By Patrick Delaney, South Lake Tablet
Eight Division II collegiate rowing programs from across the United States recently converged in Clermont, for the Sunshine State Invitational Regatta (SSC)—a rare and highly anticipated opportunity for DII teams to compete head-to-head ahead of championship season.
Hosted by the Lake County Rowing Association, the event successfully addressed a longstanding gap in the Division II rowing calendar by creating meaningful, high-level competition outside of traditional conference and championship events.
Event organizers emphasized the importance of the regatta, noting that opportunities like this were incredibly valuable for Division II programs. Bringing multiple teams together in a competitive environment so close to championship season allowed athletes and coaches to benchmark performance, build connections, and elevate the overall level of racing across the division.
Participating programs included Cal Poly Humboldt, Seattle Pacific University, University of Central Oklahoma, Rollins College Rowing, Barry University Rowing, Nova Southeastern University Rowing, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Vanderbilt University.
