HENDERSON, Nev. – Washington's women's rowing team opened its 2018 spring season with three wins in three races against USC Saturday morning on windy Lake Las Vegas.
 
The Huskies, who swept all three grand finals to win their fourth NCAA championship last spring, beat the Trojans in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four races. Windy conditions led to changes in the Las Vegas Invitational schedule for the day, as race lengths were shortened and the schedule was condensed.
 
The UW opened its morning with a win over the Trojans in the varsity eight, holding the lead throughout the 2,000 meters, racing into a strong headwind. The Huskies had opened an open-water advantage by the halfway point and had several lengths by 1,500 meters. Under the guidance of returning varsity coxswain Phoebe Marks-Nicholes, the Huskies won the race in 7:25.3, 12-plus seconds in front of USC (7:37.9).
 
With the wind making the racing difficult, the second varsity eight and varsity four races were shortened to 1,500 meters. Washington's second eight, stroked by Katy Gillingham, earned a win over USC, rowing across the finish line in 5:50.1, 17.8 seconds ahead of the Women of Troy.
 
The Huskies wrapped up the event with a win the varsity four in what proved to be the closest finish of the day. In another race shortened to 1,500 meters, the UW women finished in 6:47.5, just over six seconds in front of USC (6:53.8).
 
"I'm so glad we were able to come back to lake Las Vegas and race USC at this time of year," second-year head coach Yasmin Farooq said. "After a long winter of training, there's no substitute for real racing, and all three boats stepped up and delivered strong performances."
 
Up Next
The Huskies will host the 117th annual Class Day Regatta March 24 on Montlake Cut.
 
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.

LINEUPS:

VARSITY 8+
Cox: Phoebe Marks-Nicholes (Seattle, Wash./Ballard)
Stroke: Marlee Blue (Seattle, Wash./Holy Names Academy)
7: Tabea Schendekehl (Dortmund, Germany)
6: Brooke Mooney (Peru, Vt./Vermont Academy)
5: Elise Beuke (Sequim, Wash./Sequim)
4: Valentina Iseppi (Gardone Riviera, Italy)
3: Karle Pittsinger (Lake Chelan, Wash./Lake Chelan)
2: Jessica Thoennes (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista)
Bow: Calina Schanze (Behlendorf, Germany)
 
SECOND VARSITY 8+
Cox: Marley Avritt (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor)
Stroke: Katy Gillingham (Seattle, Wash./Holy Names Academy)
7: Jennifer Wren (Seattle, Wash./Bishop Blanchet)
6: Kenzie Waltar (Kirkland, Wash./Juanita)
5: Klara Grube (Lübeck, Germany)
4: Sara Clark (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar)
3: Sophie Anderson-Kundig (San Francisco, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep)
2: Carmela Pappalardo (Salerno, Italy)
Bow: Emma Vagen (Kent, Wash./Kentwood)
 
VARSITY 4+
Cox: Madison Mariani (Snoqualmie, Wash./Mount Si)
Stroke: Tommie De Rooij (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
3: Molly Gallaher (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline)
2: Lark Skov (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs)
Bow: Skylar Jacobson (Lakewood, Wash./Steilacoom)