BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University rowing program was well represented on the 2022 GNAC Women's Rowing Team.
 
The GNAC champion Vikings had five first-team selections and three special award winners on the second edition of the all-conference awards after the sport was added by the GNAC in 2020.
 
Senior Adele Houston was voted the Coxswain of the Year and was also a First Team All-GNAC selection. She was joined on the All-GNAC First Team by seniors Haley Moss and Maddie Bangasser, junior Clarice Ruhlin-Hicks and sophomore Morgan MacIntyre. WWU's five All-GNAC selections consisted of members of the Varsity 8+ lineup that won gold medals at the WIRA and GNAC Championships. Bangasser became a two-time selection also earning All-GNAC honors during the abbreviated 2021 season.
 
Additionally, Sarah Ernst was selected as the GNAC Freshman of the Year rowing in the bow of the eight throughout her first collegiate season and 24th-year head coach John Fuchs was voted the Coach of the Year.
 
Seattle Pacific senior Jennifer Hoag was voted the Rower of the Year and Cal Poly Humboldt junior Dana Foley was selected the Newcomer of the Year. Here is the complete listing of the 2022 GNAC Rowing All-Conference Team and special award winners:
 

Name	School	Yr.	Hometown (Previous School)
Adele Houston	Western Washington	Sr.	Seattle, WA (Nathan Hale)
Haley Moss	Western Washington	Sr.	Orcas Island, WA (Orcas Island)
Maddie Bangasser*	Western Washington	Sr.	Sammamish, WA (Eastlake)
Clarice Ruhlin-Hicks	Western Washington	Jr.	Anchorage, AK (West Anchorage)
Morgan MacIntyre	Western Washington	So.	Camas, WA (Camas)
Jennifer Hoag*	Seattle Pacific	Sr.	Normandy Park, WA (Seattle Christian)
Macie Leach	Seattle Pacific	Jr.	Chico, CA (Pleasant Valley)
LeeAnn Arrington	Seattle Pacific	Sr.	Empire, OK (Empire)
Sage Kroeker	Central Oklahoma	Sr.	Enid, OK (Oklahoma Bible Academy)
Faith Brooks	Central Oklahoma	So.	Georgetown, TX (Gateway Prep)
Malia Seeley*	Cal Poly Humboldt	Sr.	Polson, MT (Polson)
* 2021 All-GNAC Selection
2022 GNAC ROWING SPECIAL AWARDS
Rower of the Year: Jennifer Hoag, Seattle Pacific Coxswain of the Year: Adele Houston, Western Washington Coach of the Year: John Fuchs, Western Washington Freshman of the Year: Sarah Ernst, Western Washington Newcomer of the Year: Dana Foley, Cal Poly Humboldt

WWU completed the 2022 regular season with a strong finish to earn the No. 1 seed out of the West and will compete for a ninth national championship May 27-28 at the NCAA Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida. The Vikings have now advanced to the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships in 18 of the 20 years of the event (18 of 19 in full seasons) and 19 total times to the national rowing regatta (was a combined championship prior to 2002). The Vikings are eight-time national champions, winning seven consecutive titles from 2005-11 and again in 2017. In 17 trips to the DII Rowing Championships, Western has taken home the gold (8 times) or silver (4 times) medal 12 times and finished on the podium (top three) in every trip to nationals (five 3rd-place finishes). WWU has had its Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ reach the grand finals every time on the national stage.
  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 (24th season), WWU Rowing is 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 21 seasons, taking home the gold (8 times) or silver (4 times) medal 12 times in the 19 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. The Vikings added the 2022 GNAC Rowing Championships team and V8+ titles to its trophy case this season, in addition to the WIRA V8+ Gold Medal.