SEATTLE, Wash. – The Western Washington University rowing team returned to competition Saturday competing in the greatest spectacle in rowing at the Opening Day Regatta as part of the Windermere Cup festivities on Montlake Cut.

 

The No. 6 nationally-ranked Vikings fielded a pair of eights during the regatta, competing in the Collegiate Open 8 and the Cascade Cup. The historic racing venue stretches from Lake Washington into the Montlake Cut to the finish line at the mouth of Portage Bay, near Lake Union.

 

In the first race of the day, WWU's second Varsity 8 lineup covered the 2,000-meter course in 7:27.927 to place behind Division I crews Washington (7:07.005) and Gonzaga (7:23.293).

 

In the Cascade Cup, the Vikings Varsity 8+ got off to a great start, but clashed oars with the Washington crew and had its momentum stalled for a few seconds. WWU would have to play catch-up from that point forward, and kept close to crews from Seattle Pacific and Seattle U, but fell just short in the comeback attempt. UW's second varsity eight won in a time of 6:45.976, with SPU (7:00.513), Seattle U (7:04.931) and WWU (7:05.251) crossing the finish line behind the Huskies. 

 

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 13 defending its GNAC title at the conference championships on Dexter Lake.

 

Here a look at the official results from Saturday's Opening Day Regatta hosted by the University of Washington on Montlake Cut. Both the UW men and women defeated Australia in the marquee Windermere Cup events to conclude the 37th annual event.

 

 

Here is a look at the boat lineups for the Vikings from the Opening Day Regatta:

 

 

Ranked No. 6 in the nation and No. 4 in the West Region, the Vikings will make a push for a return trip to the NCAA Championships competing May 13 in the GNAC Championships on Dexter Lake in Lowell, Oregon. WWU is the defending GNAC team champion and earned national runner-up honors at the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships last season. 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.