The girls’ varsity coxed four event at the SRAA National Championships is one of the deepest and most competitive fields at the regatta each year. This year’s field at Cooper River is arguably one of the deepest in recent memory, featuring an elite top tier and a dense middle pack capable of major upsets. With slower conditions in the finals of the Midwest Scholastic Championships, and the Stotesbury Cup reduced to time trials, we do not have a great recent gauge of head-to-head speed for many of the contenders in the field. This means the semifinals cannot be overlooked to reach the podium.
Blair Academy
Blair Academy returns as three-time defending national champions, and they have done nothing this spring to suggest that streak is in danger. They won the Stotesbury Cup time trial, defeating most of the field from this weekend, showcasing their pedigree, efficiency, and strength. The week prior, they placed a confident second at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship, breaking 7:20 and defeating larger regional clubs in the process. This crew doesn’t just win—they control races. Blair remains the crew to beat with the championship experience and composure to match their speed.
Saint Joseph Academy
Last year’s SRAA silver medalists, Saint Joseph Academy, have flown slightly under the radar this spring, but their results suggest they’re as dangerous as ever. Despite slow final conditions at Midwest Scholastics, their time trial speed was top-tier, and they know how to peak in May. They’ll be looking to avenge 2023’s narrow loss to Blair, and they have the horsepower to do it.
Gwynedd Mercy Academy
The story of the season might just be Gwynedd Mercy. In just under a decade since launching their rowing programme, the Monarchs have surged into the national conversation. Second in the Stotesbury Cup time trial and winners of the City Championship in Philadelphia, they have proven they’re more than just a nice story—they are legitimate medal contenders. Whether it’s poise or hunger, this crew finds speed when it counts.
Other Mentions
The battle for lanes in the grand final will be fierce. Unionville and Villa Maria Academy bring recent speed and past success, while Robinson, Burnt Hills, and St. Thomas Aquinas arrive with championship credentials from their respective states. The margins will be fine, and semifinal execution will separate finalists from hopefuls.
Prediction
This event has the makings of a classic, but in the end, experience often wins out. Blair Academy will make it four in a row, followed by Saint Joseph Academy and a breakthrough podium performance for Gwynedd Mercy Academy.
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