BELLINGHAM, Wash. – After a seven race winning streak that included a sweep at both the GNAC and NCAA DII Championships, the national champion Western Washington University women's rowing team had three student-athletes earn All-America honors from the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA).

GNAC first-team selections Sarah Plemons (Richland, WA) and Taylor Wall (Grand Junction, CO) claimed first-team honors and Varsity 4+ champion coxswain Malea Moy (Lacey, WA) received second-team status. The 2026 CRCA All-America list featured 14 award winners, with nine first-team selections and five as second team All-Americans.

For WWU senior and team co-captain Wall, this marks the third consecutive year she has received First Team All-America status. As stroke seat, Wall led the Vikings to a first-place finish in the Varsity 8+ at NCAA DII nationals. In addition to being a first team All-GNAC pick, Wall was the 2026 GNAC co-Rower of the Year.

Plemons, a junior and co-captain, claims All-America honors for the first time. As the five seat for the Varsity 8+, Plemons received All-WIRA and All-GNAC status and was selected as the WWU Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Senior and Varsity 4+ coxswain Moy received second-team honors. This spring, she received All-WIRA honors and led the Varsity 4+ to a come-from-behind performance to win the gold medal at the NCAA DII Championships.

Wall and Moy close out their career as incredible student-athletes. Meanwhile Plemons remains a driving force in the program is preparing for her fourth and final year as a member of the 10-time national champion women's rowing team.

The CRCA All-American Awards recognize the most outstanding collegiate rowers and coxswains across all NCAA divisions and the lightweight category. These athletes have demonstrated elite athletic performance, leadership, consistency, and dedication throughout the season, earning distinction among the top rowers in the nation. This prestigious recognition honors athletes who have contributed significantly to their teams while meeting high standards in competition and training.

 

Here is a listing of the CRCA All-Americans for the 2026 season. WWU has featured at least three All-Americans in four of the last five seasons:

 

 

WWU has advanced to the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships in 22 of the 24 years of the event (22 of 23 in full seasons) and 23 total times to the national rowing regatta (was a combined championship prior to 2002). The Vikings are 10-time national champions, winning seven consecutive titles from 2005-11 and again in 2017, 2024 and adding the 10th title in 2026. In 23 trips to the DII Rowing Championships, Western has taken home the gold (10 times) or silver (5 times) medal 15 times.

 

WWU Rowing is one of the elite collegiate rowing programs in the country across all divisions, having won 10 NCAA Division II National Championships. The Vikings have won two of the last three national titles (2024 & 2026), the 2017 title, placed 2nd in 2018, 3rd in 2019 and runner-up in 2022. WWU has competed in the NCAA Championships in 23 of the 25 NCAA Division II national regattas, taking home the gold (10 times), silver (5 times) and bronze (6) medal 21 times in the 24 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded, and reached the podium 21 times. Western won seven consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011.

 

WWU Rowing Inside the Numbers:

22 – NCAA II Rowing Championship Appearances (out of 24)

18 – Individual Championships (Eights-8, Fours-10)

10 – National Championships (2005-11, 2017, 2024, 2026)

6 – 3rd Place Finishes at Nationals

5 – National Runner-Up Finishes

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