By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
SEATTLE, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's rowing team continued its early-season schedule racing against top West Region crews Saturday in the Falcon Regatta on the Lake Washington Ship Canal.
WWU went up against GNAC foes Cal Poly Humboldt, Central Oklahoma and regatta host Seattle Pacific in a preview of the conference championships that will be held in May.
The No. 4 nationally ranked Vikings won three races in the first flight, including the Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ posting wins head-to-head against No. 3 Central Oklahoma. The Vikings novice four also won its heat in the 3V4+ bettering Cal Poly Humboldt and Seattle Pacific.
WWU advanced to the A Final in the V8+ and V4+ in the second flight, matching up against No. 2 Cal Poly Humboldt. The Lumberjacks defeated the Vikings in both marquee races showing the strength of the West Region.
The regatta featured six of the last seven NCAA Division II national champions going back to 2017 with WWU (2024 & 2017), Cal Poly Humboldt (2023) and Central Oklahoma (2018, 2019, 2021) accounting for the titles during this span. In the 22-year history of the D2 rowing championships, GNAC schools have combined for 15 national titles with the Vikings leading the way with nine championships.
Western Washington is back in action April 26-27 at the WIRA Championships on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California.
Here is a look at results from WWU's races at the Saturday's Falcon Regatta. Full results from all races can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com:
|
Event
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
|
First Flight
|
|
2V4+
|
Seattle Pacific
(8:11.8)
|
Central Oklahoma
(8:19.9)
|
Western Washington
(8:43.4)
|
|
V4+
|
Western Washington
(7:55.7)
|
Central Oklahoma
(8:00.5)
|
---
|
|
V8+
|
Western Washington
(7:01.1)
|
Central Oklahoma
(7:14.7)
|
---
|
|
3V4+
|
Western Washington
(8:14.5)
|
Cal Poly Humboldt
(8:27.8)
|
Seattle Pacific
(8:52.5)
|
|
Second Flight
|
|
2V4+
|
Western Washington
(8:18.8)
|
Seattle Pacific
(8:20.9)
|
Cal Poly Humboldt
(8:38.1)
|
|
V4+
|
Cal Poly Humboldt
(7:48.7)
|
Western Washington
(8:09.4)
|
---
|
|
V8+
|
Cal Poly Humboldt
(7:01.7)
|
Western Washington
(7:05.2)
|
---
|
|
3V4+
|
Cal Poly Humboldt
(8:30.2)
|
Seattle Pacific
(8:42.2)
|
Western Washington
(8:56.8)
|
|
Note: WWU 3V4+ in first flight raced as 2V4+ in second flight
|
Here is a look at the lineups the Vikings raced at the Falcon Regatta on Saturday:
The Vikings will be in full spring break training mode on Lake Samish next week building up speed for the remainder of the 2025 season. The next scheduled regatta is the WIRA Championships April 26-27 on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. The complete 2025 schedule is available online at WWUVikings.com.
WWU Rowing is one of the elite collegiate rowing programs in the country across all divisions, having won nine NCAA Division II National Championships. The Vikings won the 2024 NCAA II National Title, the 2017 title, placed 2nd in 2018, 3rd in 2019 and runner-up in 2022. WWU has competed in the NCAA Championships in 20 of the 22 NCAA Division II national regattas, taking home the gold (9 times), silver (5 times) and bronze (5) medal 19 times in the 22 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded, and reached the podium 19 times. Western won seven consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011.
WWU Rowing Inside the Numbers:
20 – NCAA II Rowing Championship Appearances (out of 22)
16 – Individual Championships (Eight-7, Fours-9)
9 – National Championships (2005-11, 2017, 2024)
5 – National Runner-Up Finishes
5 – 3rd Place Finishes at Nationals
2 – GNAC Championships (in 4-year history of event)
