GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The No. 1 nationally ranked Western Washington University women's rowing team continued its 2026 success winning the 2026 GNAC Championships with a perfect team score of 30, winning the featured Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ races Saturday on Lake Natoma.

 

WWU won its third GNAC title in the six-year history of the event and became the second team to record a perfect team score of 30 sweeping the podium in the two scoring events. The Vikings three GNAC titles are the most in the conference, with Cal Poly Humboldt winning in 2025 and Central Oklahoma in 2021 and 2023.

 

The Varsity 4+ set the tone winning its race crossing the 2,000-meter finish line in 8:18.429, over a full boat length ahead of second-place Central Oklahoma (8:22.301).

 

The Varsity 8+ clinched the GNAC title with another great performance on Lake Natoma finishing with a time of 7:15.499. Cal Poly Humboldt made a late charge at the Vikings finishing in second place in 7:18.584.

 

WWU's eight-oared varsity lineup has won its last five races dating back to the second session of the Falcon Regatta, strengthening the Vikings hold on the No. 1 spot in the CRCA Coaches Poll.

 

The GNAC Championships also featured a non-scoring Open 4+ with the Vikings placing 3rd in 8:36.136.

  

Here is a look at the official results from the 2026 GNAC Rowing Championships held Saturday on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. WWU won the gold medal in the featured Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ events to record a perfect team score of 30 to win the conference title. Official results can also be viewed via HereNow.com:

 

 

WWU won its third GNAC title, the most of any team during the six-year history of the event. This is the sixth GNAC Rowing Championships since the sport was adopted by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2020. Here is a look at the all-time finishes in GNAC Rowing Championships history:

 

 

WWU won the 2026 GNAC Rowing Championships with a perfect team score of 30 points, winning the gold medal in the Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+. Here is a breakdown of the scoring from the GNAC regatta. WWU became the second team in the six-year history of the event, and first since Central Oklahoma in the inaugural championship in 2021, to record a perfect team score of 30.

 

 

Here is a look at the lineups for the Vikings at the 2026 GNAC Championships:

 

 

Following the GNAC Championships the Vikings will wait for the NCAA Selection show that airs on NCAA.com on Tuesday, May 19 at 3 pm PT. The 2026 NCAA Division II Rowing National Championships feature a two-day competition May 29-30 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia. The complete 2026 WWU rowing schedule can be found 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 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

3 – GNAC Championships (in 6-year history of event)