SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Cal Poly Humboldt Women's Rowing team soared to the number one spot in the latest national poll after a successful weekend Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.
On Saturday, the varsity 8, 2v8, varsity 4, and novice 4 all qualified for the Grand Finals on Sunday. Saturday's races saw the varsity 8 finish with a time of 6:56.87, which was the best time between both varsity 8 heats that consisted of 11 boats total. The 2v8 stole the show in their race on Saturday, finishing with a time of 7:23.99 and sailed their way to victory by nearly six seconds in a heat that had five total boats. The varsity 4 finished second place in their heat with a time of 7:50.26 on Saturday. Across three heats and 16 total boats, the Humboldt varsity 4 had the second fastest time only behind the UC Santa Barbara boat, in which they raced a 7:44.42. Lastly, the novice 4 crossed the finish line in third place of their heat with a time of 8:33.48. The 'Jacks novice 4 qualified for the Grand Final on Sunday as they finished with the sixth fastest time out of 13 total boats between two heats.
The first Grand Final race on Sunday proved the varsity 8 squad was hungry to take down the previously ranked number one University of Central Oklahoma. The race came down to the wire, but Humboldt brought home the victory with a time of 6:59.88 and beat the second place UCO by four seconds. Next up, the 2v8 rowed their way to a first place finish (7:26.39), nearly six seconds clear of the second place Seattle Pacific. This victory solidified two first place Grand Final finishes for the Lumberjacks. The varsity 4 boat had a tight race in their Grand Final with their opponents, finishing in fourth place with a time of 7:53.53 behind UC Santa Barbara, Seattle Pacific, and the University of Central Oklahoma. The novice four rounded out the day for Cal Poly Humboldt with a sixth place finish and time of 9:22.53.
Cal Poly Humboldt's varsity 8+ was selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Rowing Crew of the Week after winning the D2/D3/Club varsity 8+ Grand Final at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Championships in California. The Lumberjacks won on Sunday in a time of 6:59.884, four seconds clear of second-place Central Oklahoma. Humboldt opened the weekend by winning its preliminary heat on Saturday in a time of 6:56.87. Members of the crew include coxswain
Sonja Scollon and rowers Molly Urtz,
Elizabeth Walters,
Kealey Scott,
Cassidy Hollenbeck,
Dana Foley,
Gabriella Griffin,
Alyssa Paynton and
Malia Seeley.
To go along with a GNAC Crew of the Week award, the 'Jacks claimed the number one spot in the latest 2023 Pocock CRCA national poll as well after being ranked second for the past four weeks of polls.
Head coach
Matt Weise stated, "The team had a very good day at the WIRA Championships. Both eights won and the four was fourth. Everybody raced really well and did a great job executing their race plans. We are looking forward to the GNAC Championships in two weeks!"
The GNAC Championships will take place on Saturday May, 13 from Dexter Lake just outside of Eugene, Oregon where the 'Jacks will aim to bring home the title and continue on to the Division II National Championships in New Jersey at the end of May.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt women's rowing, please visit
humboldtathletics.com and follow us on all social media platforms.
