BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The weather was perfect, the lake was calm and the crews were fast.
 
Two elite NCAA Division II rowing programs raced head-to-head Saturday morning on Lake Samish with eight-time national champion Western Washington hosting Seattle Pacific in the 2021 Viking Regatta.
 
The Falcons won both events, besting the Vikings in the varsity four and eight races. SPU clocked 7:48.20 in the fours with Western finishing 2^nd in 8:15.91.
 
In the varsity eight races, SPU won in a time of 6:59.80 with WWU in 2^nd in 7:10.20. The Falcons also had a 2V8+ entry in the race placing 3^rd in 7:37.10.
 
Western's eight-oared lineup continues to strengthen as the season grows deeper with a strong race against the Falcons.
 
"It was a great morning on Lake Samish with perfect conditions," said WWU head coach John Fuchs. "I thought both of our crews raced really well and accomplished what we wanted to, and that was closing the gap."
  Here is a look at the results from Saturday's Viking Regatta with WWU and Seattle Pacific racing a 2,000m course on Lake Samish just south of Bellingham:
 

Event	1st	2nd	3rd
V4+	SPU (7:48.20)	WWU (8:15.91)	---
V8+	SPU (6:59.80)	WWU (7:10.20)	SPU-2 (7:37.10)

  Here are the crew lineups that race for WWU in Saturday's Viking Regatta:
 

Varsity Eight Le Mieux	Varsity Four Mann-King
Cox – Kiana Doyle	Cox – Jonah Bettger
Stroke – Jessica Smithlin	Stroke – Yuki Saburi
7 – Maddie Bangasser	3 – Lily Bjork
6 – Clarice Ruhlin-Hicks	2 – Ella Brinkman
5 – Carly Lant	Bow – Morgan MacIntyre
4 – Lindsey Froelich
3 – Brenna Rice
2 – Claudia Webster
Bow – Haley Moss

  WWU is scheduled to next be in action on Saturday, May 1 racing again against Seattle Pacific at the Opening Day Regatta on the Montlake Cut in Seattle. Details on the race will be supplied as we get closer to May 1.
  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference established protocol where no fans will be permitted at venues of member schools for the remainder of competitions this academic year (through May).
  More information on the WWU Rowing program, including a details schedule, roster and quick facts can be found online at WWUVikings.com/RowViks and via social media on Twitter (@WWU_Rowing), Instagram (@wwuwomensrowing) and Facebook (@WWURowing).
  Led by head coach John Fuchs (23^rd season), WWU Rowing has become one of the elite collegiate rowing programs in the country, having won eight NCAA Division II National Championships. The Vikings won the 2017 NCAA II title, placed 2nd in 2018 and 3rd in 2019. WWU has competed in the NCAA Championships in 18 of the last 19 seasons, taking home the gold (8 times) or silver (4 times) medal 12 times in the 18 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded. Western won seven consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011. In 17 trips to the NCAA Rowing Championships dating back to 2002, WWU has had its Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ reach the grand finals every time.