The Eastern Michigan University (EMU) rowing team prepares to compete at the Doc Hosea Invitational on Saturday, March 29. This event will take place on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, New Jersey, beginning at 8 a.m., with heats followed by finals starting at 11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan is set to compete in three boat categories: 1V4+, 1V8+, and 2V8+. Competing teams include Drexel University, Georgetown University, Navy, Northeastern University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rhode Island, Rutgers University, St. Joseph’s University, and Villanova University.
Head Coach Kemp Savage and student-athlete Lily Wilhelm recently achieved success at the World University Championships, where they led the United States women’s eights boat to a gold medal. “Winning is hard to put into words,” Savage noted. “They raced so maturely and even though for a lot of them it was their first international competition, they just went out and rowed.” Lily Wilhelm added, “I did not know we won until we literally crossed the finish line. I was happy to even go and have the opportunity, but to win was just so exciting.”
The Eastern rowing team looks to build on past achievements as they aim for more success in upcoming events. Last season, they secured a trio of top-five finishes in the Grand Finals at the Coastal Athletic Association championships on May 17-18 at Cooper River Park.
In personnel news, Kemp Savage welcomed Lucie Roy as an Assistant Coach, adding her to the coaching staff officially after previously serving as a volunteer. Roy formerly coached at Adrian College and was a standout rower at Michigan State University.
The MAC recently announced that women’s rowing will be added as a sponsored sport beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, with Eastern Michigan set to host the MAC Championships at Lakeside Park on Ford Lake for the initial three seasons.
A total of 18 EMU rowing student-athletes were recognized as Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar-Athletes for the 2024 season, highlighting the academic accomplishments of the team.
EMU rowers now benefit from a newly renovated erg room used for the first time throughout the 2023-24 offseason, with significantly expanded training space.
Eastern Michigan’s rowing tradition includes training in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, during spring breaks and competing at the Cooper River at multiple events this season. The team is scheduled to host Michigan State University on April 5.
