This year in Pac-12 rowing
SAN FRANCISCO - The Pac-12 excelled on both the men’s and women’s collegiate rowing circuits this season, leaving little doubt about the Conference’s rowing prominence. WASHINGTON won the NCAA Championships and claimed the Pac-12’s 500th NCAA title. CALIFORNIA closely followed taking second. Four women’s teams were ranked among the top 14 in the final CRCA / USRowing Coaches Poll. Meanwhile, Washington took second in the IRA national championship V8 race and regained the Jim Ten Eyck Memorial Trophy as the overall points champion. Fours Pac-12 men’s crews appeared in the top 20 in the final USRowing Collegiate rankings.
Washington men’s rowing captured first place finishes in the second varsity eight, third varsity eight, and varsity four. The men's varsity eight took second to Yale by just one foot. The Huskies did regain the Jim Ten Eyck Memorial Trophy as the overall points champion, their 10th in the last 11 years, thanks to national titles in the other three categories. Washington finished with 211 points (points were awarded for the three eights races only), while Yale came in second with 195. California took second in the second varsity eight and varsity four races, while the third varsity eight took bronze, helping the Bears finish fourth in the overall team standings. The Bears varsity eight finished fifth in the Varsity Challenge Cup. Stanford, which raced three entries in the national championship regatta, placed 16th in the final team standings at the IRAs. Along with the second-place finish in the third level final by the Cardinal's top boat, Stanford's second varsity eight placed fifth in its third level final and the Cardinal third varsity eight finished fourth in its third level final. Oregon State's varsity eight finished first in the fourth final. The Beavs placed 20th overall in the team standings.
Washington men’s rowing successfully defended its Conference title at the Pac-12 Rowing Championships on Lake Natoma, hoisting the team trophy for the second year in a row. Washington collected 72 team points for the title, winning three of the four scoring races. California came close in second place with 65 points and Oregon State totaled 50 points to round out the podium placing. With the Conference title on the line in the varsity eight race, the Huskies held on strong throughout the entire course and finished in 5:36.321. California crossed the line second in 5:40.567 and Stanford was third in 5:51.972.
The Washington women's rowing team became the first program in the 21-year history of the NCAA Rowing Championship to sweep all three grand finals, earning the Huskies their fourth NCAA rowing title
Washington posted victories in three of four races at the Pac-12 Championships on Lake Natoma, but fell short of winning the Conference title. Instead, California won the varsity eight and captured the overall team championship for the seventh time in the last eight years. Washington finished second overall, after a second-place finish in the varsity eight and a first-place finish in the third varsity eight, the second varsity eight, and the varsity four. Washington State finished third at the Conference regatta after a second-place finish in the varsity four and third-place finishes in the second and third varsity eights. Stanford took fourth with a silver medal in the varsity right. USC finished fifth overall, while UCLA came in sixth followed by OREGON STATE in seventh.
At the Pac-12 Championships, Washington won all four scoring races. The Huskies claimed the team title with 45.5 points, followed by California in second place (39 points) and Stanford in third with 31.5 points. The Huskies have not won a Pac-12 title since 2003. UW capped the day with a win in the varsity eight, crossing the finish line in a time of 6:11.638. The story was the same for the second varsity eight, third varsity eight, and varsity four.
Stanford senior Ruth Narode was named the Pac-12 Women’s Rowing Athlete of the Year. Women’s Rowing Newcomer of the Year was honored to California’s Juliane Faralisch. Head coach Yasmin Farooq of Washington earned Women’s Rowing Coach of the Year honors. On the men’s side, California junior Natan Wegrzycki-Szymczyk garnered Men’s Rowing Athlete of the Year honors for the second-straight year. Stanford’s Brennan Wertz received Men’s Rowing Newcomer of the Year recognition. Washington’s Michael Callahan was named Men’s Rowing Coach of the Year.