Results

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team's second varsity eight shaved off 10 seconds on Sunday in the Grand Finals, placing fifth to close out the 2026 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on Lake Natoma. 

"It was a great weekend for the Lutes. Our student-athletes have showed so much improvement and determination, and getting both boats into the grands and their performances there-in, showed it. We were focused on our process and execution, and were successful by that measure," said Head Coach Matt Oclander.
 
The Lutes second varsity eight boat of Sareena Dhaliwal, Joscelyn Barenaba, Kate Dery, Ashley Teague, Tlalli Ruiz, Adella Judge, Suzie Roberts, Mackenzie Poppe, and coxswain Sarah Hoskins navigated the 2,000-meter race course in seven minutes, 59.87 seconds, finishing ahead of crews from University of California-Irvine and the University of California lightweights. 

"The 2V had an incredible race, their best of the year. Not only did they move up another place from the heats to 5th, but they hit a seasons best time, breaking 8 minutes."
 
PLU's 2V8+ clipped off 10 seconds from Saturday's preliminary race where they finished sixth in 8:09.966. Sunday's performance put a seven-second gap on the Anteaters and crossed the line over 15 seconds ahead of Cal's lightweights. Division II California Polytechnic University-Humboldt won the race in 7:20.74 with fellow D2 power Western Washington University taking second place. 
 
PLU's varsity eight boat of Riah Heil, Makayla Hall, Hannah Miyasaki, Natalie Gregory, Kat Judd, Tate Trahan, Adia Carei, Kennadi Jones, and coxswain Louisa Compton finished sixth in the Grand Final, crossing the finish line buoys in 7:08.048. The Lutes were just two seconds back of University of California-Santa Barbara and 10 ticks short of Division II Seattle Pacific University. Western Washington won the race, clocking a time of 6:53.422 with Cal Poly Humboldt runner-up.

"The 1V had a very strong start to their race, and left it all on the water, even with debris in their lane hitting the ports' oars and halting their advance on UCSB down the stretch. It was great to be back in the grand."
 
The Lutes' varsity eight was third in their preliminary race on Saturday, finishing in 7:05.085.

"There were many happy tears shed after racing, and lots of appreciation and love for the journey this year's team has been on. I can't thank this group of seniors enough for their dedication to this team and this program through their years. 

We've worked really hard all year, and we had a lot of improvements to show for it, but UPS was just that much faster this weekend. Amazing job to them and their staff. Exciting to get back at it again next year."
 
Pacific Lutheran is back on the water on Saturday, heading to the Montlake Cut in Seattle for the 40th annual Windermere Cup.

"We have one more race to go, at the prestigious Windermere Cup, and we'll leave it all on the water at the Greatest Row on Earth."