Irish Compete In Weather-Shortened Cardinal Invitational

The University of Notre Dame rowing team began the 2025 season at the Cardinal Invitational in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16. 

2025 Cardinal Invitational Photo Gallery

After a spring break training trip in Oak Ridge, a yearly destination for the program this time of year, the Irish faced Atlantic Coast Conference foes Duke and Louisville on Saturday, March 15, in a weather-delayed afternoon session with races against North Carolina and Wisconsin set for that that day cancelled due to the weather.

Notre Dame, entering the season ranked 18th in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association top 25, finished second behind No. 16 Duke in all five main races during the Saturday session.

The boats returned to Melton Lake on Sunday to conclude racing as the Irish competed against Navy, Wisconsin and North Carolina with racing wins recorded by the 1V4, 2V4, 2V8, 3V8, 4V8 

Next up for the Irish will be a trip to California for the San Diego Crew Classic in two weeks (March 29-30).   

Racing Recap

Varsity Eight

• stroke – senior Natalie Hoefer
• 7 – junior Christina Steinki
• 6 – freshman Amelia Hane
• 5 – senior Neev Gamble
• 4 – sophomore Courtney French
• 3 – sophomore Emma Hopsicker
• 2 – senior Maggie Newell
• bow – sophomore Maya Fister
• coxswain – junior Annmarie Wallis

Saturday  – 

1. 1. Duke, 6:32.999
   2. Notre Dame, 6:39.916
   3. Louisville, 6:47.746

Sunday – 

1. 1. Navy, 6:27.175
   2. Notre Dame, 6:30.062
   3. Wisconsin, 6:42.853

Varsity Four

• stroke – sophomore Sara Louser
• 3 – sophomore Grace Hartzell
• 2 – sophomore Scarlett Quinn
• bow – junior Jula Clavi
• coxswain – sophomore Margaret Abbott

Saturday – 

1. 1. Duke, 7:18.401
   2. Notre Dame, 7:23.875
   3. Louisville, 7:42.588

Sunday – 

1. 1. Notre Dame, 7:16.135
   2. Wisconsin, 7:27.410
   3. Navy, 7:36.918

Second Varsity Eight 

• stroke – freshman Caroline Johnson
• 7 – junior Molly Hackett
• 6 – senior Michaela Carroll
• 5 – junior Lily Crook
• 4 – graduate student Christina Spira
• 3 – freshman Nora Barth
• 2 – sophomore Grayson Conway
• bow – sophomore Lily Smith
• coxswain – senior Grace Collins

Saturday  –

1. 1. Duke, 6:33.009
   2. Notre Dame, 6:44.681
   3. Louisville, 6:48.535

Sunday – 

1. 1. Notre Dame, 6:37.221
   2. Navy, 6:48.535

Second Varsity Four

• stroke – freshman Lauren O’Grady
• 3 – sophomore Claire Macy
• 2 – junior Elizabeth Tessen
• bow – sophomore Madison Naman
• coxswain – freshman Nicolette Cottingham

Saturday – 

1. 1. Duke, 7:23.651
   2. Notre Dame, 7:33.685
   3. Louisville, 8:03.509

Sunday – 

1. 1. Notre Dame, 7:19.294
   2. North Carolina (3V4), 7:41.500
   3. Navy, 7:47.502

Third Varsity Eight

• stroke – senior Victoria Gordon-Brown
• 7 – sophomore Reyna Lewis
• 6 – freshman Elle Kilgannon
• 5 – junior Maeve McMahon
• 4 – sophomore Anna Kahl
• 3 – junior Grace Taylor
• 2 – sophomore Rory Klocke
• bow – freshman Reece McNutt
• coxswain – sophomore Lily Frantantino

Saturday – 

1. 1. Duke, 6:52.760
   2. Notre Dame, 7:01.384
   3. Louisville, 7:14.504

Sunday – 

1. 1. Notre Dame, 6:48.618
   2. Wisconsin, 7:13.755

Fourth Varsity Eight 

• stroke – freshman Marie Golden
• 7 – sophomore Lily Keegan
• 6 – freshman Caroline Logan
• 5 – freshman Caroline Knight
• 4 – freshman Jacqueline Buffery
• 3 – freshman Riley Clavi
• 2 – sophomore Lily Swiech
• bow – freshman Anna Scholtens
• coxswain – senior Allison O’Connor

Saturday Race – 

1. 1. North Carolina (3V8), 6:53.558
   2. Notre Dame, 7:10.782
   3. Indiana (2N8), 7:34.323

Sunday – 

1. 1. Notre Dame, 6:55.360
   2. Indiana, 7:18.178