STORY COURTESY UW ATLHETICS
PHOTO COURTESY UW ATHLETICS, BY SCOTT EKLUND, RED BOX PICTURES

SEATTLE – The No. 3 Washington men’s rowing team took No. 1 California down to the wire in the featured varsity eight race Saturday morning at the 111th UW-Cal Dual on Montlake Cut.
 
Cal, the defending national champion, edged out the Husky varsity crew by just over one second, by a distance of three seats. The Bears, who returned all nine members of their varsity crew from last season, had an advantage of more than eight seconds over the Huskies in the national championship final last spring.
 
On Saturday, the Bears crossed the finish in 5:30.018, while UW’s time was 5:31.202.
 
“I’ve said it before that we are on the right trajectory, and I still feel that way,” said UW head coach Michael Callahan. “Of course, when you race against California, you’re rowing to win. But they’re an incredible opponent, especially considering they returned everyone and added even more depth to their team.
 
“They’re really strong right now and that’s pushed our guys all winter, knowing the caliber of that team,” Callahan continued. “If we want to be the best, we have to be able to rise up to that level.”
 
Washington earned a win in the third varsity eight, while Cal won in the second varsity eight, fourth varsity eight and freshman eight races.
 
The second varsity eight race was close most of the way, with the Huskies briefly coming back from an early deficit. Cal pulled away in the final sprint to win by a length, with a time of 5:38.618. UW’s time was 5:41.589.
 
In the 3V8+ race, Washington took the lead off of the starting docks and held the edge throughout the first half of the race, with the Bears remaining close behind. At the end the Huskies finished eight seats in front of the Bears, with a time of 5:40.304. The Bears crossed the line in 5:42.809.
 
The Bears won the fourth varsity eight race by a margin of about 8.5 seconds and the freshman eight races by about three and a half seconds.
 
Next up for the Huskies is the Windermere Cup/Opening Day Regatta, May 6 on Montlake Cut, when the UW will welcome men’s and women’s crews from Australia. The weekend kicks off with the Twilight Sprints the night before, Friday, May 5, at 8:00 p.m.
 
WASHINGTON MEN’S LINEUPS
 
Varsity Eight
Cox: Nick Dunlop (Sydney, Australia)
Stroke: Darcy McCluskey (Brisbane, Australia)
7: Jack Walkey (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
6: Logan Ullrich (Auckland, New Zealand)
5: Povilas Juskevicius (Kaunus, Lithuania)
4: Cameron Tasker (Norwich, England, U.K.)
3: Robert Pluijmert (Dieren, The Netherlands)
2: Joel Cullen (Chilliwack, B.C./Sardis/UBC)
Bow: Max Heid (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep)
 
Second Varsity Eight
Cox: Kieran Joyce (Hamilton, New Zealand)
Stroke: Max Mason (Redmond, Wash./Redmond)
7: Luke Henry (Bellevue, Wash./Singapore American) 
6: Gus Altucher (Portland, Ore./Cleveland)
5: Ethan Blight (Auckland, New Zealand)
4: Pablo Matan (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine Prep)
3: Blake Vogel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic)
2: Marius Ahlsand (Oslo, Norway)
Bow: Giulio Acernese (Rome, Italy)
 
Third Varsity Eight
Cox: Zach Casler (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor)
Stroke: Michael Thiers (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt)
7: Jonathan Wang-Norderud (Oslo, Norway)
6: Ben Shortt (Auckland, New Zealand)
5: Adam Krol (Toronto, Ont., Canada)
4: Archie Drummond (Twickenham, London, U.K.)
3: Harry Fitzpatrick (Auckland, New Zealand)
2: Nils Vorberg (Hamburg, Germany)
Bow: Blake Bradshaw (Auckland, New Zealand)
 
Freshman Eight
Cox: Tess Kadian (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield)
Stroke: Ryan Smith (Hannover, Germany)
7: Finn Griskauskas (Chesterfield, Mo./Marquette)
6: Max Taylor (Brisbane, Australia)
5: Luke Collins (Poulsbo, Wash./Bainbridge)
4: Marc Tennesen (Seattle, Wash./Lincoln)
3: Lyle Donovan (Milton, Ga./Cambridge)
2: Ryan Martin (Newport Beach, Calif./Pacifica Christian)
Bow: Nick Smyth (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills)
 
Fourth Varsity Eight
Cox: Casey Neumann (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Palisades)
Stroke: Quinn Hall (Chester Springs, Pa./Malvern Prep)
7: Louis Gallia IV (Sacramento, Calif./Jesuit)
6 Abe Eligator (Larchmont, N.Y./Mamaroneck)
5: Caleb Cowles (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor)
4: Oliver Black (Sacramento, Calif./Jesuit)
3: Alex Gonin (Victoria, B.C., Canada/Oak Bay Secondary)
2: Parker Raines (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline)
Bow. Tommy Igo (Alameda, Calif./Alameda)
 
 

STORY COURTESY UW ATHLETICS
PHOTO COURTESY UW ATHLETICS, BY SCOTT EKLUND, RED BOX PICTURES

SEATTLE – The Washington women’s rowing team won the Simpson Cup with a thrilling win over California in the final race of the annual UW-California Dual Regatta Saturday morning on Montlake Cut.
 
The Huskies’ varsity eight was dead even with the Cal crew throughout the early portion of the race, and stretched the lead to win by just under six seconds, with roughly one boat-length of open water separating the two old rivals.
 
Washington finished the varsity eight race in 6:14.770, while Cal’s time was 6:20.719.
 
Washington also won the varsity four race while the Golden Bears earned wins in the second varsity eight, third varsity eight and the novice eight/fourth varsity eight events.
 
The men’s and women’s Cal Dual was a part of the rowing programs’ Title IX Celebration, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the passing of the landmark law. Following the races, the UW varsity’s racing shell was dedicated in honor of Catherine “Kit” Green, a longtime UW athletic department employee and pioneer in women’s athletics.
 
“I’m really happy with that result,” said UW head coach Yasmin Farooq. “What made it extra special was that they raced in the ‘Kit Green,’ which we dedicated today. Kit was in the coaches’ launch with me and got to watch the whole race.
 
“We have been so fortunate with all of the support of all who came before this generation, beginning with the women from the 1970s, who started the Title IX endowment in honor of the 50th anniversary,” Farooq continued. “For us to be able to race in that boat with Kit watching made it a really great day.”
 
The second varsity eight race was the closest of the day, as the Bears crossed the finish line in 6:20.339, just over six-tenths of a second in front of Washington (6:20.984). Initially, however, the race officials ruled it a “dead heat” as the Washington shell collided with two geese.
 
However, after the regatta was complete, the two head coaches and the race referee amicably arrived at a decision to award the race to Cal, by the original margin.
 
Cal led the varsity four race early one, but the UW had closed the gap by the 1,000-meter mark. In the second half the race, Washington stretched its lead and won by about two both lengths of open water, with times of 7:09.620 to 7:16.468
 
Cal won the third varsity eight race by about 12.5 seconds and the Bears’ fourth varsity crew beat the UW novice eight by just over three seconds.
 
Next up for the Huskies is the Windermere Cup/Opening Day Regatta, May 6 on Montlake Cut, when the UW will welcome men’s and women’s crews from Australia. The weekend kicks off with the Twilight Sprints the night before, Friday, May 5, at 8:00 p.m.
 
WASHINGTON WOMEN’S LINEUPS
 
Varsity Eight
Shell: Kit Green
Cox: Nina Castagna (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills)
Stroke: Ella Cossill (Waikato, New Zealand )
7: Elena Collier-Hezel (Buffalo, N.Y./Park School/Michigan)
6: Madi Frampton (Tumwater, Wash.)
5: Angharad Broughton (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.)
4: Nikki Martincic (Newtown, Sydney, Australia)
3: Abby Adebiyi (London, England, U.K.)
2: Jordan Freer (Lotus, Calif./El Dorado/UCSB)
Bow: Aisha Rocek (Como, Italy)
 
Second Varsity Eight
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Grace Murdock (Roswell, Ga./Milton)
Stroke: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C., Canada/Claremont)
7: Dimitra Tsamopoulou (Athens, Greece)
6: Ava Meuleman (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt)
5: Sofie Sand (Rochester, Wash./Rochester)
4: Grace Vander Griend (Bellingham, Wash./Sehome)
3: Leah Nash (Chatham, Mass./Monomoy)
2: Shakira Mirfin (Invercargill, New Zealand)
Bow: Victoria Park (Bellevue, Wash./The Bush School)
 
Varsity Four
Shell: Sam & Raz
Stroke: Cait Whittard (St. Catharines, Ont., Canada)
3: Brigit O’Rourke (West Seattle, Wash./Vashon Island)
2: Renee Hopper (Preston, Wash./Issaquah)
Bow: Jeri Rhodes (St. Louis, Mo./Michigan)
Cox: Carina Baxter (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge)
 
Third Varsity Eight
Shell: Title IX Tenacity
Cox: Olivia Murdock (Atlanta, Ga./Milton)
Stroke: Claire Surbeck (Bellevue, Wash./International School)
7: Eliza Perry (Bellingham, Wash./Sehome)
6: Grace Epp (Redmond, Wash./Redmond)
5: Claire Marion (San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos)
4: Haley Stoker (Bellingham, Wash./Bellingham)
3: Allison Jakeway (Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada)
2: Brianna Hoffman (Poulsbo, Wash./North Kitsap)
Bow: Molly Wiser (Leavenworth, Wash./Cascade)
 
Novice Eight
Shell: Jenni Vesnaver-Hogan
Cox: Camille Randall (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep)
Stroke: Danielle Lohrenz (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka)
7: Luella Bowersock (Austin, Texas/Austin)
6: Cami Martin (Seattle, Wash./Nathan Hale)
5: Izzy Peters (Ferndale, Wash./Squalicum)
4: Margaret Young (San Anselmo, Calif./Williams)
3: Caitlin Hane (Irvine, Calif./University)
2: Claudia Horton (Olympia, Wash./Olympia)
Bow: Ellie Nemeth (Olympia, Wash./A.G. West Black Hills)

STORY COURTESY CAL ATHLETICS
PHOTO COURTESY CAL ATHLETICS, BY ZACH FRANZEN

SEATTLE –The No. 7 California women’s rowing team won three out of five races against No. 6 Washington but lost the Simpson Cup as the varsity eight dropped its dual by five seconds at the Montlake Cut in Seattle on Saturday morning. Cal was able to earn victories in the 2V8+, 3V8+ and 4V8+ matchups.

“The team raced hard today,” Cal head coach Al Acosta said. “It’s not easy to come up here and win a race, so it feels pretty good to get three. Obviously, the varsity four and the eight were disappointing with the result, but the energy and effort were definitely there. Next weekend [against Iowa and SMU] is critical for us, so the goal is to recover as fast as possible and keep moving forward.”

In the varsity eight matchup, both boats were even off the start, with just a couple seats of separation between them through the first 500 meters. Washington was able to make a move to build a bow to stern lead by the halfway mark. The Huskies extended their lead to open water through the sprint to come away with the win in a time of 6:14.770.

The second varsity eight race was tight to start but Cal was able to build a three-seat lead through 500 meters. Washington took a seat back through 1,000 meters to close the gap. The Huskies continued to creep back into the lead and pulled even through the sprint, but the Bears were able to hold them off, narrowly edging them out by less than a second with a time of 6:20.339.

In the varsity four dual, Cal got off to a strong start and built a half-boat lead over the first 500 meters. Washington was able to take back a couple seats to get almost even by the 1,000-meter mark. The Huskies eventually took the lead with 500 meters to go and were able to extend it through the sprint and come away with the victory in a time of 7:09.620.

In the third varsity eight matchup, Cal took a couple of seats lead off the start and quickly built a bow to stern lead through 500 meters. By the halfway mark, Cal was ahead by a boat of open water and was able to extend its lead and cruise to the victory by 13 seconds in a time of 6:31.054.

In the fourth varsity eight dual, Cal got out to a great start and built a few seats of a lead before Washington walked them back. The Bears then made a move to build a bow to stern lead over the first 1,000 meters. Cal built a half boat of open water lead over the last 500 meters to close out the race and earn the victory in a time of 6:43.183.

Results

Varsity 8+
1. Washington – 6:14.770
2. Cal – 6:20.719

Second Varsity 8+
1. Cal – 6:20.339
2. Washington – 6:20.984

Varsity 4+
1. Washington – 7:09.620
2. Cal – 7:16.468

Third Varsity 8+
1. Cal – 6:31.054
2. Washington – 6:44.108

Fourth Varsity 8+
1. Cal – 6:43.183
2. Washington – 6:47.521

Lineups
V8+
Coxswain: Piper Melnick
Stroke: Giulia Bosio
7: Issy Cassidy
6: Minou Bouman
5: Annabel Oertel
4: Julia Hunt-Davis
3: Amy Furlonger
2: Fien van Westreenen
Bow: Sophie Faliero

2V8+
Coxswain: Kaitlyn Turner
Stroke: Angela Szabo
7: Jane Perrignon
6: Sophie Ward
5: Lotta van Westreenen
4: Star Rose Miller
3: Antonia Galland
2: Nicole Weber
Bow: Della Luke

V4+
Coxswain: Charley Griffiths
4: Carly Wright
3: Miya Meskis
2: Katie McDermott
1: Lily Pember

3V8+
Coxswain: Lily Wieland
Stroke: Megan Culbert
7: Lily Rausser
6: Caroline Fagg
5: Sammie Henriksen
4: Stephanie Salesky
3: Savanna Jerome
2: Carlie Stipe
Bow: Izzy Campbell

4V8+
Coxswain: Emily Nowak
Stroke: Filippa Ljunggren
7: Molly Gold
6: Tabo Stekelenburg
5: Marte Skei
4: Sophie Fussell
3: Eve Barrancotto
2: Katherine Iuliano
Bow: Katrina Blackman

STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women’s rowing, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWrowing), Instagram (@calwrowing) and Facebook (Cal Crew).

STORY COURTESY CAL ATHLETICS
PHOTO COURTESY CAL ATHLETICS, BY ZACH FRANZEN

SEATTLE – It was a day full of tight races but the No. 1 California men’s rowing team maintained possession of the Schoch Cup with a narrow victory in the varsity eight matchup against No. 3 Washington at the Montlake Cut in Seattle on Saturday morning.  All but one race was decided by three seconds or less throughout the day, with the Bears also taking the 2V8+, 3V8+ and freshmen 8+ races.

“It’s always hard to come up here and win on their home course and I’m really happy with how our crews raced and represented themselves,” Cal head coach Scott Frandsen said. “There’s lots to learn and improve upon as we go forward but I’m happy that the freshmen were able to get the win and that the fourth varsity had a great race. The second varsity really put together a great patient and composed complete race. It took some great races from four of our five boats to come away with the win.”

The event marked a celebration of the 50-year anniversary of Title IX as the men’s and women’s crews from each school competed alongside a series of junior and master’s women’s races.

In the varsity eight matchup, both boats got off to a strong start and were even through the first 500 meters. Cal took a few seats lead by the halfway mark and built its advantage to bow to stern just before the final sprint.  Washington made a late push but was unable to overcome the deficit, with Cal finishing three seats ahead in a time of 5:30.018, a little over one second ahead of Washington.

“I think they [varsity eight] executed the first section of the race really well and need to be better about what we’re doing in that second half,” Frandsen said. “I think they managed the race really well and held on.”

In the second varsity eight race, Cal took a two-seat lead off the start and maintained its lead through the first 500 meters. Washington took a seat back over the next 1,000 meters. The Bears made a push through the sprint and extended their lead to bow to stern to come away with the win with a time of 5:38.618, just three seconds ahead of the Huskies.

In the third varsity eight dual, it was fairly even off the start before Washington took a couple seats lead over the first 250 meters. Washington built a half-boat lead through the halfway mark and was able to maintain that position through the sprint to come away with the win, just three seconds ahead of Cal in a time of 5:40.304.

In the matchup of the fourth varsity eights, both boats got off to a quick start but Cal built a few seats of a lead over the first 500 meters and extended it to open water by the halfway mark. The Bears were able to cruise to a victory by two boats of open water, finishing in a time of 5:48.331.

In the freshmen eight dual, it was fairly even through the first 500 meters before Washington took a few seats lead. Cal was able to make a move and take back a few seats by the halfway mark and build it to bow to stern by the midway mark. Cal continued its push through the sprint and finished with an open water lead, about three seconds ahead of Washington in a time of 6:31.273.

Results

V8+
1. Cal – 5:30.018
2. Washington – 5:31.202

2V8+
1. Cal – 5:38.618
2. Washington – 5:41.589

3V8+
1. Washington – 5:40.304
2. Cal – 5:42.809

4V8+
1. Cal – 5:48.331
2. Washington – 5:56.885

Freshmen 8+
1. Cal – 6:31.273
2. Washington – 6:34.723

Lineups

V8+
Coxswain: Luca Vieira
Stroke: Iwan Hadfield
7: Angus Dawson
6: Tim Roth
5: Ollie Maclean
4: Gennaro di Mauro
3: Gus Rodriguez
2: Frederik Breuer
Bow: Campbell Crouch

2V8+
Coxswain: Grant Fisher
Stroke: Tommy Barrell
7: Elliott Kemp
6: Tobias Kristensen
5: Fred Roper
4: Balthasar Issa
3: Matthew Gallagher
2: Daton Wolfaardt
Bow: Wilson Morton

3V8+
Coxswain: Savannah Adamo
Stroke: Marcus Cameron
7: Christian Tabash
6: Jamie Arnold
5: Dane Halkiw
4: Bret Holt
3: Harry Manton
2: Tyler Kurth
Bow: Josh Anderson

4V8+
Coxswain: Iliad Izadi
Stroke: Harry Cox
7: Farley Dimond-Brown
6: Guy Ferrera
5: Schuyler St. Germain
4: Adam Stephenson
3: Leonard Brahms
2: Henry Furrer
Bow: Nicholas Koudriaev

Freshmen 8+
Coxswain: Ethan Nghiem
Stroke: Dan Bradbery
7: Matthew Waddell
6: Alexander Baroni
5: Pablo Moreno
4: Thomas Heerding
3: Luciano Andreuccetti
2: Chris Weiss
Bow:  Keith Ryan

STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men’s rowing, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalMrowing), Instagram (@calmrowing) and Facebook (Cal Crew).

STORY AND PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ATHLETICS

IRVING, Texas – No. 1 Rowing’s First Eight earned Big 12 Boat of the Week honors, the conference announced on Wednesday. The Longhorns collected the weekly award after defeating No. 11. Michigan by over 11 seconds on Lady Bird Lake on Saturday.

Racing in ideal conditions with good water and no flow and a two to eight mile per hour headwind, the Longhorns squared off with Michigan in head-to-head competition for the third-straight year and the first time ever in Austin.

Michigan’s I Eight challenged Texas early, but the Longhorns were able to take command by the midway point of the 2,000-meter course and extend the lead through the remainder of the race, winning with a time of 6:10.738 to top the Wolverines, who crossed the line in 6:21.922.

The win helped complete a Longhorn sweep of four races over the Wolverines in UT’s first home race on Lady Bird Lake in seven years.

Texas’ I Eight featured senior coxswain Rachel Rane, as well as graduate student Kaitlin Knifton, fifth-year Susanna Temming, junior Anna Jensen, senior Etta Carpender, senior Sophia Calabrese, junior Samantha Schalk, graduate student, Kelsey McGinley and junior Amber Harwood.

The victory extended the Texas I Eight’s unbeaten streak to 22 consecutive races with a head-to-head record of 76-0 within those races since the streak began at the start of the 2021 season. The mark includes a 54-0 record against teams ranked in the CRCA Top 20.

Next up, Texas will head east to square off with No. 3 Yale and No. 4 Princeton in New Jersey on Saturday, April 22 with racing beginning at 9:30 a.m. CT. The Horns will then race No. 10 Virginia in Earlysville, Va. for the final regular season contest before Big 12 Championships.

PHOTO AND STORY COURTESY UW ATHLETICS

The Washington men’s and women’s rowing teams return to action this Saturday, April 22, as the Huskies play host for the annual Washington-California Dual, as well as the Title IX Celebration regatta.
 
Racing on Montlake Cut begins at 8:00 a.m., with the first UW-Cal Dual race scheduled for 9:00 a.m. The regatta will be streamed live at GoHuskies.com/live.
 
The UW-Cal Dual, first contested by the men in 1903 and by the women in 1977, is the oldest and most significant collegiate rowing rivalry in the western United States. This year, the dual pits the No. 1-ranked Cal men vs. No. 3 UW, while on the women’s side, the Huskies are ranked No. 6, one spot ahead of No. 7 Cal.
 
In addition to the dual, Washington will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX with a juniors and masters regatta. After the races, and after the UW-Cal awards are presented, the women’s team will dedicate a new racing shell named after long-time UW athletics administrator Catherine “Kit” Green.
 
Here’s a schedule:
 
Title IX Regatta 
8:00 a.m. – Women’s Masters 8+ Heat 1
8:05 a.m. – Women’s Masters 8+ Heat 2
8:10 a.m. – Women’s Juniors 8+ Heat 1
8:15 a.m. – Women’s Juniors 8+ Heat 2
8:20 a.m. – Women’s Masters 4+ Heat 1
8:25 a.m. – Women’s Masters 4+ Heat 2
8:30 a.m. – Women’s Juniors 4+ Heat 1
8:35 a.m. – Women’s Juniors 4+ Heat 2
 
Washington-California Dual
9:00 a.m. – Men’s Freshman 8+
9:12 a.m. – Women’s Novice 8/Women’s Fourth Varsity 8+
9:24 a.m. – Men’s Fourth Varsity 8+
9:36 a.m. – Women’s Third Varsity 8+
9:48 a.m. – Men’s Third Varsity 8+
10:00 a.m. – Women’s Varsity 4+
10:12 a.m. – Men’s Second Varsity 8+
10:24 a.m. – Women’s Second Varsity 8+
10:39 a.m. – Men’s Varsity 8+
10:54 a.m. – Women’s Varsity 8+
 
11:30 a.m. – UW-Cal Awards Ceremony (at Conibear Shellhouse)
12:00 p.m. – Kit Green Shell Dedication Ceremony
 
The Washington-California men’s varsity eight dual series dates back to 1903, with 110 meetings between the two schools. At stake is the Schoch Cup, named after Delos Schoch of Washington’s class of 1936. Washington holds a 76-33-1 record in the dual meeting, having won the last three in a row prior.
 
Washington’s second varsity eight series with Cal dates back to 1939, with the UW winning 52 of 76 races. The UW’s freshman eight race began in 1939, with Washington wining 60 of 79 races.
 
After the 2020 season was canceled, the teams met as a part of the Windermere Cup/Opening Day Regatta in 2021, when the UW men won four out of five races, taking the victory in the first, second and fourth varsity eights and the varsity four, while Cal won the third varsity eight race. Last year in Berkeley, Cal won four of five men’s races, with UW winning in the freshman eight.
 
Washington and California have a women’s varsity eight rivalry that dates back to 1977. The Huskies will race for a chance to retain the Simpson Cup, which was donated by longtime Washington supporters Hunter and Dottie Simpson, whose daughter Anne rowed at Cal. Washington leads the series 25-20, and at one point won 22 of 23 races from 1981-2003. The Huskies’ broke the Bears’ six-year stream in the varsity eight win a win in 2021 and then won again last year in Berkeley. California had won 15 of the previous 16 varsity eight dual races.
 
The second varsity eight series against California began in 1975, with Washington winning 31 of 42 races. The Golden Bears won in 2004, snapping an 11-race UW win streak that was the Huskies’ longest in the series.
 
In 2021, as a part of the Opening Day Regatta, Washington’s women won four out of five races vs. the Golden Bears. Washington won the first, second and third varsity eights, as well as the varsity four, while Cal won the novice eight race. Last year in Berkeley, the UW won women four of five races, with Cal winning the varsity four.
 
Following the Cal Dual, the Huskies will have two weeks to prepare for the 2023 Windermere Cup/Opening Day Regatta, including Twilight Sprints on Friday, May 5, and the full regatta on May 6. This year, the UW welcomes men’s and women’s crews from Australia.

PHOTO AND STORY COURTESY USROWING

The U.S. swept all four of its races Wednesday at the 2023 Pan American Games Qualification Regatta in San Pedro de la Paz, Chile, winning three gold medals and qualifying four boats for the Pan American Games, pending United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee approval, in the process.

The women’s single sculls, men’s single sculls, and women’s double sculls all won gold medals in their A final races, while the men’s double sculls won the B final to finish seventh overall and qualify for the Pan American Games.

In total, the U.S. won eight medals and qualified 11 boats for the Pan American Games over the five-day regatta. The U.S. also is in line to receive a bid in the men’s quadruple sculls once the qualification spots are finalized. COPARE will confirm all qualification spots no later than April 21.

In today’s final of the women’s single sculls, Grace Joyce (Northfield, Ill./University of Wisconsin/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) held off a late charge from Chile’s Antonia Abraham to win the gold medal and qualify for the Pan American Games. Canada’s Alizee Brien got off the line in first place, with the U.S. sitting in a tight race for second as the scullers reached the 500-meter mark. Joyce made her first move, grabbing at slight lead 750 meters into the race, and then extended her lead to a length over Brien at the halfway point. Joyce continued to lead coming into the final 500 meters as Abraham passed Brien and began her attempt to chase down the U.S. sculler. At the line, Joyce clocked a 7:46.33 to outlast Abraham by 0.55 seconds. The Chilean finished with a time of 7:46.88. Brazil’s Cardoso Beatriz captured the bronze medal in a 7:54.14, as Brien fell to fourth.

“This morning, I really worked to focus in on my race plan, stay internal, and not be shaken by the other competitors’ fast first quarter,” Joyce said. “I felt confident through the race, and I was happy with my execution. I’m walking away happy with my performance and eager to get back to make the changes necessary to be faster for the Pan American Games in October. I am beyond hyped to have qualified for the Pan Am Games in the single.”

In the men’s single sculls, Jacob Plihal (Vashon Island, Wash./Northeastern University/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) used a strong sprint to track down Brazil’s Lucas Ferreira to win the gold medal and a spot at the Pan American Games. Plihal got off the start in fifth but sat in a virtual dead heat for third, less than a half-length off the top position, at the 500-meter mark. Plihal was still in a tight, three-way battle for second place, about a length behind Ferreira, as the scullers reached the midway point. That’s when Ferreira and Plihal began to get separation from the rest of the field. Ferreira continued to lead coming into the final 500 meters, but Plihal was gaining ground quickly and broke through in the sprint to win by about a length. Plihal finished with a time of 7:00.43, with Ferreira taking second in a 7:03.58. Mexico’s Juan Jose Flores finished third in a 7:08.37.

“The race today was a great battle,” Plihal said. “It seemed like I was pretty close to Lucas off the line, but he built out an early lead. Based on earlier races, I assumed a lot of the guys would be quick off the line, so I wanted to just stay focused on the middle part of the race and claw back into the mix and push away. I saw that I was within striking distance coming into the last 250 meters, so I brought the rate up a bit and was able to work through Lucas by the line. I’m stoked to have qualified to race in the Pan Am Games for 2023. This event was the first time I have been able to race the single internationally for the USA, and having the opportunity to race guys like Lucas, Bruno (Cetraro), and Juan Jose was great. I’m excited to have a rematch later this year and run down the track with these guys again.”

The women’s double sculls crew of Madeleine Focht (Long Beach, Calif./California State University, Long Beach/Long Beach Rowing Association) and Veronica Nicacio (Vancouver/Vancouver Lake, Wash./University of Portland/ARION) won the gold medal ahead of Chile to earn a spot at the Pan American Games.

“We executed our race like it was our last,” Focht said. “We came in swinging, pressed hard in the front end, and held them off. So much excitement to return to Chile for the Pan American Games. I feel so thankful to be a part of this team and get to do it all again.”

Chile’s Melita Abraham and Victoria Hostetter took the early lead before the U.S. boat inched into the top spot as the crews entered the second quarter of the race. Focht and Nicacio pulled out to a half-length lead at the midway point. The Chileans tried to make a move just after the 1,000-meter mark, but the U.S. was able to meet that challenge and extend the advantage to a length with 500 meters to go. Abraham and Hostetter made one last charge to try to challenge Focht and Nicacio, but the U.S. held strong to win by three-quarters of a length. The U.S. won gold in a time of 7:01.09, with Chile taking silver in a 7:02.47. Canada finished third in a 7:12.35.

“We wanted to get out and establish that early lead and hold on until the end, which was what we were able to do,” Nicacio said. “We are excited to return in October and will work to gather even more speed. A lot can happen before then, and I am looking forward to a solid next training block. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity and am grateful for all the support we’ve had along the way. It’s not about the medals; it’s about the journey, and I am grateful to take what I learned and keep growing.”

In the B final of the men’s double sculls, Luke Rein (Barrington, R.I./College of Charleston/Penn AC) and Casey Fuller (Newtown, Conn./Fairfield University/Saugatuck Rowing Club) won the race to finish seventh overall and qualify for the Pan America Games. The duo inched ahead of Paraguay and Brazil during the second quarter of the race to build a half-length lead at the midway point. Rein and Fuller extended their advantage during the third 500 meters and held a length lead going into the final quarter of the race. The U.S. duo crossed the finish line in a 6:35.34 to win the race ahead of Brazil’s Batista Joao and Almeida Marcelo, who finished second in a 6:36.91. Venezuela finished third.

Click here for complete coverage of the event, and click here for a look at rowing’s qualification procedures for the 2023 Pan American Games.

The 2023 Pan American Games are scheduled to take place October 20-November 5, with the rowing events being contested October 21-25 in San Pedro de la Paz, Chile.

USRowing would like to thank Filippi Lido, the Official Boat Supplier for the U.S. Senior, Under 23, and Para Rowing National Teams. Under the agreement, Filippi is providing USRowing a fleet of boats for international competitions including the World Rowing Cup regattas, World Rowing Under 23 Championships, World Rowing Championships, Olympic Games, and Paralympic Games, as well as a domestic training fleet for the USRowing Training Center.

STORY BY CHIP DAVIS
PHOTOS BY LISA WORTHY

Peter Spurrier—perhaps the world’s best rowing photographer, and certainly the most prolific—died Tuesday, April 18, after suffering a heart attack. He was 77.

His work appeared in publications around the globe and in Rowing News beginning in 1996. His gorgeous images, informed by his passion for the sport, have adorned nearly every issue since, and over the years, he became not only a valued and indispensable colleague but also a dear friend.      

Peter was born and grew up in England and began rowing and “taking snaps” as a teenager. A chance encounter in 1981 landed him in Mike Spracklen’s launch while he was coaching Steve Redgrave, and for the next 40-plus years much of the world’s views of rowing were seen through Peter’s lens.       

The way Peter became associated with Rowing News—his gentle handling of our mistake—illustrates his kind and unassuming nature. When the sponsor of an Olympic rower we were featuring gave us a terrific photo, we ran it on the cover. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the sponsor’s photo to give; it was Peter’s.

Realizing we were young rowers finding our way in publishing, instead of a fee, he agreed to an assignment, and thus began our relationship, the longest-running with a contributor. He won awards, including the British Association of Rowing Journalists’ Journalist of the Year, and was quiet, humble, and generous with his skills. Respected and popular among his peers, Peter didn’t hesitate to help others develop their craft. The cover image of Aquil Abdullah’s 2002 biography A Perfect Balance was shot by Chris Milliman while he was at Rowing News using a perspective technique Peter had just taught him at the Henley Royal Regatta, where it was taken.       

This year, Peter was planning a photo feature to celebrate the magazine’s 30th anniversary by showcasing some of his best pictures. Peter’s archive of rowing images (www.intersport-images.com), as well as his photos of rugby, cricket, and other sports, are his lasting legacy.  He is survived by three adult children (two daughters and a son) and his partner Karon Phillips, whom he met through a fellow photographer in 2007 and had been with ever since.

At a later date, his ashes will be spread at Henley.