Results

SEATTLE, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team hit the water for the first time this fall on Sunday, racing at the Head of the Lake through the Montlake Cut.
 
Competing for the first time since placing eighth at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships last spring, the Lutes' varsity eight showed little signs of rust, surging down the three-mile (4.8 kilometer) race course in 19 minutes, 52.176 seconds, finishing fourth amongst the five team field. The varsity eight was crewed by coxswain Louisa Compton and a crew of Riah Heil, Adia Carei, Kennadi Jones, Kat Judd, and Makayla Hall who all raced in the boat at the national regatta. Also in the boat was Ashley Teague who rowed in the 2V at nationals last spring along with 1V veteran Hannah Miyasaki and Natalie Gregory who made her Lute debut.
 
PLU's crew finished four seconds ahead of Division I Seattle University. Rowing juggernaut University of Washington had the top two finishes boats in the race with a crew from Washington State University placing third. 
 
"It was really a great morning of racing, it was absolutely gorgeous. The Lake Washington Rowing Club runs a great regatta. The varsity eight had a really wonderful race. It's exciting to see all their work this season and getting a good result finishing ahead of Seattle U. It shows good promise and progress for this upcoming spring," said Head Coach Matt Oclander.
 
PLU's second varsity eight of coxswain Sylvie Manz and crew of Sareena Dhaliwal, Tate Trahan, Eryn Aston, Adella Judge, Suzie Roberts, Mackenzie Poppe, Kate Dery, and Abby Andrews finished eighth overall in a time of 22:42.464. Washington's 3V won the race with a crew from the University of British Columbia placing second. 
 
Sunday's race was the first collegiate regatta for Aston, Judge, and Dery.
 
"In the 2V was exciting to see our novices Kate, Eryn, and Adella have their first race as Lutes. They did wonderfully. Our 2V had a huge challenge ahead of them racing some really fast teams and I think they performed admirably. I'm excited to see what we can do against SPU next weekend."
 
The Lutes close out their fall racing season on Saturday, hosting the PLU Fall Fixture on American Lake against Seattle Pacific University and boathouse rival University of Puget Sound.