Full NCAA Results (All Divisions)

GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The Washington women's rowing team finished fifth at the 2016 NCAA Championships as the Huskies' varsity four earned a silver medal and the second varsity eight took home a bronze Sunday at Lake Natoma.

Washington, which has never finished outside of the top 10 in the 20 years of NCAA Rowing Championships, ended the day with 106 points overall. California won the team championship with 129 points while Ohio State (126), Virginia (112) and Stanford (107) finished second through fourth.

The UW's varsity eight, seeded No. 12 heading into the weekend, finished second in the petite final, earning the eighth-place overall finish.

"I'm really proud of the team as a whole," said Conor Bullis, UW interim head coach. "It sounds cliché, but top to bottom, the 6V in our boat house and the pressure they put on our V4, to the 5V winning our home races. The 4V and the 3V winning the Pac-12 Championship for the third year in a row. The 2V having an amazing race and the 1V finishing with the best race of the year. That is all you can ask for. I am really proud of them."

FOURS (VARSITY FOUR), GRAND FINAL
Washington rowed to an aggressive start to take the early lead. Early on, the Huskies built nearly a boat-length lead over Virginia with Cal in third in the first couple hundred meters. At 500 meters, Washington's four, coxed by Madison Mariani and with Vanessa Whattam rowing in the stroke seat, the Huskies had open water over the field. The UW held a boat-length lead at the midway point, with Cal moving past Virginia into second. But in the second half of the race, the Bears continued to move up on the Huskies. In the final 200 meters or so, the Bears (7:08.410) edged in front and held off Washington at the finish line, beating the Huskies by less than eight-tenths of a second. The Huskies (7:09.203) earned the silver medal ahead of third-place Virginia. which finished about three seconds back.

"It was the fastest 500 meters they have ever had," Bullis said. "Their coach Alan Meininghaus had a plan for them and I think they did everything they could to execute the best final race. And boy what a race. That is what we expect at the NCAA championships. It has been a battle between our four and Cal's four all year. We won one, then they won one. We go to Pac-12's and we were totally disappointed but then we come back here and beat them in the semi. But that is rowing and that is why it is fun."

II EIGHTS (SECOND VARSITY 8), GRAND FINAL
The Huskies entered the second varsity eight grand final in lane three, with Ohio State (lane 2) and California (lane 1) inside of them. Cal grabbed the very early lead, with the Huskies close behind and the other four crews trailing. The Huskies stayed in within a couple of seats of the Bears by 500 meters and then continued to move up on the lead. Nearing 1,000 meters, the two Pac-12 boats had moved ahead of the rest and Washington took the lead at the midway point as Ohio State came on from its third-place position. The Huskies increased its lead early in the second 1,000, but as they came down the stretch, Cal again found more and passed the UW with about 250 meters to go, holding on for another win (6:28.064). Ohio State (6:28.900) also charged at the end, passing the Huskies to take the silver medal. Washington (6:30.551) took the bronze.



I EIGHTS (VARSITY 8), PETITE FINAL
In the varsity eight petite final, which determined places 7 through 12 overall, the start was tightly packed with no more than a deck separating the six boats. At 500 meters, Texas had taken the lead over Michigan and then Washington in third. In the next 500, the Huskies had moved into second place. At 1,000, Texas held its slight edge over Washington, while Wisconsin overtook the Wolverines to move into third place. In the second portion of the race, Texas continued to build its lead and Washington held off all challengers for second place. The crews started to bunch at the finish, and Washington nearly made it back to even terms with the Longhorns, but Texas crossed the line in 6:24.496, just over sixth-tenths ahead of Washington (6:25.145). Wisconsin (6:26.419) and USC followed (6:28.487).

With a second-place finish in the petite final, the UW's 12th-seeded varsity eight finished eighth overall.


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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.

WASHINGTON LINEUPS
VARSITY 8+ (I EIGHTS)
Cox: Marlow Mizer (Hailey, Idaho); Stroke: Grace Spoors (Christchurch, New Zealand); 7: Katy Gillingham (Seattle, Wash.); 6: Calina Schanze (Behlendorf, Germany); 5: Phoebe Spoors (Christchurch, New Zealand); 4: Sarah Dougherty (Kent, Wash.); 3: Danielle Olson (Manitowoc, Wis.); 2: Chiara Ondoli (Angera, Italy); Bow: Karlé Pittsinger (Lake Chelan, Wash.)

SECOND VARSITY 8+ (II EIGHTS)
Cox: Phoebe Marks-Nicholes (Seattle, Wash.); Stroke: Marlee Blue (Seattle, Wash.); 7: Anna Thornton (Nottingham, U.K.); 6: Natasha Gay (Perth, Australia); 5: Courtney Thompson (University Place, Wash.); 4: Brooke Pierson (Oak Harbor, Wash.); 3: Elise Beuke (Sequim, Wash.); 2: Bella Chilczuk (Renton, Wash.); Bow: Valerie Vogt (Trout Lake, Wash.)

WOMEN'S VARSITY 4+ (FOURS)
Stroke: Vanessa Whattam (Richland, Wash.); 3: Sophia Dalton (Seattle, Wash.); 2: Kadie Brown (Federal Way, Wash.); Bow: Margaret Phillips (Stanwood, Wash.); Cox: Madison Mariani (Snoqualmie, Wash.)