WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MADE HISTORY by winning the NCAA Division II Rowing Championships for the third consecutive year. This has not been accomplished by any school since the NCAA added championship rowing in 1997. The top-ranked Vikings lead from start to finish to win both the four and eight grand finals. Western finished with a perfect score of 20 points to 15 for runner-up UC San Diego. The Vikings’ eight, ranked No.1 in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II Poll the entire season, won by nearly two boat lengths, navigating the 2,000-meter course in 7:03.80. They were followed by UC San Diego 7:09.51, Dowling NY 7:12.93 and Nova Southeastern FL 7:28.30. Western’s four also won by nearly two boat lengths with a winning time of 8:08.72. UC San Diego was second in 8:14.71 and Nova Southeastern third in 8:44.83.

Senior team captain, Lindsay Mann-King, was named CRCA All-American for the third time. She was joined by junior stand-out Staci Reynolds. Sophomores Audrey Coon and Gina Auriemma were named CRCA National Scholar-Athletes. This is actually the seventh consecutive trip to nationals for Western. The Vikings competed in the NCAA championship for all divisions in 2001, the varsity eight finishing sixth in its qualifying, repechage and third final races. In 2002, each school raced two eights at nationals. Besides winning the last three national titles, Western placed third at nationals in 2004 and was second in 2002 and 2003. They are coached by WWU alum, John Fuchs. They compete in the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference.