Results
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team earned an eighth place finish in the team standings at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday with the varsity eight and second varsity eight boat both bagging runner-up finishes in the Petite Finals on Mercer Lake.
The Lutes' second varsity eight set the tone to start the day, clocking their fastest time of the Championship regatta. Battling head-to-head against Saint Mary's College of Maryland, the 2V consisting of
Sareena Dhaliwal,
Kaylyn Sanford,
Carleigh Templin,
Ashley Teague,
Mackenzie Poppe,
Miram Greer,
Suzie Roberts,
Sophia Pancoast, and coxswain
Sylvie Manz covered the opening 500-meters in two minutes, 7.687 seconds. The boat would record consistent splits over the remaining three quarters of the race, coming through the halfway point in 4:16.775. PLU passed the 1,500-meter mark in 6:26.251, and finished the final 500-meters in 2:08.033.
The Lute 2V's final time of 8:34.284 was a whopping 15-seconds better than its opening race on Friday and was 11 seconds faster than its time during yesterday's repechage race. Saint Mary's won the petite final, clocking a winning effort of 7:29.860.
The PLU varsity eight boat was just a split second slower than its best time from yesterday's petite final. Coxswain
Louisa Compton got the boat off to a blistering pace in the opening 500-meters, crossing the opening quarter of the 2K race in 1:46.961. The Lutes came through the opening 1K in 3:40.547 and came through the 1,500-meter mark in 5:33.355. The Lutes crew of
Riah Heil,
Kennadi Jones,
Adia Carei,
Tate Trahan,
Maddie Anderson,
Abby Andrews,
Kat Judd, and
Makayla Hall finished the final 500 in 1:53.866, crossing the finish line with an overall effort of 7:27.221.
Wellesley University won the 1V Petite Final, charging down the 2K course in 7:02.515.
"I've loved our journey. This regatta perfectly captured the spirit of our entire year. We came in not knowing exactly what to expect, but knowing it was going to be a big mountain we were looking to climb. We shook off the early nerves and put together three really strong races with better execution each time. The finals brought some of the windiest conditions we've faced all year, and our team handled them better than ever. The Lutes rowed with confidence, like they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. What we experienced this weekend will stick with this team, and I'm sure it'll be fuel that drives us to come back even stronger in 362 days," said Head Coach
Matt Oclander.
PLU collected 21 points in the team standings, securing eighth in the nation. Tufts University tallied a jumbo score of 56 to repeat as national champions while Williams College tallied 49 points for a runner-up showing. Wesleyan University and Bates College rounded out the podium with point totals of 45 and 44, respectively.
"Huge thanks to the coaching staff, Sabrina and Julia, for being so generous and gracious with their knowledge and time all year. We would not have made it here without them. Thank you to Andy Foltz for his amazing support all year and at this regatta. He's been an amazing resource for me and this team. I couldn't have asked for a better administrator."
Yesterday saw the 1V and 2V's both bag fourth place finishes in the preliminary heats and in the repechage races in the program's first appearance on the national stage since the 2022 campaign. The automatic qualifier from the Pacific Region, PLU made its seventh appearance as a team at the NCAA Championships. The Lutes previously represented the West Coast in 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2016, and 2002.
