NCAA Championships
TACOMA, Wash. - The four-time Northwest Conference Champion Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing squad hits the water tomorrow in the opening heats of the 2019 NCAA Division III Championships held at the Indianapolis Rowing Center at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Lutes are one of eight schools from around the nation competing at the NCAA Championships and the lone school representing the West Coast.
"The program's goal is to win a National Championship," said Head Coach
Andy Foltz. "We understand that to get there that there is a process and that it's a journey. Every member of the team has accepted this journey and the program goal. The process that it takes to get there might not be something we do this year but we have committed to moving this journey along in the right direction. That means racing our best race at the NCAA Championships. A part of that process is to qualify directly to the Grand Finals so that is the first step to move the process forward."
The Lutes come into the National Championships with considerable experience, having sent boats to the NCAA regatta in each of the last four years. The Lutes finished fourth as a team at the 2016 Championships and seventh at the 2018 Championships while the PLU 1V8+ boat was eighth at the 2017 Championships.
"We've got a lot of experienced rowers in the top two boats this weekend and we're only racing two first-years. The experience level will absolutely help us compete down the race course. The really cool thing that we've been able to do over the past four years is get more comfortable with the spectacle part of this regatta. It feels important, it feels big, but at the start line it's just another 2K. We've gotten more and more familiar with these East Coast programs, especially taking the trip out east last year and looking forward to taking another trip to Boston next spring."
Battling with the Lutes on the water in Indianapolis will be two-time defending national champion Bates College along with fellow East Coast heavyweights Hamilton College, Ithaca College, Washington College, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
"I wish there were more Pacific Region programs represented each year at the Championships. We've got some fast crews out west that can compete on any given day. However, being the only one it brings with it a source of pride and honor to represent the entire region. A lot of people don't know what's hiding behind the Cascade Curtain so we really hope that the little taste they get of us is one they'll remember."
Crewing the Lutes' varsity eight boat will be
Hannah Beach,
Kiana Boyer-Viceroy,
Hannah Peterson,
Madeline Woods,
Sienna Mathes,
Alex Moore,
Alison Wriggle, and
Molly Ivey with Madi Heaman serving as coxswain. The 1V is undefeated this year against Division III competition, winning both the Lamberth Cup and for the fourth consecutive season, the NWC title.
Heading up the 2V8+ boat will be
Anna Norman-Wikner,
Siobhan Warmer,
Grace Bingay,
Emily Metzler,
Nicole Jones,
Abbie Loring,
Hannah McCullough, and
Kylee Dickinson with
Savannah Truluck serving as coxswain. The Lutes will also have
Vivyanne Le,
Elizabeth Horner, and
Allison Sheflo making the trip as alternates. The 2V had a strong finish to the regular season, winning the 2V race at the NWC Championships before finishing fourth in the Grand Final at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships a week later in Sacramento, California.
"We're really fired up about this weekend's racing. This year's seniors have done a tremendous job of really moving this process towards a National Championship forward. The Championship culture they've help create has been so special to be a part of."
The 2V opens the NCAA regatta on Friday at 8:12 a.m. (Eastern Time) in the first of two preliminary heats. The Lutes will be in lane four and race against WPI, Bates, and Washington. The Lute 1V hits the water 8:48 a.m. (Eastern) and will be in lane five against Hamilton, Wellesley, and WPI.
