By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications
GOLD RIVER, Calif. – Lake Natoma will host four of the top women’s rowing programs in NCAA Division II on Saturday morning with the running of the sixth Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Rowing Championships.
All four of the conference’s teams are ranked within the top-5 in the latest Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Pocock national poll. Nine-time national champion Western Washington enters the race as the top-ranked team in Division II, with Cal Poly Humboldt second, Seattle Pacific third and Central Oklahoma ranked fifth.
2026 GNAC Women’s Rowing Championships
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | Lake Natoma | Gold River, Calif.
All times listed are Pacific.
10 a.m. – GNAC Exhibition 4 Final
10:10 a.m. – GNAC Varsity 4+ Final
10:20 a.m. – GNAC Varsity 8+ Final
11:30 a.m. – Awards Ceremony
The top-ranked Vikings will be in search of their third GNAC Championships title, winning the trophy first in 2022 and again in 2024. The most recent conference championship title also preceded WWU’s most recent NCAA Division II title which also came two springs ago. The Vikings had a dominant run of seven consecutive national championships from 2005-11 and added one in 2017. WWU is led by second-year head coach
Courtney Moeller, who was part of each of the program’s last two national titles during her tenure as an assistant coach.
WWU Lineups
Exhibition 4 (Lane 4): Kylie Lovrich (cox); Ellie Calvez; Millie Brumley; Chloe Taitano; Erin Cruzen (bow)
Varsity 4+ (Lane 2): Malea Moy (cox); Isabelle Mullick; Tatum Tarter; Sofie Chisholm; Sofia Scicchitano (bow)
Varsity 8+ (Lane 1): Janisa Cook (cox); Emilie Borberg; Finola Hufford; Taylor Wall; Sarah Plemons; Kallie Lechtenberg; Illy Schneiderman; Shae Mitchel; Lex Clark (bow).
Cal Poly Humboldt is the reigning GNAC champion and was the national runner-up in 2025. The Lumberjacks are three-time national champions, with the most recent crown coming three years ago in the spring of 2023. Last year’s national runner-up placing featured an NCAA title by the squad’s varsity 4+ boat, while last year’s GNAC Championships trophy was its first in program history. The Lumberjacks are led by head coach
Matt Weise, who is in his sixth season in charge.
CPH Lineups
Exhibition 4 (Lane 3): Jenna Frampton (cox); Rowan White; Dani Harper; Linea Vizenor; Lea Lankston (bow)
Varsity 4+ (Lane 3): Olivia Huynh (cox); Laurel Calhoun; Nadia Weise; Keziah Rutschow; Emma Wilson (bow)
Varsity 8+ (Lane 2): Giania Bogacki (cox); Lily Storseth; Leah Dunn; Elsie Stevens; River Walkington; Royce Ankel; Dayanara Anaya; Addy Toll; Ellie Walters (bow).
Climbing to its highest NCAA ranking of the 2026 season, Seattle Pacific enters the championship meet in search of its first-ever GNAC Championships team title. Led by first-year head coach
Kenzie Waltar, the Falcons have had a productive spring with strong showings at the DII Spring Invitational in Florida and at the WIRA Championships.
SPU Lineups
Exhibition 4 (Lane 1): Sasha Kolobovnikov (cox); Rachael Termure; Mia Vittori; Erica Fisher; Faith Akutagawa (bow)
Varsity 4+ (Lane 4): Lexi Roybal (cox); Kaitlin Hollebeek; Elizabeth Chapman; Rocky Wesley; Brit Dalberg (bow)
Varsity 8+ (Lane 3): Aleksia Haugan (cox); Solanes Capps-Mace; Amelia Pape; Emma Jones; Miriam Dykstra; Bella Lisenby; Emmerson Spencer; Grace Combs; Gem Gatmaytan.
Nationally-fifth ranked Central Oklahoma has a history of success at the GNAC Championships, winning the inaugural event in 2021 and doubling down with a second team overall title in the spring of 2023. The Bronchos will make the long journey west, after earning a GNAC Crew of the Week nod on March 30 for their varsity 8+ performance. First-year head coach
Luke Reynolds will look to pilot his team to its third conference title.
UCO Lineups
Exhibition 4 (Lane 2): Ghislyn Tucker (cox); Jovi Kerr; Caroline Hisey; Avery Mattingly; Ava Andrews (bow).
Varsity 4+ (Lane 1): Saleana Tipton (cox); Jamie Cullen; Tierney Westermier; Dara Dennis; Brittany Blackwell (bow).
Varsity 8+ (Lane 4): Paige Ranney (cox); Carlota Martinez; Rachel Harris; Rapha Sanchez; Sawyer Schreiner; Eva-Louisa Eschbach; Grace McConville; Adriana Hogan; Ksenia Mrsny (bow).