One of the biggest events at Indiana University of Indianapolis, Regatta, features canoe races that happen throughout the day. The 2025 team winners are:
Female: Gum D-Seas
Male: Canine Kings
Co-Ed: Brushing Besties
Regatta 2025 canoe race consisted of teams racing a half mile in a canoe with two teammates starting, and then the next two teammates switching at the turning point. Teams paddled up and down the canal working to be the fastest time from start to finish.
If teams were to fall in the water, they would be disqualified. All teams competed one at a time to determine who would be in the final race. The final race consisted of six teams competing against one another in their category. The categories consisted of female, male and co-ed teams. Overall, there were 18 teams in the finals, six teams per category. The teams went in two-minute increments between each other in the finals.
There was a lot of action among the canoers racing at Regatta. Three different canoes flipped into the water and one team had a teammate lose their paddle and use their arms to keep paddling to the finish line. Many teammates ran along the canal to cheer each other on from the sidelines once they switched out at the transition point.
Team Dental Hygiene 2026, was in the finals with five other teams. Their members were Rylee Santen, Ella Klevickas, McKenzie Jones and Claire Wessel. They are all dental hygiene majors and in their junior year.
“The dental school is really competitive and we felt like we had to represent our program cause we are like a small percentage of the dental school,” said Santen.
The Dental Hygiene 2026 team prepared for their canoe race by going to the practice day on Sept. 20, 2025.
Jones said her and Wessel’s strategy while canoeing together was to communicate and state what direction to row to help canoe down the canal.
The female winning team Gum D-Seas members were Olivia Pomponio, Hope Museck, Genevieve Penzone, Kiley Fagan, Amara Eckert and Mallory Geyman. They are all doctor of dental surgery third-year students (DDS-D3).
The team did not attend practice day, but according to Museck, “[I] put in the work rowing on the machine every other day for three months.”
While it was some of the females third-year competing in the canoe race, it was the teams’ first year competing all together in Regatta as a group.
“The biggest thing is when we were first in dental school, we didn’t know if we wanted to participate before,” said Pomponio. “I don’t think Hope had ever been in a canoe before and we were like, ‘lets just try it,’ and you know what we tried it, had a blast, and have come back every year so if it's not usually your thing it might be just give it a go,” said Pomponio.
Museck encourages new teams to participate in future.
“Definitely give it a try because it's a lot of fun,” said Museck.
The Regatta 2025 canoe race has come to an end and preparation should begin soon for the 2026 Regatta.
Sydney Leisure is a junior that is majoring in journalism with a minor in communications. In her free time, she likes to read, ice skate and spend time with friends and family.
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