PENNSAUKEN, NJ – The Western Washington University rowing team opened competition at the 2023 NCAA Division II Championships Friday at Cooper River Park just outside of Philadelphia.

 

The Vikings Varsity Four highlighted Friday's racing, winning the afternoon repechage to advance to Saturday's Grand Final. The Varsity Eight placed second in its heat and fourth in the repechage to earn a spot in the Petite Final.

 

The second day of the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships begins at 11 am ET (8 am PT) with all the action streamed live online at NCAA.com.

 

"Today we had mixed results, but the team really poured their hearts out," said WWU head coach John Fuchs. "We knew the West Region was going to be extremely tough months ago and that's proven to be true. I am really proud of this group. Getting here was a huge accomplishment and we are not done yet."

 

During the morning session, both of Western's crews placed second, with only the heat winner advancing directly to the Grand Final. All crews would have to bounce back a few hours later for the repechage, with the top two teams advancing to the Grand Final. Central Oklahoma and Cal Poly Humboldt each won their heats in the eight and four.

 

In the afternoon, the Vikings four-oared boat won the repechage in a time of 8:01.496 to beat out Seattle Pacific, with both advancing to the Grand Final on Saturday. In the eights rep, SPU and Embry Riddle placed first and second to earn a spot in the final.

 

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.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Here is a look at the results from Friday's competition at the 2023 NCAA Division II Rowing Championships. WWU's Varsity Four entry advances to Saturday's Grand Final (11:12 am ET/8:12 am PT) and the Varsity Eight will race in the Petite Final (11:48 am ET/8:48 am PT):

 

 

Teams will be scored based on placing in the Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ race as follows. Ties for team awards will be broken by the place finish in the eights. The top scoring team will be awarded the 2023 NCAA Division II national championship trophy:

 

 

Here is a look at the boat lineups for the Vikings for the 2023 NCAA Rowing Championships. The Vikings are using two "borrowed" Vespoli shells during this year's championship regatta:

 

 

Here is a look at the remaining schedule for the NCAA II Rowing Championships event schedule that will be held over two days May 26-27 (Friday-Saturday) at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, New Jersey with Temple University and Camden County Boathouse, serving as hosts. The Grand Final for the eights and fours will consist of four boats each, with the petite final two boats:

 

 

WWU has now advanced to the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships in 19 of the 21 years of the event (19 of 20 in full seasons) and 20 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 18 trips to the DII Rowing Championships, Western has taken home the gold (8 times) or silver (5 times) medal 13 times and finished on the podium (top three) in every trip to nationals (five 3rd-place finishes). Last season the Vikings raced to a national runner-up placing, with the Varsity 8+ placing second in the grand final. Here is a look at this year's NCAA Division II Rowing Championships field:

 

 

Here is a look at the national champion and runner-up from each of the 20 years that the NCAA Division II has crowned a national title dating back to 2002. WWU won seven consecutive national titles from 2005-11 and returned to the top of the podium in 2017.

 

 

Western Washington University has combined for 12 team national championships, with rowing winning eight of those titles (2005-11, 2017). WWU also won team championships in 1998 (Softball, NAIA), 2012 (Men's Basketball) and a pair of women's soccer national titles (2016, 2022). Additionally, the women's basketball team (2022), Women's Soccer (2019) and Volleyball (2018) earned national runner-up honors in recent years.

 

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 19 of the 21 NCAA Division II national regattas, 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.

 

WWU Rowing Inside the Numbers:

19 – NCAA II Rowing Championship Appearances (out of 21)

15 – Individual Championships (Eight-6, Fours-9)

8 – National Championships (2005-11, 2017)

5 – National Runner-Up Finishes