By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
SEATTLE, Wash. – The No. 1 nationally-ranked Western Washington University rowing team continued its late-season surge with another solid performance Saturday at the Opening Day Regatta as part of the Windermere Cup festivities on Montlake Cut.
The highlight of the day came from the powerful Varsity 8+ lineup with the Vikings winning the Collegiate Open 8+ in a time of 7:03.722. Western powered past Gonzaga (7:08.216) for the open-water victory, also finishing ahead of a crew from the University of Washington (7:10.736) and GNAC rival Seattle Pacific (7:12.666).
The Vikings Varsity 4+ matched up against top lineups from the University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin, finishing in 3rd place with a time of 8:02.729.
This Opening Day Regatta served as the final regular season set of races for the Vikings, who have been training hard working toward the postseason with the GNAC Championships May 18 on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California.
WWU is ranked No. 1 in the CRCA Pocock NCAA Division II Coaches Poll, moving up five spots in the national rankings after winning the gold medal in the Varsity 8+ and 2nd Varsity 8+ at the WIRA Championships last weekend on Lake Natoma.
The eight-time NCAA Division II national champions placed 4th at the national championships last season after earning runner-up honors in 2022.
OPENING DAY REGATTA RESULTS
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.
|
Race
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
|
Collegiate V8+ Open
|
WWU
(7:03.722)
|
Gonzaga
(7:08.216)
|
Washington
(7:10.736)
|
Seattle Pacific
(7:12.666)
|
|
Collegiate V4+
|
Washington
(7:21.939)
|
Wisconsin
(7:40.189)
|
WWU
(8:02.729)
|
Seattle U
(8:57.489)
|
Here is a look at the lineups for the Vikings that competed in the Opening Day Regatta:
Here is a look at the current 2024 Pocock CRCA Coaches Poll for NCAA Division II. WWU moved up five sports from No. 6 to the No. 1 spot after the solid showing at the WIRA Championships last weekend:
|
Rk
|
Team
|
|
1.
|
Western Washington
|
|
2.
|
Central Oklahoma
|
|
3.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
|
4.
|
Embry-Riddle
|
|
5.
|
Cal Poly Humboldt
|
|
6.
|
Mercyhurst
|
|
7.
|
Tampa
|
|
8.
|
Rollins College
|
WWU takes next weekend off to get ready for the 2024 GNAC Championships that will be held May 18 on Lake Natoma. The Vikings will race head-to-head against Central Oklahoma, Cal Poly Humboldt and Seattle Pacific for the conference crown.
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 (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
