DELAND, Fla. — The Stetson University women's rowing team opened its 2026 spring season Saturday morning, hosting Michigan State at the Hatter Invitational on Lake Beresford at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center.
Racing against the 20th-ranked Spartans, the Hatters competed in three races over the 2,000-meter course in difficult conditions that included a 10–15 mph cross-tailwind, choppy water, and light whitecaps.
Michigan State claimed the Varsity 8 race in 6:47.2, while Stetson finished in 7:05.7. In the 2nd Varsity 8, the Spartans posted a time of 7:10.4 with the Hatters crossing in 7:35.4. The morning began with the Varsity Four race, where Michigan State recorded an 8:15.2 finish and Stetson followed in 8:44.3.
"Our women closed out a long week of spring break training racing against Michigan State this morning," assistant coach Andrew Rouse said. "The racing conditions were extremely challenging, but our crews were able to respond and handle them well. We know there is still plenty of room for improvement with several more weeks of hard training ahead of them to keep building speed. We are excited to return home next weekend racing against another six visiting programs at the Stetson Showdown."
Head coach Jamie Francis echoed the sentiment, noting the value of facing a nationally ranked opponent early in the season.
"We had challenging conditions for our first regatta of the spring," Francis said. "It was good to line up against a powerful program like Michigan State and see where we are this early in the season. I appreciate Stacy and Michigan State Women's Rowing for providing some good racing. We had a tough week of training and we are seeing progress from the women across all the boats. There's still work to do and a little bit of time left to do it."
Stetson will return to the water next Saturday, March 14, when the Hatters host the Stetson Showdown at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center. The regatta will feature UConn, Embry-Riddle, Florida Tech, Jacksonville, Nova Southeastern, Rollins, and Wesleyan.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
