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Washington-Cal womens' dual and She Will Win

Women's Rowing

Cal Dual And She Will Win Regatta Next Up For UW Women

SEATTLE – A rigorous stretch of top-level competition for the No. 1-ranked Washington women's rowing team continues this week as the Huskies take on No. 2 California in the annual Cal Dual. The day also includes the first She Will Win regatta for youth and masters women's crews. She Will Win events begin at 8:00 a.m. and the UW-Cal races begin at 9:00 a.m.
 
She Will Win is an organization founded by 2018 UW women's team captain Karlé Pittsinger that aims to educate the community on inequalities girls face within sports, generating a platform for female athletes to share stories and spread awareness. Saturday's regatta will feature women of all ages competing on the same day in an effort to further publicize She Will Win and strengthen the link between rowers of all ages.
 
"The She Will Win team couldn't be more excited to be a part of this regatta," said Pittsinger, a two-time NCAA champion rower from Lake Chelan. "The University of Washington boathouse is a unique microcosm with regard to gender equality within athletics. Members of Washington Rowing have worked hard over the years to put men and women on an equal playing field.
 
"The Cal Dual dates back to 1903, where the men originally raced in California," Pittsinger continued. "Women did not participate in this rivalry until 1977, when Title IX came into place. The She Will Win Regatta aims to highlight how far women have come in this sport, while also promoting further inclusion for women in all areas of life. We are excited that UW has invited all female rowers in the Seattle community to participate, igniting this new fire under the UW-Cal women's rivalry."
 
"It's so cool to see high school girls have an opportunity not only to discover sports, but to have a chance to earn a scholarship," UW head coach Yasmin Farooq explained. "That absolutely was not available to these masters women when they were entering college.
 
"The fact that we'll have women who picked up an oar later in life compete in a regatta alongside juniors, college champions and world champions is special," Farooq added. "We're a community that is surrounded by water and rowing is part of the fabric of Seattle. The number of people in this city who have rowed or know about the sport is unbelievable. It's a city with a high rowing IQ."
 
Cal comes to Seattle already having faced the UW at the San Diego Crew Classic earlier in April. The Huskies and Golden Bears rowed in the same final in four boats: the first, second and third varsity eights and the varsity four. Washington won the four and the 3V8 while Cal won the varsity eight. The UW was second in both the V8 and 2V8, while Cal took third in the second eights race.
 
Last season at the Cal Dual, the Huskies won four out of five races – all but the varsity eight – vs. the Bears at Redwood Shores. The UW went on all five at the Pac-12 Championships, but Cal won the varsity eight and the varsity four (UW won the 2V8+ and finished second in the other two) to win the NCAA title last spring.
 
FULL REGATTA SCHEDULE
(check HereNow.com for the latest)
 
She Will Win Regatta
8:00 a.m.: Masters 8+
8:05 a.m.: Masters 8+
8:10 a.m.: Masters 8+
8:15 a.m.: Juniors 8+
8:20 a.m.: Masters 4x+
8:25 a.m.: Masters 4x+
8:30 a.m.: Juniors 4x+
8:35 a.m.: Masters 4+
 
Cal Dual (Lanes)
9:00 a.m.: Third Varsity 8+ (UW N8+ in lane 1; Cal 3V8+ in lane 2; UW 3V8+ in lane 3)
9:20 a.m.: Varsity 4+ (UW in lane 2, Cal in lane 3)
9:40 a.m.: Second Varsity 8+ (Cal in lane 2, UW in lane 3)
10:00 a.m.: Varsity 8+ (UW in lane 2, Cal in lane 3)
 
UW WOMEN vs. CAL HISTORY
Washington and California have a women's varsity eight rivalry that dates back to 1977. The Huskies will race for a chance to claim the Simpson Cup, which was donated by longtime Washington supporters Hunter and Dottie Simpson, whose daughter Anne rowed at Cal. Washington leads the series 23-19, and at one point won 22 of 23 races from 1981-2003. The Huskies' last victory in the varsity eight came in 2013. California has won 14 of the last 15.
 
The second varsity eight series against California began in 1975, with Washington winning 39 of 40 races. The Golden Bears won in 2004, snapping an 11-race UW win streak that was the Huskies' longest in the series.
 
In the third varsity eight (formerly the Novice Eight), the Huskies hold the 27-13 edge, dating back to 1977. The UW won 11 in a row from 1990-2011.  UW won that race last year in Redwood Shores.
 
LIVE STREAM AND OTHER COVERAGE
Live results will be available at HereNow.com while a live video stream of the UW-Cal races will air on the Pac-12 Plus page. For the latest information and schedule updates, make sure to follow the @UW_Rowing Twitter account.

NEXT UP
The Huskies get back to work very quickly as they host the annual Windermere Cup/Opening Day Regatta, on March 4. The UW women will take on Germany and UCLA in the feature race.
 
ABOUT WASHINGTON ROWING
Rowing at University of Washington was established in 1901 with support from the local business community. In 1903, Washington entered its first intercollegiate race and defeated California, starting their storied "Cal Dual" rivalry. From this beginning, UW crews became the champions in the nation, winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics in 1936 as described in the New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat. UW has continued its tradition of winning championships and Olympic medals, and today is one of the best university rowing programs in the world. With its state-of-the-art training facility located on the UW campus right on the shores of Lake Washington, surrounded by mountains and in close proximity to the iconic Montlake Cut, Washington Rowing attracts the best men and women student-athletes from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. More information at GoHuskies.com, WashingtonRowing.com and @UW_Rowing.
 

 
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