SEATTLE, Wash. – In a battle of two top five nationally ranked programs, the Western Washington University rowing team placed 2nd in all six races Saturday racing head-to-head against Seattle Pacific University in the Falcon Regatta on the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

 

The regatta featured two flights of racing with an open four, varsity four and varsity eight lineup in the dual meet between the No. 4 Falcons and No. 5 Vikings.

 

Western's crews placed second in all six races, with the Varsity 8+ finishing less than a half boat length behind in the first flight after a hard charge towards the finish line. The Vikings Varsity Four lineup featured three novice rowers and a freshman coxswain as they fell just short of clipping the Falcons in the first flight.

 

The youthful Vikings featured 11 novice team members in boat lineups Saturday vs. SPU. WWU once again cut into the gap that has separated the Vikings and Falcons in three head-to-head meetings this season with the margin now less than three seconds in the first varsity eight lineup and under five seconds in the varsity four.

 

Led by 25th-year head coach John Fuchs, the Vikings continue their five-regatta regular-season schedule next week at the Covered Bridge Regatta on Dexter Lake in Lowell, Oregon. WWU will defend its Great Northwest Athletic Conference title May 13 on Dexter Lake. The full 2023 season schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/RowViks.
 

Here a look at the official results from Saturday's Falcon Regatta on the Lake Washington Ship Canal:

 

 

Here are the crew lineups that raced for WWU at the Falcon Regatta, with slight variations noted for the second flight of racing:

 

 

WWU is back in action next week getting a preview of the GNAC Championships course at the Covered Bridge Regatta on Dexter Lake in Lowell, Oregon. The complete 2023 regatta schedule can be found online at wwuvikings.com/RowViks.

 

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 (25th 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, 3rd in 2019 and runner-up again in 2022. WWU has competed in the NCAA Championships in 18 of the last 21 seasons, taking home the gold (8 times) or silver (5 times) medal 13 times in the 20 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded, and reached the podium all 18 times. Western won seven consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011. 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.