520 
3 Clemson 6:33.000 
4 Louisville 6:41.040 
5 Boston College 6:41.570 
6 Notre Dame 6:42.600