SARASOTA, FLA, - The High Point University women's rowing team concluded its trip to the Sunshine State in the Sarasota 2k at Nathan Benderson Park after two days of racing.
 
Head Coach Jessica Deitrick: "This weekend was a great experience for this team. We were able to compete against teams ranked in the top 25 in the country, teams who will be in our new conference next year and go down a great course three times. Each boat made improvements every time they went down the course. We have more work to do and are excited to be home for a few weeks where we can regroup and find more speed before heading into our last two races of the season! "

High Point was up against a lot of competition this weekend, seeing schools from all over the country and from various conferences. Deitrick has four HPU boats, a 1v8, 2v8, 1v4, and a 2v4, all competing in the Sarasota 2k.

The best time of the weekend was in the 1v8 boat in a five-boat race. Led by Grayson Williams at Coxswain, Mallory Sullivan, Anna Venditti, Kate Concepcion, Riley Verner, Audrey Houle, Willow Conley, Saige Wiggins, and Caitlin Enright. They rowed to third place behind Old Dominion and Jacksonville with a time of 6:53.92, just about five seconds off the leader.

In the 2v8, their best time was 7:25.16 falling four spots behind the leader, as the 1v4 boat's best time was 8:11.80, and the 2v8 recorded their best time of 7:25.16.

Up Next: HPU will compete in the SIRA (Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association) Regatta from April 18-April 19 in Oak Ridge, Tenn.