PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  Tulsa’s Varsity 8 claimed the first American Athletic Conference Boat of the Year nod in program history on Thursday following voting by the conference’s head coaches.
 
The Golden Hurricane crew consisting of Hannah Vissers (Bow), Sophia Camara (2), Paige Hallam (3), Lauren Vander Hoeven (4), Veronique Ulrich (5), Lucy Coleman (6), Eleanor Russell (7), Helen Leigh (Stroke) and Samantha Barber (cox) earned several noteworthy placements during the course of the season, twice earning conference Boat of the Week accolades.
 
At the Sunshine State Invitational April 6-7, Tulsa placed first and second on back-to-back days in the eight-team field. The first-place finish came via a 6:26.90 time to top the race that included eventual American Champions UCF, Clemson, Miami, SMU, Jacksonville, North Carolina and Stetson.
 
The crew then earned its second Boat of the Week honor in as many weeks following a standout performance at the Clemson Invitational April 13-14. In the B Final, the Golden Hurricane powered to a 6:21.85 time, defeating the likes of three teams receiving votes in the week’s CRCA/US Rowing Coaches Poll (Louisville, UCLA, Minnesota).
 
Tulsa capped the regular season with its 11-straight Lawless Cup victory over Creighton, and headed into the American Championships on May 12 as the top-seeded crew in the Varsity 8. The Golden Hurricane secured second place in the event in 7:02.33, less than three seconds behind winner UCF. The performance carried Tulsa to a second-place team finish for the fourth-straight year.
 
Four members of the Varsity 8 crew, including Russell (First Team), Vissers (First Team), Barber (Second Team) and Leigh (Second Team) were tabbed to the 2018 All-Conference teams following the Championship.