Just days after earning a #12 ranking in Division III in the pre-season poll, Rochester made the voters look good by winning the first varsity eight and second varsity eight races against 11^th-ranked St. Lawrence and unranked St. John Fisher.
 
The competition was rowed on a course of 1,850 meters with a tail/crosswind that increased throughout the day to 13 mph. "(The wind) made the water conditions very choppy and unpredictable," said Rochester coach John Gaskin.
 
Both races followed a similar path with St. Lawrence taking an early lead off the start. Rochester settled into its base rate and slowly moved out in front during the second 500 meters of each race.
 
In the 2V event, Rochester finished in a time of 7:12.8 with St. Lawrence 15 seconds behind at 7:27.07. The Yellowjackets had a third varsity eight in the same race rowing with one St. Lawrence rower to fill an empty seat. The third varsity eight finished in 8:07.64. The second varsity eight consisted of coxswain Rebecca Joseph, Kristi Lachiusa, Alice Bandeian, Jessica Bernstein, Stacey Miller, Amanda Pelisari, Lilly Camp, Becky Chu, and Lindsey Willstatter.
 
The women's 1V race was closer at the finish due to one of the Yellowjacket rowers catching a crab in the last 500 meters of the race. Rochester was moving away from St. Lawrence when the crab happened, allowing the Saints to move closer.  During the final sprint, the Yellowjackets took command and finished with open water at 6:57.51. St. Lawrence clocked in at 7:01.92 with St. John Fisher third in 7:36.27. The 1V consisted of coxswain Julia Evans, Bella Clemente, Rhiannon Vaughn, Serra Sevenler, Emily Widra, Allie Born, Clara McMahon, Juliana Orlov, and Monika Cepulis.
 
"All of our crews rowed well today considering the lack of water time we have had," Gaskin said. "During our spring training trip, we had some days with rough water and this definitely helped us today. What showed today was our ability to stay composed and stick to the race plan."
 
Rochester will take on second-ranked William Smith College on Sunday. The race was moved to Rochester because the Geneva waterways are still clogged with some ice.