LOWELL, Ore. – Washington's No. 6-ranked women's rowing team finished second at the 2023 Pac-12 Championships Sunday at Dexter Lake, earning wins in the second varsity eight and novice eight finals.
 
No. 4-ranked Stanford won the team title for the second year in a row, with 43.5 points. Washington's 40.5 points were good for second place, while No. 7-ranked California finished third, with 33 points.
 
The team title came down to the final race as the Huskies and Cardinal entered that event tied on points with 22.5 points each, meaning that, barring major upsets from other crews, the winner of the varsity eight race would win the overall crown.
 
In the final, the Huskies kept pace with the top-seeded Cardinal for the first 1,000 meters. However, the Cardinal pulled ahead in the sprint and won with a final time of 6:08.602. Washington was second, in 6:13.882, with Cal another seven second back in third.
 
The Huskies earned a win in the second varsity eight final with a strong performance. Stanford led that one most of the 2,000 meters, but the Huskies never allowed the Cardinal to get too far in front. In the third 500, the Huskies surged to the lead and then held on to win by about seven seats.
 
Washington's time in the 2V8+ final was 6:18.247, while Stanford crossed the line in 6:20.817.
 
"I cannot put into words how proud I am for this team," said Dimitra Tsamopoulou, the bow seat in the second varsity eight. "Today in my boat, we committed on getting our bow ball first through the finish line. There was no plan B. We trained for it, we visualized it and we did it.
 
"It was the most emotional race for me as it was my last Pac12 championship and because these women in my boat kept reminding me everyday why I started rowing, why I loved the sport and what it means to not give up," she continued. "I have never been more inspired by a group of people than I have from this team. I am so honored and grateful that I can call myself a Woman of Washington and be part of the legacy. Next stop: NCAAs."
 
In the varsity four final, Stanford ran away with the race, taking and holding a clear lead throughout. However, the Huskies trailed Cal in the race for second place over the first 1,000 meters before moving in front in the second portion of the race. Stanford won the V4+ with a time of 7:01.093. Washington was second with a time of 7:12.253 and Cal was third, in 7:18.307.
 
Stanford edged out Cal for the third varsity eight final, with UW third. In the women's novice race, only UW and Washington State entered all-novice crews, while Stanford, Cal and UCLA all entered exhibition crews that included non-freshmen. Washington finished the novice race in 6:41.359.

"This year has been one of extraordinary growth and we're not done," said UW head coach Yasmin Farooq. "This was a strong day for the team and validation of the work and progress we are making together. The Pac-12 Championship is extra special because so many of the people on our squad have an opportunity to race.
 
"I'm grateful for each person's contribution, including everyone in Seattle who pushed all of us racing here today," Farooq continued. "Every person on this team has a role and value that they bring to the squad, and we were able to harness that spirit today. We're excited to get back to work and take the next step on our path towards the NCAAs."

This week, the Huskies will undoubtedly earn an invitation to the 2023 NCAA Championships, which will be held May 26-28 on Cooper River near Philadelphia.
 
WASHINGTON WOMEN'S LINEUPS
 
Varsity Eight
Shell: Kit Green
Cox: Nina Castagna (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills)
Stroke: Ella Cossill (Waikato, New Zealand )
7: Elena Collier-Hezel (Buffalo, N.Y./Park School/Michigan)
6: Angharad Broughton (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.)
5: McKenna Bryant (Kent, Wash./Kennedy Catholic)
4: Abby Adebiyi (London, England, U.K.)
3: Nikki Martincic (Newtown, Sydney, Australia)
2: Aisha Rocek (Como, Italy)
Bow: Madi Frampton (Tumwater, Wash.)
 
Second Varsity Eight
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Grace Murdock (Roswell, Ga./Milton)
Stroke: Ava Meuleman (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt)
7: Isabel van Opzeeland (Hoofddorp, Netherlands)
6: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C., Canada/Claremont)
5: Jordan Freer (Lotus, Calif./El Dorado/UCSB)
4: Grace Vander Griend (Bellingham, Wash./Sehome)
3: Leah Nash (Chatham, Mass./Monomoy)
2: Shakira Mirfin (Invercargill, New Zealand)
Bow: Dimitra Tsamopoulou (Athens, Greece)
 
Varsity Four
Shell: Wendy Sykes
Stroke: Cait Whittard (St. Catharines, Ont., Canada)
3: Brigit O'Rourke (West Seattle, Wash./Vashon Island)
2: Jeri Rhodes (St. Louis, Mo./Michigan)
Bow: Renee Hopper (Preston, Wash./Issaquah)
Cox: Carina Baxter (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge)
 
Third Varsity Eight
Shell: Title IX Tenacity
Cox: Olivia Murdock (Atlanta, Ga./Milton)
Stroke: Haley Stoker (Bellingham, Wash./Bellingham)
7: Eliza Perry (Bellingham, Wash./Sehome)
6: Grace Epp (Redmond, Wash./Redmond)
5: Claire Marion (San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos)
4: Brianna Hoffman (Poulsbo, Wash./North Kitsap)
3: Molly Wiser (Leavenworth, Wash./Cascade)
2: Claire Surbeck (Bellevue, Wash./International School)
Bow: Victoria Park (Bellevue, Wash./The Bush School)
 
Novice Eight
Shell: Jenni Vesnaver Hogan
Cox: Camille Randall (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep)
Stroke: Danielle Lohrenz (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka)
7: Sofie Sand (Rochester, Wash./Rochester)
6: Cami Martin (Seattle, Wash./Nathan Hale)
5: Allison Jakeway (Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada)
4: Margaret Young (San Anselmo, Calif./Williams)
3: Caitlin Hane (Irvine, Calif./University)
2: Madison Hanahan (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty)
Bow: Luella Bowersock (Austin, Texas/Austin)