SEATTLE, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's rowing team continues to build speed heading into the championship portion of the schedule with another fine performance Saturday at the Opening Day Regatta as part of the 39th annual Windermere Cup on Montlake Cut.

 

The No. 2 nationally ranked and defending NCAA Division II national champions raced to a pair of second-place finishes in collegiate races. WWU fielded a pair of eight-oared boats while competing in one of the top rowing settings in the world.

 

WWU's Varsity 8+ lineup finished 2nd in the Collegiate Open 8+ with a speedy time of 6:48.214, finishing behind one of the University of Washington's junior varsity boats (6:34.802).

 

The Vikings also had a 2nd Varsity 8+ lineup in action as part of the 4V8+ competition, also finishing 2nd behind UW clocking a time of 7:17.542.

 

WWU now prepares for the GNAC Championships that will be held Saturday, May 17 on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. The defending national champions have put themselves in a good spot to earn another trip to nationals, which will be held May 30-31 in West Windsor, New Jersey on Lake Mercer.

 

WWU is back in action May 17 as the defending champion for the GNAC Championships on Lake Natoma. The Vikings will race head-to-head against conference rivals Cal Poly Humboldt, Seattle Pacific and Central Oklahoma. The complete 2025 schedule is available online at WWUVikings.com.

 

Here is a look at results from WWU's races from the 2025 Opening Day Regatta on Montlake Cut.

 

 

Here is a look at the lineups for the Vikings that competed Saturday in the Opening Day Regatta:

 

 

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)