WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Wellesley College crew competed in the opening round and repechage on the first day of the NCAA Division III Championships at Lake Mercer on Friday.

Wellesley's Varsity Eight (V8+) boat goes on to the Petite Final tomorrow, while the Second Varsity Eight (2V8+) will now compete in the Grand Final tomorrow. The 2V8+ kicks off the action at 10:48 AM.

The Varsity Eight (V8+) claimed third in its initial heat, crossing the finish line at 7:11.096. Williams College won the race at 6:57.233, followed by Wesleyan University (6:58.576), the Blue and St. Mary's College of Maryland (7:26.633). Williams and Wesleyan advanced straight to the Grand Final, while Wellesley and St. Mary's moved to the repechage.

In the repechage, Wellesley finished third out of four, moving into tomorrow's Petite Final. Ithaca College topped the field with a 7:00.496, narrowly trailed by St. Mary's (7:01.191), the Blue (7:02.046) and finally Pacific Lutheran University (7:28.955).

In the 2V8+'s opening heat, Blue Crew finished third at 7:14.829. Tufts University won the opening heat with a 7:02.132 performance, followed by Bates College (7:08.051), the Blue and then Pacific Lutheran (8:49.984). Tufts and Bates advanced straight to the Grand Final, while Wellelsey and Pacific Lutheran went on to compete in the afternoon's repechage.

The 2V8+ won the repechage to put itself in tomorrow's Grand Final, leading the way with a 7:11.589 showing. The boat defeated Ithaca (7:14.534), St. Mary's (7:16.895) and Pacific Lutheran (8:45.864).

Wellesley Lineups (5/30/25):

V8+: C - Colette Kennedy; 8 - Bronnie Bailey; 7 - Hannah Bates; 6 - Sarah Fu; 5 - Mia Westmoreland; 4 - Madeline Terry; 3 - Cordelia Thomas; 2 - Audrey Sim; 1 - Marina West

2V8+: C - Claire Johnson; 8 - Aliki Hollister; 7 - Lilian Gregorich; 6 - Samantha Whitson; 5 - Caroline Hester; 4 - Frances Dickinson; 3 - Rachel Hu; 2 - Lucy Weil; 1 - Sydney Jones