April 30, 2017 GOLD RIVER, Calif. - They came, they rowed, they were VIKtorious.
The Western Washington University women's rowing team showed why they are amongst the elite programs in the nation winning the Grand Final in all three events they entered at the 2017 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Championships (WIRA) held Saturday and Sunday on Lake Natoma in Northern California.
For its efforts, the WWU was awarded the WIRA Team Efficiency Trophy for all divisions) for the success of the number of races entered vs. placement in those races.
Overall the Vikings won 7 of 8 races in the D2/D3/Club division of the WIRA Championships, while winning the Grand Final on Sunday in the Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ and the Novice 4+. WWU's second entry in the Varsity 4+ also won Saturday's Petite Final after narrowly missing qualification for Sunday's Grand Final. Overall, the Vikings have won 21 of 25 races this spring and are ranked No. 2 in the CRCA/US Rowing Division II national poll and No. 1 in the West Region.
"What more can you ask for from the team...they had a nearly perfect race plan all day and we had some great racing out there," said head coach John Fuchs, in his 19th year guiding seven-time national champions. "Both of our 4's had great races and were really strong down the stretch. We have some huge races coming up against some of the best programs in the nation, so gaining this race experience is so key."
The Varsity 8+ starting the day off with a dominating performance in the first race of the day, recording an open-water victory over 2nd-place UC Santa Barbara. The Vikings completed the course in 6:23.836, over 6-seconds better than UCSB (6:29.994) and 8-seconds better than 3rd-place and Division II West Region rival Humboldt State.
The Varsity 4+ raced to gold in the Grand Final with a strong finish to hold off Humboldt State down the stretch. The Vikings recorded a three-seat victory over HSU finishing in 7:17.630.
"We went head-to-head in our races today and stayed calm and focused throughout," added Fuchs. "That is great experience that you don't get in practice."
The Novice 4+, comprised entirely of newcomers to collegiate rowing, closed out the WIRA sweep with a thrilling finish to overcome Seattle Pacific down the stretch to win the gold medal. SPU led the race for the first 1,800 meters, but the Vikings were strategic and found another gear down the stretch to record a three-seat victory over the Falcons finishing the course in 7:30.994.
"It was inspiring to see our Novice 4 race like that," said Fuchs. "To watch that, and have our team watch that, it amps everyone up. Great for team chemistry."
The Vikings will race next weekend at the prestigious Windermere Cup in Seattle hosted by the University of Washington on the Montlake Cut in Seattle. The final NCAA Division II regional rankings will come out this Tuesday (May 2) and the NCAA Division II selection announcement is Monday, May 15 at 2 pm PT via NCAA.com. The 2017 NCAA Rowing National Championships for all divisions will be held May 26-28 on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, New Jersey.
Here are the complete results of WWU's three races in today's Grand Finals at the WIRA Championships:
Varsity 8+
D2, D3, Club Grand Final (Lane 1)
- Western Washington - 6:23.836 (Gold)
- UC Santa Barbara - 6:29.994 (Silver)
- Humboldt State - 6:31.874 (Bronze)
- Pacific Lutheran - 6:33.162
- UC San Diego - 6:37.814
- Lewis & Clark - 6:40.018
Varsity 4+
D2, D3, Club Grand Final (Lane 1):
- Western Washington - 7:17.630 (Gold)
- Humboldt State - 7:18.310 (Silver)
- UC Davis - 7:23.575 (Bronze)
- Orange Coast - 7:26.217
- Long Beach State - 7:28.016
- Oregon - 7:34.594
Novice 4+
D2, D3, Club Grand Final (Lane 3):
- Western Washington - 7:30.994 (Gold)
- Seattle Pacific - 7:32.016 (Silver)
- Loyola Marymount - 7:42.080 (Bronze)
- Oregon - 7:52.617
- Stanford Lightweights - 7:56.630
- Seattle U. - 8:10.806
WWU's Boat Lineups:
- Varsity 8+: Giselle Kiraly (cox), Chloe Burns (stroke), Karisa Stapp, Kia Parrish-Haim, Izzy Barnwell, Claire Whiting, Casey Mallon-Andrews, Megan Reid, Molly Ware (bow)
- Varsity 4+: Madison Moelhman (cox), Nicole Vanderzanden (stroke), Mary Harper, Kelly Oberbillig, Madison Kerr (bow)
- Novice 4+: Jonah Bettger (cox), Michaela Bonenberger (stroke), Kenzie Hezel, Madi Stapleton, Angie Dexter (bow)
WWU is the seven-time NCAA II National Champion (2005-2011) and national runner-up three times dating back to the inaugural Division II regatta in 2002. The Vikings finished 3rd at last year's NCAA II Championships.
-- #RowViks --
