By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

GOLD RIVER, Calif. – Topping the field at the 2026 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Rowing Championships on Saturday at Lake Natoma, Western Washington secured its third conference championship trophy.
 
It marked the second time since the event was founded in 2021 that a team swept both the varsity 8+ and varsity 4+ titles to earn the maximum of 30 overall team points. The other occurrence was Central Oklahoma’s sweep in 2021. Western Washington also surpassed the Bronchos for the most GNAC women’s rowing team titles among the four competing schools.
 
Conditions were overall good for the penultimate competition of the 2026 collegiate season, with low winds, calm water and temperatures in the low-70s through the first two races. Wind speeds increased ahead of the final varsity 8+ competition, but the teams still managed strong times.
 
The Vikings’ performance earned them a healthy, seven-point victory over runner-up Cal Poly Humboldt, which finished second in the varsity 8+ and third in the varsity 4+ for 23 points. Central Oklahoma used a runner-up finish in the varsity 4+ to fuel its third-place finish with 19 points, and Seattle Pacific was right behind taking fourth with 18 points.
 
2026 GNAC Women’s Rowing Championships – Final Results
Overall Team Scores
1 – Western Washington – 30 points
2 – Cal Poly Humboldt – 23 points
3 – Central Oklahoma – 19 points
4 – Seattle Pacific – 18 points
 
Varsity 8+ Results
1 – Western Washington – 7:15.499 – 18 points
2 – Cal Poly Humboldt – 7:18.584 – 15 points
3 – Seattle Pacific – 7:23.856 – 12 points
4 – Central Oklahoma – 7:30.367 – 9 points
 
Varsity 4+ Results
1 – Western Washington – 8:18.429 – 12 points
2 – Central Oklahoma – 8:22.301 – 10 points
3 – Cal Poly Humboldt – 8:26.948 – 8 points
4 – Seattle Pacific – 8:49.053 – 6 points
 
Exhibition 4 Results
1 – Cal Poly Humboldt – 8:25.978
2 – Central Oklahoma – 8:35.981
3 – Western Washington – 8:36.136
4 – Seattle Pacific – 8:53.061
 
It marked the highest-ever point total for Western Washington, which won GNAC Championships titles in 2024 with 26 points and 2022 with 26 points. It was the first conference trophy for head coach Courtney Moeller, who is in her second season leading the squad after serving as the program’s longtime assistant coach.
 
The Vikings cruised to a more-than three-second margin of victory in the varsity 8+ race, clocking a time of 7:15.499 minutes with the Lumberjacks following in 7:18.584 minutes. WWU’s top boat featured Janisa Cook (cox), Emilie Borberg, Finola Hufford, Taylor Wall, Sarah Plemons, Kallie Lechtenberg, Illy Schneiderman, Shae Mitchel and Lex Clark (bow).
 
It was an even larger margin of victory in the varsity 4+ race, with WWU finishing in 8:18.429 minutes well ahead of the second-place Bronchos in 8:22.301 minutes. That Viking lineup featured Malea Moy (cox), Isabelle Mullick, Tatum Tarter, Sofie Chisholm and Sofia Scicchitano (bow).
 
The Lumberjacks put together a winning team in the exhibition 4 race, running away with a time of 8:25.978 minutes to easily surpass second-place Central Oklahoma which posted 8:35.981 minutes. Cal Poly Humboldt’s exhibition boat featured Jenna Frampton (cox), Rowan White, Dani Harper, Linea Vizenor and Lea Lankston (bow).
 
All of the GNAC’s programs are among the top in NCAA Division II, with WWU ranked first, Cal Poly Humboldt second, Seattle Pacific third and Central Oklahoma fifth in the latest CRCA Pocock national coaches poll released on May 12. Selections for the 2026 NCAA Division II Women’s Rowing Championships will be announced by the organization on Tuesday, with the championships set for May 29-30 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Ga.
 
Note: The all-conference team and special awards will be announced next week ahead of the NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships.