By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – After winning last year’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference team title and finishing as the NCAA Division II national runner-up, Cal Poly Humboldt was unanimously voted by the league’s coaches as the 2026 preseason favorite in women’s rowing.
 
The Lumberjacks received all four first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll, totaling 16 points to top the rankings. Western Washington was second in the poll with a dozen points, followed by Seattle Pacific in third place with seven points and Central Oklahoma fourth with five points. The GNAC had a strong showing in the Row2k national preseason poll, with Cal Poly Humboldt ranked second, Western Washington third, Seattle Pacific fourth and Central Oklahoma fifth.
 

2026 GNAC Women's Rowing Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank	Team (1st Place Votes)	2026 Schedule	2026 Roster	Points
1	Cal Poly Humboldt (4)	Schedule	Roster	16
2	Western Washington	Schedule	Roster	12
3	Seattle Pacific	Schedule	Roster	7
4	Central Oklahoma	Schedule	Roster	5
Points awarded on a 4-3-2-1 basis.

 
Cal Poly Humboldt won the varsity 4+ national title a season ago, completing an undefeated season against all Division II opponents in the event for the trophy. It also placed third in the varsity 8+ competition at nationals, finishing with an overall team score of 24 points – just two behind overall national champion Embry-Riddle. Three of the five competitors in the Lumberjacks’ varsity 4+ boat are back on the 2026 roster, including stroke Adelaide Toll, Elsie Stevens and River Walkington. Walkington was voted as the 2025 GNAC Newcomer of the Year. The team’s varsity 8+ boat also returns more than half of its members, in bow Leah Dunn, Ellie Walters, Gabriella Griffin, Dayanara Anaya and Lily Storseth. Griffin was an all-conference performer in 2025. Cal Poly Humboldt’s key losses include 2025 GNAC Rower of the Year Kealey Scott, all-conference coxswain Emily Daniels and former All-American Dana Foley.
 
The Lumberjacks are led by 2025 GNAC Coach of the Year Matt Weise, who is in his sixth season piloting the program. The Lumberjacks claimed their first GNAC overall title last May and earned the 2023 NCAA Division II national championship title under Weise’s guidance. Cal Poly Humboldt opens up its 2026 schedule at the Sacramento State Hornet Invitational, running March 14-15 in Gold River, Calif.
 
The nine-time national champion Vikings checked in second in the preseason poll, after another strong showing both at the conference and NCAA Championships last year. The Vikings totaled 21 points at the national event, placing second in the varsity 8+ and fourth in the varsity 4+ to finish third overall in the team standings.
 
Returning to the Vikings’ varsity 8+ boat are GNAC Coxswain of the Year Janisa Cook, Sarah Plemons, Sonja Gebhardt and Taylor Wall. Wall was the 2023 GNAC Freshman of the Year and earned all-conference recognition for her performance in 2025. Gebhardt meanwhile was voted the GNAC Freshman of the Year in 2025. Returning to WWU’s varsity 4+ boat are coxswain Kylie Lovrich and Shae Mitchel. WWU’s main departure from last year’s roster was 2024 GNAC Rower of the Year and All-American Mia Marie Knipe.
 
Head coach Courtney Moeller begins her second season in charge of the program, after serving as the perennial national power’s top assistant coach for nine seasons. The Vikings begin their quest for national title number 10 on March 7 at the Pacific Lutheran-hosted American Lake Sprints in Lakewood, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific finished fourth in the team standings at last year’s national championship, earning 13 points in the standings. SPU was led by a fourth-place finish from its varsity 8+ boat and a fifth-place finish from its varsity 4+ boat at the NCAA Championships. Returners from the varsity 8+ squad include coxswain Aleksia Haugen, Amelia Pape, Emma Jones, Solanes Capps-Mace, Bella Lisenby, Grace Combs, and Gem Gatmaytan. The Falcons’ lone all-conference loss from last year was Audrey Rekedal.
 
Back in the varsity 4+ boat for SPU are coxswain Lexi Roybal, Emmerson Spencer and Brittan Dalberg. SPU is under new leadership this season, with Kenzie Waltar assuming head coaching responsibilities for 2026. The Falcons will join the Vikings at the American Lake Sprints to open their campaign on March 7 in Lakewood, Wash.
 
Completing the preseason poll was Central Oklahoma, which was the national runner-up in the varsity 4+ and placed sixth in the varsity 8+ at last year’s NCAA grand finals. The Bronchos will be led by returning all-conference selection Eva-Louisa Eschbach, who was among the league’s top performers as a freshman in 2025. Luke Reynolds will begin his first season as head coach of the squad in 2026. Central Oklahoma’s spring calendar kicks off with a dual meet against Creighton, scheduled for March 14 on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City, Okla.
 
The 2026 GNAC Women’s Rowing Championships are scheduled for May 16 at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. More information on the event can be found online here.