PROVIDENCE – SMU’s Varsity Eight claimed the first American Athletic Conference Boat of the Year award in program history as voted by the conference’s head coaches. The Mustangs top boat was a unanimous selection.
 
The V8 boat was made up of coxswain Emily Fogg, Brittany Rigg, Trevor Rose, Erin Pierce, Juliet Traylor, Madison van Meel, Megan Scott, Melissa Bradford and Peyton Mathews.
 
In Oklahoma City at the US Rowing National Performance center, the Mustangs became the first varsity eight boat to win a league championship race in program history, winning by open water.
 
In season, SMU defeated then-receiving votes and previously ranked Alabama by open water. The Mustangs also posted the fastest time in its heat race at the Sunshine State Invite.
 
SMU won  three of its five sprint races during the championship season which included a breakage early in the loss at Sunshine State Invite.
 
The V8 boat featured multiple all-conference award winners in first team selections Fogg and Rigg.