Team USA Selected for Lenny Peters Cup

Team USA Selected for Lenny Peters Cup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Gene Kininmonth Event Director, Lenny Peters Cup genekininmonth@gmail.com

Team USA Unveils Roster for 2026 Lenny Peters Cup; High-Stakes "Ryder Cup" Style Rematch Set for April 18

HIGH POINT, NC — Team USA Rowing has officially announced the elite eight-person roster selected to compete in the 2026 Lenny Peters Cup, taking place Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake.

Following a heartbreaking defeat to the World Team in 2025, the Americans return to High Point with a squad built for redemption. This year’s competition features a high-pressure Ryder Cup-style format, where every race earns points toward the ultimate trophy. If the teams are tied at the end of the day, the Cup is awarded to the winner of the final Mixed Quad Scull DASH.

The Race Format & Point System

The 2026 battle for the Cup will be decided across eight intense match races:

  • Race 1 & 2: Women’s Single Sculls (1 pt each)

  • Race 3: Women’s Double Scull (2 pts)

  • Race 4 & 5: Men’s Single Sculls (1 pt each)

  • Race 6: Men’s Double Scull (2 pts)

  • Race 7 & 8: Mixed Quad Scull DASH (3 pts each)

The Team USA Roster

The Returning Veterans (Class of 2025)

  • Jacob Plihal: The 2025 USRowing Male Athlete of the Year and a 2024 Olympian, Plihal finished 13th in the single sculls in Paris—the best American result in that event since 2008. He recently won silver at the 2025 World Cup in Varese.

  • Sam Melvin: A 2019 U23 World Champion in the lightweight single, Melvin finished 4th at the 2024 World Championships. A Columbia University standout, he is known for his tactical "engine room" grit.

  • Isa Darvin: A four-time Pan American Games medalist, Darvin won gold in the pair and mixed eight in 2023. She is a powerhouse technical rower who began her career as a walk-on at the University of Wisconsin.

  • Grace Joyce: A 2024 Olympian who placed 9th in the quadruple sculls in Paris. Joyce is a seven-time National Team member with two Pan American Games medals and a reputation for explosive finishes.

  • Cedar Cunningham: A breakout star from Washington State University, Cunningham recently won bronze in the quadruple sculls at the 2025 World Cup in Lucerne. Standing 6’8”, he is a primary force in the U.S. sculling pipeline.

The 2026 Debutants

  • Sophia Vitas: A 2024 Olympian and 2023 World Championship bronze medalist in the double sculls. Vitas is widely considered one of the most efficient scullers in the world, with a 2024 World Cup II gold medal to her name.

  • Evan Park: A 2023 U23 World Champion in the women’s eight, Park is a rising star from Oregon State University. Her transition from sweep to elite sculling is fueled by her status as a CRASH-B indoor rowing standout.

  • Caleb Nollenberger: A fierce competitor who recently represented Team USA in the men’s double sculls at the 2025 World Cup in Varese. Nollenberger is known for his high-cadence rhythm and match-racing tenacity.

“The Ryder Cup format means there is no room for error; every single point matters,” said Gene Kininmonth, Race Director. “With five veterans hungry for revenge and the elite speed of Sophia, Evan, and Caleb joining the fold, Team USA is in a prime position to reclaim the Cup on home water.”

Event Details:

  • Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026

  • Location: Festival Park, Oak Hollow Lake (1841 Eastchester Dr, High Point, NC)

  • Admission: Free for the general public; VIP Regatta Lounge tickets available at lennypeterscup.com.

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