By: Janisa Cook, Athletic Communications GA
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's rowing program had 11 student-athletes earn a spot on the 2026 GNAC All-Academic Team presented by Barnes & Noble College.
The eleven award winners were led by seniors Malea Moy, Kylie Lovrich, Taylor Wall, Janisa Cook and Lex Clark who received GNAC All-Academic honors for the third time.
Additional academic award winners included senior Shae Mitchel, juniors Ellie Calvez, Mackenzie Gerlach and Sarah Plemons, and sophomores Kallie Lechtenberg and Illy Schneiderman.
Team captain Sarah Plemons leads the team with the highest GPA of 3.97 while majoring in Geology.
WWU's eleven selections were among 57 rowing student-athletes earning a spot on the all-academic team for the 2026 season.
To qualify for academic all-conference, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20, must be in at least their second season competing for their team and must have competed on the course during the 2025 campaign. First-year freshman, redshirt freshman and first-year transfers are not eligible for the academic all-conference team.
Here is a look at the WWU student-athletes to earn GNAC All-Academic selections for the 2026 rowing season:
|
Student-Athlete
|
Major
|
Yr.
|
GPA
|
Hometown
|
|
Ellie Calvez*
|
Kinesiology
|
Jr.
|
3.71
|
Bainbridge Island, WA
|
|
Lex Clark *#
|
Urban Planning/GIS
|
Sr.
|
3.72
|
Everett, WA
|
|
Janisa Cook *#
|
MBA
|
Sr.
|
3.57
|
Bothell, WA
|
|
Mackenzie Gerlach
|
Environmental Science
|
Jr.
|
3.69
|
Bend, OR
|
|
Kallie Lechtenberg
|
Kinesiology
|
So.
|
3.49
|
Olympia, WA
|
|
Kylie Lovrich *#
|
Math-Secondary Ed
|
Sr.
|
3.56
|
Gibsons, B.C.
|
|
Shae Mitchel
|
Public Health
|
Sr.
|
3.53
|
Marysville, WA
|
|
Malea Moy *#
|
Inclusive Education
|
Sr.
|
3.92
|
Lacey, WA
|
|
Sarah Plemons *
|
Geology/Spanish
|
Jr.
|
3.97
|
Richland, WA
|
|
Illy Schneiderman
|
Early Childhood Ed
|
So.
|
3.95
|
Stevens Point, WI
|
|
Taylor Wall *#
|
History/Political Science
|
Sr.
|
3.76
|
Grand Junction, CO
|
|
* 2025 selection, # 2024 selection
|
The No. 1 nationally ranked Vikings are back in action Saturday, May 16 at the 2026 GNAC Rowing Championships with the regatta held on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. WWU will race against Cal Poly Humboldt, Seattle Pacific and Central Oklahoma for the GNAC title. 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
2 – GNAC Championships (in 5-year history of event)
