2026 Schedule

TACOMA, Wash. — Eighth place finishers at the NCAA regatta last spring, the Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team is again looking to make its mark on the water in 2026 with a rugged schedule that will see the Lutes row on both the East and West Coasts. 
 
"I'm really looking forward to our '26 spring campaign. I see the season as having two clear halves on either side of Easter. February and March are all about laying the foundation and building fitness, strength, and skill, so we're ready for sharp, high-stakes racing in April. Once we get there, we'll be racing coast-to-coast against the best of the best. It's going to require a lot of preparation, both mentally and physically, but I have tremendous confidence in our student-athletes and their ability to finish the season strong," said Head Coach Matt Oclander, who enters his second season at PLU. 
 
"We're incredibly fortunate to be able to compete cross-regionally against some of the best programs in the country. Racing powerhouses from the NEWMAC and NESCAC will be a great test for our crews and an important measuring stick as we move into our championship stretch. We're excited for the opportunity and look forward to seeing teams we hope to line up against again a month later at the NCAA Championships."

The Lutes will open their spring schedule at home on March 7 at American Lake, hosting the PLU Invitational. The meet will feature a handful of teams from around the region along with Milwaukee School of Engineering who will be making the trip out for the regatta. 
 
Two weeks later the Lutes will be back on American Lake, battling boathouse rival University of Puget Sound for the Lamberth Cup on March 21. 

The Lutes take the rest of March off before racing on the East Coast on April 11 and 12 on Lake Quinsigamond in Massachusetts. PLU will race at the Barbara Grant Donahue Cup on the 11th with another day of racing the following day. Both days are hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute and will feature nationally-ranked squads including #2 Williams College, #3 Trinity College, #5 Wellesley College, #7 Bates College, #8 Hamilton College, and #10 William Smith College. 

Pacific Lutheran heads to Vancouver Lake outside Portland on April 18 for the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Championships where they will battle D3 rivals Lewis & Clark College, Puget Sound, and Pacific University for the Judy McMillan Cup.
 
The team treks to Sacramento on April 25-26 for two days of racing at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships and will close the regular season on May 2, racing at the Windermere Cup up in Seattle. 

The Lutes will be gunning to make a repeat trip to the NCAA Championships this spring, being held on May 29-30 on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia.