Tennessee Rowing Sweeps SEC Weekly Honors for Third Consecutive Week
May 01, 2025 | Rowing
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After a stellar performance at the Princeton-hosted regatta Saturday, a pair of Tennessee rowers have swept the weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference for the third consecutive week, as announced by the league office Thursday morning.
Junior Alex Pidgeon was named the SEC Rower of the Week, while Taryn Graves earned Freshman of the Week honors.
During Saturday's racing in Princeton, New Jersey, Pidgeon and the Lady Vols' first varsity eight crew set the Carnegie Lake 2K course record time by posting a blazing 5:57.6 to earn a commanding victory over sixth-ranked Princeton (6:01.1). Tennessee also crossed the line 15-plus seconds clear of third-place Syracuse (6:13.5) and over 25 seconds ahead of No. 16 Ohio State (6:22.8).
Pidgeon holds an impressive 21-1 record in the first varsity eight boat this season. The award marks the fourth weekly honor of her career—three previous Big 12 Boat of the Week honors—and her first since the Lady Vols joined the SEC.
Graves, who holds a 19-2 boat record as the coxswain of Tennessee's 2V8+ boat this season, coxed the group to a key race victory Saturday, crossing the line in 6:11.6. That time was over six seconds ahead of No. 6 Princeton (6:17.6) and also faster than No. 10 Syracuse (6:28.3) and No. 16 Ohio State (6:42.1).
Up next, Tennessee returns to Oak Ridge for the third time this season, as Melton Hill Lake serves as the site of the 2025 SEC Championship on May 11.
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee rowing on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
Junior Alex Pidgeon was named the SEC Rower of the Week, while Taryn Graves earned Freshman of the Week honors.
During Saturday's racing in Princeton, New Jersey, Pidgeon and the Lady Vols' first varsity eight crew set the Carnegie Lake 2K course record time by posting a blazing 5:57.6 to earn a commanding victory over sixth-ranked Princeton (6:01.1). Tennessee also crossed the line 15-plus seconds clear of third-place Syracuse (6:13.5) and over 25 seconds ahead of No. 16 Ohio State (6:22.8).
Pidgeon holds an impressive 21-1 record in the first varsity eight boat this season. The award marks the fourth weekly honor of her career—three previous Big 12 Boat of the Week honors—and her first since the Lady Vols joined the SEC.
Graves, who holds a 19-2 boat record as the coxswain of Tennessee's 2V8+ boat this season, coxed the group to a key race victory Saturday, crossing the line in 6:11.6. That time was over six seconds ahead of No. 6 Princeton (6:17.6) and also faster than No. 10 Syracuse (6:28.3) and No. 16 Ohio State (6:42.1).
Up next, Tennessee returns to Oak Ridge for the third time this season, as Melton Hill Lake serves as the site of the 2025 SEC Championship on May 11.
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee rowing on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
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