WORCESTER, Mass. – No. 11 Wellesley College crew captured the 2025 NEWMAC Championships title on Saturday morning hosted at Lake Quinsigamond. The Blue won the Varsity Eight (V8+) race, while taking second in the Second Varsity Eight (2V8+), Third Varsity Eight (3V8+) and Fourth Varsity Eight (4V8+) races to win the competition.
2025 marks the 12th NEWMAC Championship win in program history and the 11th of Head Coach Tessa Spillane's illustrious career. Wellesley has now earned the NEWMAC's automatic bid into the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship, which will take place on May 30-31, 2025 at Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J.
Blue earned the NEWMAC title with 43 points, five ahead of second place WPI, who had 38. Smith College put up 36 points for third place, while Coast Guard Academy (33), Clark University (23), Mount Holyoke College (22) and Simmons University (15) rounded out the team competition. The NEWMAC Championships AQ Standings only factor the top two races.
Wellesley also tied with Smith for first place at 36 points to share a win in the Florence Jope Smith Cup Standings. The Florence Jope Smith Cup, awarded annually to the school with the highest number of points from the overall results at the NEWMAC Championship.
Following the championship presentation, Wellesley juniors Hannah Bates (Fair Haven, N.J.), Lucy Weil (Washington, D.C.) and Bronnie Bailey (Virginia Beach, Va.) all received NEWMAC First Team All-Conference honors.
The V8+ pushed through the rain with a purpose, putting open water between itself and the competition by the halfway point. When Blue Crew crossed the finish line at 7:42.700, it not only did so as the winner, but did so over seven seconds ahead of second place WPI (7:49.806). Coast Guard finished third in the race, followed by Smith, Clark, Mount Holyoke and Simmons.
Smith earned the top spot in the 2V8+, crossing the finish line at 7:58.100. Wellesley was the runner-up, clocking in at 8:15.043, over eight seconds faster than third place WPI. Coast Guard, Mount Holyoke and Clark rounded out the 2V8+ field.
Blue Crew also earned silver behind Smith in the 3V8+. Once again the margins were wide, with the Pioneers' winning time of 8:30.690 followed by the Blue at 8:42.025. Wellesley held a six-second gap over third place Coast Guard (8:48.905), with WPI and Mount Holyoke taking fourth and fifth respectively.
Wellesley ended the day with a 9:03.428 showing in the 4V8+ that was good for second place. Smith again took first, and Coast Guard collected the bronze in the race.
Up next, the Blue return to Lake Quinsigamond for the New England Rowing Championships on Saturday, May 3.
NEWMAC Championship AQ Standings
- Wellesley - 43
- WPI - 38
- Smith - 36
- Coast Guard - 33
- Clark - 23
- Mount Holyoke - 22
- Simmons - 15
Florence Jope Smith Cup Standings
T-1. Wellesley - 36
T-1. Smith - 36
T-3. WPI - 24
T-3. Coast Guard - 24
5. Mount Holyoke - 10
6. Clark - 8
7. Simmons - 2
Wellesley Lineups (4/26/25):
V8+: C - Mia Saracino; 8 - Bronnie Bailey; 7 - Bella Cooper; 6 - Frances Dickinson; 5 - Hannah Bates; 4 - Madeline Terry; 3 - Mia Westmoreland; 2 - Lucy Weil; 1 - Caroline Hester
2V8+: C - Colette Kennedy; 8 - Aliki Hollister; 7 - Lilian Gregorich; 6 - Sarah Fu; 5 - Rachel Hu; 4 - Audrey Sim; 3 - Marina West; 2 - Jude Mohammad; 1 - Sydney Jones
3V8+: C - Claire Johnson; 8 - Grace Kessler; 7 - Mel Daniels; 6 - Alice Yao; 5 - Mira Ivanis; 4 - Cordelia Thomas; 3 - Samantha Whitson; 2 - Meg Behe; 1 - Derin Timucin
4V8+: C - Nola Meek; 8 - Oona Lazer; 7 - Temitope Ibironke; 6 - Sophia Lutch; 5 - Anna Stone Ewing; 4 - Avery Finley; 3 - Evyn Lally; 2 - Jillian Hack; 1 - Carly Hack
