This fall, Virginia rowing earned a second-place finish in the collegiate four at the Head of the Charles. However, the bigger story had both nothing — and everything — to do with the race itself. As Virginia rowing embarks on its 2025 season, there is a Kevin Sauer-sized hole in the program’s heart. The former leader of the program spent 29 seasons in Charlottesville before retiring in June.
What’s more, the Cavaliers saw their 13-year ACC Championship streak come to an end last May at the hands of Syracuse. Now, Virginia is focused on using a fresh approach under its new leadership to reassert its position in collegiate rowing.
The Cavaliers enter this new era under the leadership of new Coach Wesley Ng, who took the reins from Sauer. Ng, a seasoned leader with an accomplished background at Trinity and Pennsylvania, now faces the challenge of upholding Virginia's storied legacy of ACC domination.
Cavalier rowing has always set high standards for themselves — boasting 22 ACC titles and two NCAA Championship titles, the program has long been a powerhouse in collegiate rowing. Now, the goal is blending tradition while also integrating Ng’s unique training philosophy.
According to Ng, he opts to emphasize technical precision, adaptability and intentional power production with the hope of refining Virginia's competitive edge. This approach moves away from Sauer’s preference of sheer meters and stroke repetition in favor of efficiency — ensuring that each stroke is purposeful and in sync.
“We're really demanding a lot of more specific concentration,” Ng said, “And asking the athletes to problem solve about how to follow each other more closely and how to be more intentional about how they produce their power.”
This strategic shift has been well-received within the team, particularly among senior leaders who recognize the importance of cohesion and execution in high-pressure racing environments. Senior Sofia Coppola echoes Ng's sentiments, expressing excitement about how it will translate to racing.
“I think that when we've realized the reason why we're just so focused on technique … that makes us come together more,” Coppola said. “We're like, ‘Ok, we're doing this for one another. We want to be successful. We want to be fast. We want a great outcome at the end of the season.’”
This season, Virginia has a strong core of returners who will be instrumental in leading the team through this transition. Coppola is joined by fellow senior Meagan Goldsmith, another key figure in the Cavaliers’ first varsity eight. Sophomore Jenna Hajji is also a force to be reckoned with.
And while many of the Virginia's rowers have not moved positions, the sitting coxswains from the first, second and third eights in the 2023-24 season have left, leaving significant room for movement in the position.
While no official lineups for any spring races have been released, returning senior coxswain Chloe Lee has an impressive track record including steering the varsity four to silver medals at both the 2024 ACC Championships and Head of the Charles. Additionally, freshman coxswain Brie Joe was also given an opportunity to steer the prestigious course, making the case that Ng has confidence in her ability to perform under pressure.
Once the season begins, the Cavaliers will be tested with scrimmages against Duke March 1 and Syracuse March 15 before facing elite programs such as Stanford and California, two newly integrated ACC rivals that bring additional depth to an already competitive rowing conference.
These matchups will provide critical opportunities to refine Ng's system in a competitive setting and measure how Virginia stacks up against top-tier competitors. For now, continuing to establish the characteristics of this new era of Cavalier rowing is key.
“It does feel like things are building in the right direction,” Ng said. “We're starting to gain some momentum going into the spring … I feel like we're hitting our stride at the appropriate time.”
Beyond the ACC, Virginia has its sights set on the NCAA Championships, where it finished 13th last year. With a deep roster, veteran leadership and a fresh tactical approach, the Cavaliers are aiming for a return to the podium on the national stage. Since arriving in Charlottesville, Ng has noticed a theme in Virginia rowers that he has not experienced elsewhere, and it could very well be what pushes the team to the top.
“The belief in something bigger than yourself seems very palpable,” Ng said. “And I think being a part of an athletics department that has so much excellence is really inspiring.”
Virginia will open its spring season in March with scrimmages versus Duke and Syracuse before heading up to Columbus, Ohio to face off against Ohio State and Michigan March 29. The path to redemption starts now.
The Cavaliers’ 22 ACC championship victories have been built on resilience and an ability to peak at the right time — qualities that will be key as they work to reclaim the conference title.
Read More
Softball wins all five games in first home-field action at Mizuno Classic
By Cierra Lyles | 1 hours agoAfter a suboptimal start to the season, Virginia has picked up a slew of necessary wins to get them going.
No. 2 Virginia women’s tennis delivers steady ACC win against Georgia Tech
By Gracie Genereux | 13 hours agoWith a star back in the lineup and another conference opponent on the other side, Virginia again cruised.
Looking behind and ahead at men’s basketball and the offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Thomas Baxter , Emory Huffman and Ben Istvan | 19 hours agoThe case for Ron Sanchez, potential coaching candidates and a team turning a corner?
