U-M Wraps Big Ten Invitational Against Top Field

Sunday, April 19

Sacramento, Calif.

8:00 AM PT

Michigan

Big Ten Invitational

(Courtesy Michigan State)

4/19/2026 2:15:00 PM | Rowing

By: Devin Wiles, Chad Shepard

Site: Lake Natoma (Sacramento, Calif.)
Event: Big Ten Invitational (Day 2 of 2)
First Varsity Eight Finish: 6:26.8 (5th of 5)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, April 24 -- Wolverine Double Dual (Belleville, Mich.), Time TBD

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan rowing program raced against a competitive field in a preview of the NCAA Championships on day two of the Big Ten Invitational on Sunday (April 19) at Lake Natoma. The Wolverines rowed all seven of their boats in top-ranked heats during the morning session.

Weather at the 8 a.m. start mirrored day one, as calm breezes and sunny, 53-degree temperatures welcomed the rowers for the weekend's most competitive races. The Wolverines were grouped with the event's top programs in all seven races Sunday -- No. 1 Stanford, No. 5 Washington, No. 9 California and No. 12 Rutgers.

In the lane closest to the northern shore of Lake Natoma, Michigan's 2V4 opened racing with a tightly contested first 500 meters. Rutgers pulled ahead in the second quarter of the race, and U-M trailed the field from that point on, finishing fifth.

In the 1V4, Michigan, Rutgers and California rowed bow-for-bow through the first 1,000 meters. The Wolverines held a slight edge on California entering the final 500 and remained in a tight race with Rutgers. In the final sprint, the Scarlet Knights pulled away while California gained seats on U-M, pushing the Wolverines to fifth at the line.

The eight boats raced next, with Michigan's 2V8 producing a similar result to the fours. After an early stroke-for-stroke battle with California and Rutgers, both crews pulled away after the opening 500 meters. The Wolverines made multiple moves to close the gap but remained in fifth.

Michigan and Rutgers rowed together for much of the 1V8 race. Through the midpoint, the Big Ten crews were locked bow-to-bow before Rutgers gained separation over the next 500 meters, eventually building a boat-length advantage. The Wolverines finished 3.5 seconds behind in fifth place.

After a fifth-place finish in the 3V4, Michigan responded with a strong showing in the 3V8. The Wolverines led through the first 1,500 meters before holding off a late Rutgers sprint by 0.002 seconds in a photo finish for fourth place.

In the weekend's final race, U-M placed third, holding three seats on Rutgers and besting California by one boat length.

Michigan returns home for senior day next Saturday (April 24) at Belleville Lake. The Wolverine Double Dual will serve as the Wolverines' final regular-season contest, featuring races against Syracuse and Princeton. Race times are yet to be announced.

Results

First Varsity Eight
1. Stanford -- 6:09.0
2. California -- 6:12.2
3. Washington -- 6:13.6
4. Rutgers -- 6:23.3
5. MICHIGAN -- 6:26.8

Second Varsity Eight
1. Stanford -- 6:12.2
2. Washington -- 6:18.4
3. California -- 6:23.9
4. Rutgers -- 6:27.8
5. MICHIGAN -- 6:32.5

First Varsity Four
1. Stanford -- 6:59.8
2. Washington -- 7:02.4
3. Rutgers -- 7:04.3
4. California -- 7:08.4
5. MICHIGAN -- 7:09.9

Second Varsity Four
1. Stanford -- 6:58.7
2. Washington -- 7:08.4
3. California -- 7:11.0
4. Rutgers -- 7:14.3
5. MICHIGAN -- 7:25.9

Third Varsity Four
1. Washington -- 7:13.8
2. Stanford -- 7:24.0
3. Rutgers -- 7:27.9
4. California -- 7:31.8
5. MICHIGAN -- 7:33.3

Third Varsity Eight
1. Stanford -- 6:33.8
2. Washington -- 6:45.1
3. California -- 6:45.2
4. MICHIGAN -- 6:52.6
5. Rutgers -- 6:52.6

Fourth Varsity Eight
1. Washington -- 6:48.6
2. Rutgers -- 6:58.0
3. MICHIGAN -- 6:59.9
4. California -- 7:07.5

Michigan Lineups

1V8: Logan Roeder (coxswain), Novella Rusman, Olivia Carroll, Lucy Hallett, Danelia Price-Hughes, Jana Peachey, Madeleine Lauriault, Marloes van der Zwart, Megan Higley