Apr 08, 2026
Team USA
USRowing Announces U.S. Athletes Competing at the 2026 Lenny Peters Cup
USRowing is excited to announce the eight athletes who will represent the USA and compete at the 2026 Lenny Peters Cup on April 18 on Oak Hollow Lake in High Point, North Carolina. Isa Darvin, Evan Park, and Olympians Grace Joyce and Sophia Vitas will represent the women, and Sam Melvin, Cedar Cunningham, Caleb Nollenberger, and Olympian Jacob Plihal will represent the men.
The Lenny Peters Cup is a USA versus The World competition in single sculls, double sculls, and mixed quadruple sculls. Taking place in High Point, N.C. on Oak Hollow Lake, eight of the fastest rowers from across the globe will go head-to-head in match play competition against the fastest eight scullers from the United States. Each round, members of the U.S. team will face off against an international opponent over 1500 meters in different boat classes, gaining points for their team with each victory.
U.S. Roster
The 2026 U.S. lineup blends experienced Olympians with emerging national team talent. Olympian Grace Joyce and Isa Darvin competed in the double sculls at the 2025 World Championships, finishing eight. Sophia Vitas finished ninth in the women’s double sculls at the 2024 Olympics. Evan Park made her first world championship team in 2025 and won gold in the U23 women’s eight in 2023.
Olympian Jacob Plihal and Cedar Cunningham finished fourth in the quadruple sculls at the 2025 World Championships, the highest U.S. finish in the event since 1998. Sam Melvin, a five-time national team member, competed in the double sculls at the 2025 World Championships. Caleb Nollenberger competed with the U.S. national team at the 2025 World Cup II and III in the double sculls.
A Global Super Team
The World Team returns in 2026 with a roster of Olympic champions and medalists including:
- Avalon Wasteneys (Olympic gold medalist, Canada)
- James Rudkin (Olympic gold medalist, Great Britain)
- Sholto Carnegie (Olympic gold medalist, Great Britain)
- Magdalena Lobnig (Olympic medalist, Austria)
- Martin Mačković (Serbia)
- Nikolaj Pimenov (Serbia)
- Katie Clark (Canada)
- Beatriz Tavares (Brazil)
After a narrow loss in 2025, decided in the final mixed quad races, Team USA returns to the Cup for another opportunity. With returning veterans and new talent joining the lineup, the U.S. squad aims to reclaim the Cup on home water. The 2026 Lenny Peters Cup promises elite racing, international rivalry, and one of the most dynamic formats in the sport—bringing together the best scullers in the world for a single day of competition.
The Lenny Peters Cup will be streamed on Fox’s streaming platform, World Rowing's YouTube page, and the Lenny Peters Cup Youtube page. Tune in to see the USA take on the world.
