LOWELL, Ore. – The No. 6 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's rowing team completed a grueling three-week stretch of competition with its best performance of the young season with three victories at the Covered Bridge Regatta on Dexter Lake.

 

All three of WWU's four-oared entries recorded wins, including an impressive victory by the Varsity 4+ against No. 2 nationally-ranked Cal Poly Humboldt. The second varsity four and novice four also recorded event victories during the morning session of the regatta held just outside of Eugene, Oregon. The Varsity 8+ continued to gain speed heading towards the postseason finishing just behind CPH.

 

The Vikings opened the great day of racing with a winning performance by the Varsity Four, recording a three-second victory over GNAC foe Cal Poly Humboldt. WWU covered the 2,000-meter course in 8:11.24, with Cal Poly Humboldt in second place at 8:14.26. Using a slightly-altered lineup led by stroke freshman stroke Taylor Wall and freshman coxswain Janisa Cook, WWU avenged an early-season defeat vs. CPH at the Husky Open.

 

The second varsity four and novice four also turned in winning performances, with the 2V4+ clocking 8:20.12 to decisively beat Sonoma State and the N4+ finishing in 8:32.41 for an open-water win over Cal Poly Humboldt.

 

The varsity eight closed out racing finishing second behind Cal Poly Humboldt, closing the gap on the No. 2 nationally-ranked Lumberjacks finishing in a time of 7:16.04. CPH clocked 7:11.91 for a winning time, but the margin from the opening race at the Husky Open was drastically cut by nearly 20 seconds.

 

Western is led by 25th-year head coach John Fuchs and eighth-year assistant Courtney Moeller. The Vikings earned national runner-up honors last season at the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida. WWU returns to action May 6 at the Opening Day Regatta as part of the Windermere Cup on Montlake Cut and will defend its GNAC title at the conference championships May 13 on Dexter Lake.

 

Here a look at the official results from Saturday's Covered Bridge Regatta on Dexter Lake. The Vikings entries in the Varsity Four and Varsity Eight races count toward the official NCAA results that help determine the regional and national rankings and CRCA coaches poll.

 

 

Here is a look at the boat lineups for the Vikings from the Covered Bridge Regatta:

 

 

After a busy three weeks of competition the Vikings will take nearly a month off from competition, returning to regatta action Saturday, May 6 at the Opening Day Regatta as part of the Windermere Cup on Montlake Cut in Seattle. 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.