By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
LAKEWOOD, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's rowing program opened the 2024 season Saturday batting tough racing conditions at the PLU Invitational on American Lake.
The planned two-session regatta was shortened to just one morning wave of racing due to wind and choppy conditions on the lake.
Racing for the first time in 10 months since the NCAA II Championships last May, the Vikings often treat the PLU Invitational as a preseason opener leading up to the bulk of the racing schedule in April and May.
Western's crew had positive early-season results recording a pair of head-to-head wins over GNAC foe Seattle Pacific University, including a winning time of 8:22.6 in the Varsity 4+ and a second-place finish just behind UPS in the Varsity 8+ in 7:13.08 to edge the third-place Falcons. A novice lineup made up the 2nd Varsity 8+ lineup resulting in an open-water victory over the host Lutes.
WWU entered the 2024 season tied for 4th in the NCAA II Pocock Preseason Coaches Poll, with SPU checking in at No. 2.
WWU will continue to train on Lake Samish in Bellingham leading up to its next regatta scheduled for Saturday, April 6 at the Pioneer/Pilot Invitational on Vancouver Lake in Vancouver, Washington.
Here is a look at results from WWU's races at the season-opening PLU Invitational:
|
Event
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
|
V8+
|
UPS
(7:10.10)
|
WWU
(7:13.08)
|
SPU
(7:13.39)
|
|
2V8+
|
WWU
(8:58.36)
|
PLU
(9:32.25)
|
--
|
|
V4+
|
WWU
(8:22.60)
|
SPU
(8:42.91)
|
--
|
Here are the crew lineups that raced for WWU in Saturday's PLU Invitational:
Led by head coach John Fuchs (26th 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 21 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.
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
