By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
LAKEWOOD, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's rowing team opened the 2025 season Saturday at the PLU Invitational on American Lake.
WWU competed in six races split across two sessions Saturday morning.
The Vikings Varsity 4+ boat went undefeated in both races while going against conference and region rival Seattle Pacific in both. WWU's 2nd Varsity 8+ earned a heat win in the first session.
The PLU Invitational has served as the Vikings annual season opener coming out of the winter months giving a good baseline for competition and extended training ahead. Racing conditions got progressively worse as the regatta went on, but all teams got in the races to serve as a great early-season test for all crews.
"The PLU Invite is always a great way to kick off the early season of racing," said head coach Courtney Moeller, who made her head coaching debut after nine seasons as the Vikings assistant. "We saw a lot of good racing from the team as a whole today and are looking forward to getting back on Lake Samish to build on this momentum before our next race."
WWU is back in action March 22 at the Falcon Regatta on the Lake Washington Ship Canal.
Here is a look at results from WWU's races at the season-opening PLU Invitational:
|
Event
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
|
First Session
|
|
V8+
|
SPU
(7:13.3)
|
Oregon State
(7:14.5)
|
WWU
(7:20.1)
|
|
2V8+
|
WWU
(7:51.3)
|
PLU
(8:55.0)
|
Lewis & Clark
(9:06.6)
|
|
V4+
|
WWU
(8:15.6)
|
Oregon State
(8:26.0)
|
SPU
(8:30.2)
|
|
Second Session
|
|
V8+
|
SPU
(7:14.3)
|
WWU
(7:21.5)
|
---
|
|
2V8+
|
Oregon State
(7:30.1)
|
WWU
(7:51.1)
|
---
|
|
V4+
|
WWU
(8:02.1)
|
SPU
(8:33.0)
|
---
|
Here is a look at the lineups for the Vikings at the PLU Invitational:
The Vikings are back in action March 22 competing in the Falcon Regatta hosted by Seattle Pacific University on the Lake Washington Ship Canal. 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)
