OKLAHOMA CITY — Cal Poly Humboldt Rowing delivered a commanding performance at the UCO Invite on Friday in Oklahoma City, staking its claim as a national title contender with dominant results against top-tier Division II opponents. Despite challenging weather and conditions on Saturday, Humboldt proved its depth and determination, headlined by a Friday sweep in both the Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ races.
Friday's competition served as a showcase of the Lumberjacks' speed and preparation, with Humboldt sweeping both rounds in convincing fashion. In Round 1, the Jacks' V8+ boat posted a 7:04.9 finish, beating out UCO (7:11.8), Embry-Riddle (7:12.3), SPU (7:13.5), and Thomas Jefferson (7:19.7). Just minutes later, Humboldt's V4+ followed suit with a 7:52.9 finish — nearly six seconds faster than the next closest boat.
In the evening session, the Jacks were even sharper. The V8+ dropped their time to 7:04.0 in Round 2, again outpacing a competitive field that included SPU (7:08.0), UCO (7:12.5), and Embry-Riddle (7:07.3). Humboldt's V4+ continued its dominant trajectory, cutting nearly ten seconds off its previous mark with a 7:43.1 finish, the fastest time of the round.
Saturday's conditions, however, shifted the narrative. Extreme wind and choppy water created difficult racing environments throughout the day. In the Varsity 4+ race, Humboldt's boat was involved in a collision when another crew veered off course, disrupting the Jacks' rhythm and affecting the final result. Despite that setback, Humboldt held composure and finished the race.
In the Varsity 8+ final, Humboldt secured a second-place finish in the turbulent conditions, a result that Coach Weise noted had "very challenging conditions, but Friday was fair racing with great weather."
The UCO Invite served as a critical midseason test for Humboldt, placing them ahead some of the top national programs. With commanding times on Friday and a hard-fought effort on Saturday, the Lumberjacks left Oklahoma City with a clear message: Cal Poly Humboldt is in the hunt for the NCAA title.
The team will return to training with eyes set on postseason qualification, with the WIRA Championships and GNAC Championships in Sacramento up next.
UCO Invite Regatta Lineups
Varsity 8 lineup
cox - Sonja Scollon, 8 - Lily Storseth, 7 - River Walkington, 6 - Dana Foley, 5 - Emily Marsolais, 4 - Kealey Scott, 3 - Gabriella Griffin, 2 - Kylie Mosley, 1 - Leah Dunn
Varsity 4 lineup
cox - Emily Daniels, 4 - Adelaide Toll, 3 - Elsie Stevens, 2 - Dayanara Anaya, 1 - Ellie Walters
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt Rowing, please visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app, and follow us on all social media platforms.
