WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The defending national champion Western Washington University rowing team got off to a great start at the 2025 NCAA Division II Rowing Championships on Friday on Mercer Lake with both boats advancing to Saturday's Grand Final.

 

Making its 21st appearance in the 23 seasons of the NCAA DII Rowing Championships, the Vikings received solid performances from the Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ Friday with both boats earning a spot in the Grand Final for the first time since 2019. 

 

"We're so proud of the team's energy and grit all season long, and today was no exception," said head coach Courtney Moeller. "The Varsity 8+ had a strong row in their heat this morning, while the Varsity 4+ keeps finding more speed every time they hit the water. Having both boats in the grand final for the first time since 2019 is a huge accomplishment. Tomorrow's a new day and we're ready to give it everything we've got. Go Viks!"

 

The Varsity 8+ won the opening heat of the regatta clocking a speedy time of 6:58.542 to earn the top seed in Saturday's four-boat Grand Final. The eights continued their late-season dominance to clock the fastest time during the heat races. WWU will race against second heat winner Cal Poly Humboldt (6:59.241), Embry-Riddle and Seattle Pacific in the Grand Final set to begin at 8:56 am ET/5:56 am PT.

 

After placing second in its morning heat in a solid time of 7:54.909, the Varsity 4+ gave a gutsy performance in the afternoon repechage finishing second in an even faster time of 7:50.272 to claim the final spot in the Grand Final. The Varsity 4+ races again Saturday at 8:40 am ET/5:40 am PT in the Grand Final.

 

All races on Saturday at the NCAA Championships feature a live webcast and results with direct links available at wwuvikings.com/Live.

 

Led by first-year head coach and longtime assistant coach Courtney Moeller, the Vikings are nine-time national champions, winning seven consecutive titles from 2005-11 and again in 2017 and 2024. In 20 trips to the DII Rowing Championships, Western has taken home the gold (9 times) or silver (5 times) medal 13 times. WWU is competing at the D2 national regatta for the 21st time in 23 years (21 of 22 full seasons).

 

Here are some handy links on how to follow the Vikings at the NCAA Rowing Championships in New Jersey:

 

• NCAA Division II Rowing
• Live Results
• Webcast via NCAA.com
• Program
• D2 Rowing History
• Row2k.com Coverage
• 2025 WWU Regatta Results

 

Here is a look at the lineups that raced for the Vikings Friday at the NCAA Championships:

 

 

Here is a look at the results from Friday's competition at the 2025 NCAA Division II Rowing Championships. WWU's Varsity Eight advanced directly to Saturday's Grand Final after winning its morning heat in the prelims and the Varsity 4+ earned a spot in the Grand Final by placing 2nd in the afternoon repechage:

 

 

Here is a look at the schedule for the NCAA II Rowing Championships event schedule that will be held over two days May 30-31 (Friday-Saturday) at Lake Mercer in West Windsor, New Jersey. The Grand Final for the eights and fours will consist of four boats each, with the petite final two boats. WWU advanced both of its boats to the Grand Final on Saturday with racing set to start at 11 am ET/8 am PT with live coverage at NCAA.com:

 

 

Teams will be scored based on placing in the Varsity 4+ and Varsity 8+ race as follows. Ties for team awards will be broken by the place finish in the eights. The top scoring team will be awarded the 2025 NCAA Division II national championship trophy:

 

 

The NCAA Division II Rowing Championships features a six-team field with each program fielding a Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ lineup. This year's field consists of four teams from the West Region, with the entire Great Northwest Athletic Conference represented:

 

 

WWU has advanced to the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships in 21 of the 23 years of the event (21 of 22 in full seasons) and 22 total times to the national rowing regatta (was a combined championship prior to 2002). The Vikings are nine-time national champions, winning seven consecutive titles from 2005-11, again in 2017 and added the ninth title this year. In 20 trips to the DII Rowing Championships, Western has taken home the gold (9 times) or silver (5 times) medal 14 times.

 

WWU won seven consecutive national rowing titles from 2005-2011, with additional first-place trophies in 2017 and 2024

Here is a look at the national champion and runner-up from each of the 22 years that the NCAA Division II has crowned a national title dating back to 2002. WWU won seven consecutive national titles from 2005-11 and returned to the top of the podium in 2017.

 

 

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 21 of the 23 NCAA Division II national regattas (including 2025), 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:

21 – NCAA II Rowing Championship Appearances (out of 23)

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 5-year history of event)