Results
VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team's varsity four boat won the Keith Buckley Trophy on Saturday, headlining the squad's efforts at the 2026 Northwest Collegiate Rowing Championships on Lake Vancouver.
"I'm so proud of this team, we've made so many improvements year over year. We've gotten better in every way, but it's hard for today not to be a little bit bittersweet," said Head Coach
Matt Oclander.
"We wanted to get our bows to the front of the field, especially in the 1V, but that's racing. 2V executed probably their best race of the year, and had the time to show for it [7:49 last week was 1900m], and we're really proud of their progress. The 1V just couldn't get their rhythm off of the line, and the sharp UPS crew next to us capitalized. Hats off to them."
Riah Heil,
Kennadi Jones,
Adia Carei,
Makayla Hall and coxswain
Louisa Compton bested the seven boat field to seize the Keith Buckley Trophy, navigating the 2,000-meter course in seven minutes, 57.81 seconds, and enjoying a 16 second buffer on the rest of the field.
PLU's second varsity four was runner-up with coxswain
Sarah Hoskins and crew of
Natalie Gregory,
Hannah Miyasaki,
Kat Judd, and
Tate Trahan crossing the finish in 8:14.21, edging Lewis & Clark College's four by a little over two seconds.
"The small boats were a fun time. The novice four had a substitution last second, so big Attaway to
Sarah Hoskins for stepping up and being there for her team. The varsity four was an event we've wanted to defend, and going 1-2 was amazing. The 2x capping off the day with a second place finish, with the whole team on the beach cheering for them, was special."
The Lutes' varsity eight boat finished runner-up in the battle for the Judy McMullan Trophy, finishing eight seconds back of boathouse rival University of Puget Sound. PLU's boat of Heil, Hall, Gregory, Miyasaki, Judd, Trahan, Carei, Jones, and coxswain Compton charged down the course in 7:14.48, owning a 13-second gap on Lewis & Clark College and a 45-second gap on Pacific University. The Loggers' seized the McMullan Trophy, clocking a time of 7:06.09.
PLU opened the morning with the second varsity eight of coxswain
Sarah Hoskins and crew of
Sareena Dhaliwal,
Joscelyn Barenaba,
Kate Dery,
Ashley Teague,
Tlalli Ruiz,
Adella Judge,
Suzie Roberts, and
Mackenzie Poppe finishing third overall in 8:12 behind boats from both Lewis & Clark and Puget Sound.
The squad closed the regatta with a runner-up finish in the 2x with Gregory and Compton finishing ahead of crews from both Lewis & Clark and Pacific, crossing the finish line in 8:46.07.
"We will take the rest of the weekend to reset and then this it's time to lock in. We'll throw everything we've got at it at WIRAs. It's been a perfect day for racing, and thank you to the PVRA, the volunteers, and officials for a great day of racing in the PNW!"
The Lutes head to Lake Natoma outside Sacramento, California next Saturday for day one of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.
