2024 Champion: Elizabeth Martin (USA)
Entries: 13
The women’s championship singles at the Head of the Schuylkill have quickly become one of the most competitive small-boat events of the fall. This year’s lineup features a strong mix of national team members, accomplished club scullers, and top collegiate alumni. Four of last year’s top ten finishers return, joined by several elite newcomers. The field may be small, but the quality is exceptional.
This year’s championship singles once again highlight the strength of Penn A.C., which accounts for nearly half the entries. The club’s pedigree for housing elite talent, combined with its home-course status make its entries a force to be reckoned with in this regatta.
The Schuylkill’s narrow, winding course rewards not only strength and stamina but also precision and composure. With tricky turns and variable current, experience on this river often makes the difference. With many of the athletes in this field boasting extensive sweep prowess, it will be those who nail that transition to the single the best that rise to the top.
Featured Athletes
Margaret Hedeman – Penn A.C.
Leading the field is Margaret Hedeman, one of the brightest names in American rowing. A Yale alumna, Hedeman earned First Team All-Ivy and First Team All-American honors before moving on to a decorated U.S. National Team career where she became a staple in the U.S. eight. She won gold at the 2018 World Rowing Junior Championships and 2022 World Rowing U23 Championships, followed by silver at the 2023 World Rowing Championships and a fifth-place finish in the Women’s Eight at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now transitioning to sculling, Hedeman’s power and racing palmarès make her the clear favorite. If she can find rhythm early on the Schuylkill, she will be difficult to beat.
Suzanne Maddamma – Steel City Rowing Club
Returning as last year’s third-place finisher and top returning athlete, Suzanne Maddamma brings both experience and toughness. She edged out Eva Frohnhofer by just one second last fall, finishing five seconds behind the silver medal position. A past winner of the U.S. Junior Trials in the Women’s Single and a bronze medalist at the 2025 U.S. Rowing Indoor National Championships, Maddamma is known for her consistent endurance and poise under pressure. On her home river, she will again be in the hunt for a podium spot.
Eva Frohnhofer – Penn A.C.
Eva Frohnhofer returns after finishing fourth last year, just one second behind Maddamma, making her the second-highest returning finisher. A University of Virginia alumna, she rowed in UVA’s Varsity Eight across three NCAA appearances, earning Second Team All-America honors in 2024. She also captured bronze at the 2023 World Rowing U23 Championships in the Women’s Four. Representing Penn A.C., Frohnhofer combines raw collegiate speed with growing sculling experience. She has shown the ability to handle technical courses well, and this year she enters as one of the most likely contenders to challenge for the win.
Elaine Tierney – Penn A.C.
Elaine Tierney, who placed fifth last year, continues to build an impressive résumé. A Temple University alumna, she was named Temple Women’s Rowing Athlete of the Year in 2020 and earned Second Team All-AAC honors in 2022. She later represented the United States at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in the Lightweight Pair, showcasing her efficiency and precision. Her experience in the pair may give her a technical advantage in steering and tempo, traits that translate well to the Schuylkill’s demanding course. Tierney’s steady form makes her a strong podium threat once again.
Allyson Baker – USRowing Training Center – Princeton
Representing the U.S. Rowing Training Center, Allyson Baker brings elite pedigree and the respect that comes with rowing under the national program’s name. A three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, Baker has raced extensively on the international stage. She placed 12th at the 2022 World Rowing Championships, finished fourth in the pair at the 2022 World Cup II, and recorded top-seven finishes in both the pair and four at the 2019 World Cup II. Her small-boat experience and national-team discipline make her one of the most technically polished athletes in the field. She will be a serious contender near the front of the pack.
Honorable Mentions
Among the emerging names in this field, Natalie Timinskas (Penn A.C.) returns after finishing tenth last year. The former North Carolina standout and Second Team All-ACC selection raced in UNC’s First Varsity Eight that placed eighth at the 2024 ACC Championships. Morgan Linsley (Penn A.C.), a Duke alumna and former CRCA All-American Honorable Mention, brings strong sweep credentials after earning silver in Duke’s Second Varsity Eight. Avery Ericksen (Penn A.C.), who finished thirteenth last year, rowed in Notre Dame’s Varsity Eight that placed third at the 2024 ACC Championships. Each of these athletes continues to develop within Penn A.C.’s growing sculling program, making them dark-horse picks for a top-ten finish.
Prediction
My prediction – Hedeman to win on her first time of asking, Frohnhofer to leapfrog Maddamma for second, and Maddamma to round out the podium.
Hedeman’s world-class pedigree and power make her the favorite in my eyes, but Frohnhofer’s college pedigree and continued sculling progression on her home-course could bring an upset if she executes perfectly. Maddamma’s consistency should be just enough to hold off the other former collegiate standouts again landing her on the podium, while Baker and Tierney are well-positioned to challenge just behind.
Regardless of the final order, this field showcases American women’s sculling depth and sets the stage for an exciting showdown on Boathouse Row.
