World Champions Head to High Point: U.S. Women’s Four Set to Host Netherlands in High-Stakes Match Race for the Lenny Peters Cup

HIGH POINT, N.C. — World-class rowing arrives in High Point this Saturday as the reigning back-to-back World Champion U.S. Women’s Four (W4-) takes to the water for a high-profile match race against the powerhouse Dutch national team to compete for the prestigious Lenny Peters Cup.

Coming off dominant back-to-back World Championship title runs in 2025 and 2026—capped off by setting a new World Best Time in 2026—the American crew enters the showdown at the top of their game. But facing the Netherlands, one of the world's premier rowing forces, ensures Saturday’s contest will be an intense, shoulder-to-shoulder battle on American waters.

The U.S. lineup features an elite group of Olympians, World Champions, and collegiate powerhouses:

• Molly Bruggeman: A veteran leader and 12-time National Team member, Bruggeman brings Olympic experience (Paris 8+, Tokyo alternate) and two World Championship titles to the stern. A Notre Dame alumna ('14) and former Minnesota coach, she balances training with her role as an analyst for Broadridge Financial Solutions through their Elite Athlete Management Program.

  "It was great being able to race the Dutch on their home waters, and now getting to race them in the U.S. will be equally as competitive, as well as a great start to the 2027 season," Bruggeman noted.

• Kate Knifton: A 2024 Paris Olympian, two-time World Champion in the W4-, and two-time NCAA Champion at the University of Texas, Knifton brings extensive international experience across junior, U23, senior, and Olympic levels. Off the water, the Texas McCombs graduate runs Scout Performance Rowing, helping young rowers navigate college recruiting, and manages the Texas Rowing Center Juniors program.

  "I am so excited to race the Netherlands, as that lineup includes some of the top and most accomplished rowers in the world," Knifton said. "I have immense respect for the women in that boat and their entire program, and it is always an honor to line up next to the best of the best."

• Teal Cohen: A dynamic force in the boat, Cohen won back-to-back W4- World Titles in 2025 and 2026 and helped set the World Best Time in 2026. A 2024 Olympian (Quadruple Sculls) and NCAA Champion with the University of Washington ('22), Cohen works part-time in M&A alongside her national team duties.

  "I'm so excited to get to race the Lenny Peters Cup," Cohen shared. "I've heard amazing things about the event, and I can't wait to welcome the Netherlands to the USA and bring high-level competition to High Point!"

• Azja Czajkowski: A two-time World Champion in the W4-, four-time World Cup winner, and 2024 Olympian (4th in W2-), Czajkowski combines elite power with sharp technical skill. A 2023 NCAA Champion, she also works as a Digital Innovation Associate at Broadridge Financial Solutions via their Elite Athlete Program.

  "We loved racing in Amsterdam for the 2026 World Championships, so it's exciting to have the Dutch here in the USA for the weekend," Czajkowski remarked. "I have a ton of respect for the Dutch team, and the W4- has always been a really competitive boat class for them, so I am looking forward to another chance to race them!"

The rivalry between the American and Dutch programs has produced some of the most thrilling racing in international rowing over recent seasons. With the Dutch winning the Olympic gold in Paris and both crews eyeing LA2028, Saturday's head-to-head showdown for the Lenny Peters Cup promises an unforgettable showcase of world-class athleticism right here in High Point.

Almost 1,000 rowers will participate on Saturday in addition to several hundred Dragon Boat racers. Organizers also expect several thousand spectators as well at Oak Hollow Lake. 

Race Details

• Event: The Lenny Peters Cup Match Race

• Matchup: USA Women's Four (W4-) vs. Netherlands Women's Four

• Date: Saturday

• Location: High Point, North Carolina

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