VANCOUVER, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team was unable to secure its seventh straight Northwest Conference title on Sunday on Lake Vancouver, finishing third overall at the 2023 NWC regatta.
"Today was hard fought on all fronts but we simply weren't the fastest crews out there. Lewis & Clark has a strong program and they had a great race versus UPS for first," said Head Coach
Lizzie Mitchell.
The Lutes' varsity eight boat finished third overall, cruising down the 2,000-meter course in seven minutes, 36.23 seconds, enjoying a 24-second gap on fourth place Pacific University. Lewis & Clark College took top billing in the 1V8 race, crossing the finish in 7:16.19 with University of Puget Sound a slit second back in 7:16.72. Crewing the 1V was
Allison Sheflo,
Corrie Grieves,
Mara Clay,
Carleigh Templin,
Adriana Martinez,
Julia Gonzalez-Wolf,
Maggie Nieberger,
Julez Johnson, and coxswain
Jessie Dougherty.
PLU's second varsity eight finished runner-up in its race, clocking a time of 8:10.42 with the Pioneers winning the race in 7:41.30. PLU's 2V consisted of
Miram Greer,
Laney Abbott,
Suzie Roberts,
Ashley Teague,
Hannah Miyasaki,
Chloe Froeschner,
Jess Crespo,
Beth Hawes, and coxswain
Jessica Heinauer.
Pacific Lutheran secured 12 points in the team standings to place third overall, finishing one point behind Puget Sound. Lewis & Clark hoisted the team title for the first time in program history, scoring 20 points. Pacific was a distant fourth with seven points.
The Lutes additionally finished third in the novice four race, crossing the finish in 9:03.68 while the varsity four boat finished runner-up behind Lewis & Clark and ahead of two boats from Pacific and another L&C boat. Crewed by Martinez, Gonzalez-Wolf, Nieberger, Johnson and coxswain Doughety, the Lutes varsity four clocked a time of 8:27.90. PLU's novice four included Froeschner, Crespo, Clay, Miyasaki, and coxswain Heinauer.
"One of the biggest lessons from sport is how to lose. It's never fun and it hurts. However, an athlete will always remember what they did after that loss to pick themselves back up. We call it mental buoyancy."
"Next week we go to California to match off with these teams again. How we bounce back shows what this team can do."
The Lutes are back on the water next weekend, heading to Sacramento, California for the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.
