Rowing 5/24/2023 9:45:00 PM Drew Gwerder

'Jacks Aim For Third National Title in New Jersey

PENNSAUKEN, N.J. -- The Cal Poly Humboldt Women's Rowing team has their vision set on bringing home their third national championship this weekend from the Camden County Boathouse at Cooper River Park in New Jersey. The NCAA Division II Rowing Championships will take place May 26-27, with Humboldt racing first on Friday morning at 11:24 a.m. EST.

The Lumberjacks have surged this season under head coach Matt Weise, who was named 2022-23 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Rowing Coach of the Year this past Monday. Weise has led the team to a very impressive season with an solid team performance at the WIRA Championships and a second place team finish at the GNAC Championships. He also led the team to five No. 2 rankings in the CRCA/Pocock Division II weekly polls this year and a No. 1 ranking heading into the GNAC Championships in Oregon. Under Weise, the 'Jacks are making their first NCAA National Championship appearance since 2015.

The Varsity 8+ boat has been a force for opponents all year, as they have yet to be beaten by a Division II opponent this season. A very consistent boat to say the least, the 'Jacks brought home their first V8+ title at the GNAC Championships, winning by four seconds. As a team, Humboldt (26 points) finished second as team just behind the University of Central Oklahoma (27 points). At the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships in Sacramento, all four boats (V8+, 2v8, V4+, Novice 4) qualified for the grand finals. The 'Jacks brought home two grand final victories with the Varsity 8 crew and 2v8 crew. The Varsity 8+ crew also raced to victories at the Covered Bridge Regatta, Humboldt's Blue Heron Regatta, Husky Open, and Hornet Invitational. The Varsity 4+ crew sailed to first place with wins at their own Blue Heron Regatta, Husky Open over Seattle Pacific, and Hornet Invitational over Saint Mary's.

The team's success led to three special awards and three GNAC all-conference selections.

Senior Dana Foley has earned GNAC Rower of the Year honors after being a staple in the Varsity 8+ crew this year. Foley resided in the No. 4 seat for the WIRA Championships and GNAC Championships, both of which saw the Varsity 8+ boat finish in first place. She was also named GNAC Newcomer of the Year last season.

Sophomore Sonja Scollon was named GNAC Coxswain of the Year. Scollon began the year as the Varsity 4+ coxswain up through the Hornet Invitational, but shortly after earned a spot on the Varsity 8+ boat for the rest of the season. She led the V8 boat in their grand final victory at the WIRA Championships and victory at the GNAC Championships.

Cal Poly Humboldt also landed three First Team All-GNAC selections in seniors Molly Urtz, Alyssa Paynton and Malia Seeley. All three rowed in the varsity 8+ crew at both the WIRA Championships and the GNAC Championships. Seeley becomes the conference's first three-time First Team All-Conference selection (2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023).

Women's Rowing also got it done in the classroom as 12 rowers were named to the GNAC All-Academic team. To qualify for the GNAC All-Academic Teams, a student-athlete must be of sophomore athletic eligibility or greater, must be in their second season competing at the nominating institution, must be on the roster for the full season and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or greater.

NCAA Division II Rowing National Championships Information
The schedule for Humboldt racing is listed as follows:

Friday, May 26
11:24 AM EST - Varsity Eight: Embry Riddle (Lane 2), Cal Poly Humboldt (Lane 3), Western Washington (Lane 4)
12:00 PM EST - Varsity Four: Embry Riddle (Lane 2), Western Washington (Lane 3), Cal Poly Humboldt (Lane 4)

The winner of these heats will go directly to the Grand Final on Saturday. The other placings will go to a second chance race (repechage) in the afternoon on Friday.

If Humboldt is in the repechage, the race schedule will be:
4:12 PM EST - Varsity Eight Repechage
4:24 PM EST - Varsity Four Repechage

The Top-2 from the repechage advance to the Grand Final on Saturday. The rest go to the Petite Final on Saturday.

Saturday, May 27
11:00 AM EST Varsity Four Petite Final
11:12 AM EST Varsity Four Grand Final
11:48 AM EST Varsity Eight Petite Final
12:00 PM EST Varsity Eight Grand Final

Varsity 8+ lineup:

Varsity 4+ lineup:

You can watch all of the DI, D2 and D3 races by selecting the rowing link at http://www.ncaa.com. For the live results, click here.

For more information on women's rowing, please visit humboldtathletics.com and follow us on all social media platforms.

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