Notre Dame rowing: Irish win Big East again

Notre Dame’s rowing team claimed five of six grand final contests to earn the Big East Championship on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., Sunday. It was the 10th straight league title for ND.

Notre Dame scored 151 points to finish 22 points ahead of runner-up Louisville (129 points). Syracuse was third with 128 points.

Seven Irish rowers earned All-Big East honors, led by first teamers Molly Bruggeman, Erin Boxberger, Ailish Sheehan and Stephanie O’Neill. Anna Kottkamp, Joanna Mulvey and Courtney Gaberino were named to the second team. The Notre Dame coaching staff earned Coaching Staff of the Year.

The Irish are ranked 11th in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll.

They beat Louisville in the third varsity four, 8:20.902 to the Cardinals’ 8:28.797.

Louisville won the second varsity four, but ND swept all other finals — the third varsity eight, varsity four, the second varsity eight and final varsity eight.

The NCAA field will be announced Tuesday at 5 p.m. on NCAA.com.

The Irish, along with the Indiana Sports Corporation, will co-host the NCAA Division I Rowing Championship May 31-June 2 at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis.