By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – After a dominating all-around team performance at the WIRA Championships, the Western Washington University women's rowing team has moved to the No. 1 spot in the CRCA/Pocock Coaches Poll.
The Vikings had a stellar showing at the WIRA Championships over the weekend on Laka Natoma – the site of the upcoming GNAC Championships – with all four crews and 24 total student-athletes earning medals for a podium finish. WWU was No. 2 in the national poll entering the WIRA Championships, with the standout performance moving the team to the top spot. Western is the 9-time NCAA Division II national champion.
The Varsity 8+ boat won the Grand Final convincingly posting a time of 6:53.422 to win the race by more than four seconds ahead of runner-up Cal Poly Humboldt (6:57.781 minutes). The victory came after the Vikings posted the top qualifying time on Saturday of 6:51.912 minutes. The V8+ earned the GNAC Crew of the Week award, marking the second time this season to earn the conference honor.
In addition to the victory by the Varsity 8+, the 2nd Varsity 4+ also brought home a gold medal, the 2nd Varsity 8+ won silver and the Varsity 4+ won bronze as the highest finishing NCAA II crew.
CRCA COACHES POLL
Here is a look at the CRCA/Pocock Coaches Poll for week eight of the 2026 season, with the Vikings taking over the top spot after being ranked No. 2 last week:
| Rank |
Team |
| 1. |
Western Washington (4) |
| 2. |
Cal Poly Humboldt |
| 3. |
Embry-Riddle |
| 4. |
Seattle Pacific |
| 5. |
Rollins College |
| 6. |
Central Oklahoma |
| 7. |
Nova Southeastern |
| 8. |
Thomas Jefferson |
UP NEXT FOR THE VIKS
The Vikings are back in action this weekend racing in the Windermere Cup as part of Opening Day with the regatta scheduled for Saturday, May 2 on Montlake Cut in Seattle. More information on the 2026 edition of the Windermere Cup can be found at
GoHuskies.com. The complete 2026 WWU rowing schedule can be found online at
WWUVikings.com.
ABOUT WWU ROWING
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, taking home the gold (9 times), silver (5 times) and bronze (6) medal 20 times in the 23 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded, and reached the podium 20 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 (Eights-7, Fours-9)
9 – National Championships (2005-11, 2017, 2024)
6 – 3rd Place Finishes at Nationals
5 – National Runner-Up Finishes
2 – GNAC Championships (in 5-year history of event)
