Celebration to honor success of WWU rowing team Oct. 23

The Western Washington University Alumni Association and the WWU Athletics Department will honor the women's rowing team at a celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, in Carver Gymnasium.

The rowing team has enjoyed more than 30 years of success at WWU, including winning the past six NCAA Division II national championships. Prior to the recent run of championships, the WWU crew placed second twice, third once and fourth once. The six straight championships are the most by any school in any division of the NCAA.

The cost for the event is $10 per person. For more information, contact Leigha Anderson or visit the WWU Alumni Association website.

"It was a great year," said 12-year Western coach John Fuchs after the team won its most recent championship in May. "What an awesome team. They had great chemistry. They're nice kids and good students and they worked well with each other. It was really a fun year, a fun group to coach for sure."

For the first in its championship run, Western did not win the varsity eight, finishing four seats behind Mercyhurst PA. But that result, combined with an impressive five boat-length victory by the four, was enough for another championship.

"It was a helluva race," Fuchs said. "Hats off to Mercyhurst, they've got a good crew and are well coached. It was a great race. Our kids didn't leave anything out there. It was close the whole way with some good times."

The Vikings' four dominated, completing the 2,000-meter course in 7:25.35, over 18 seconds better than second-place Florida Tech (7:43.84) with Philadelphia third (7:56.92).

"They had probably their best race of the year, and it's always good to do that on a day like today," said Fuchs. "The field wasn't that strong, but our kids had a great run. I think that's the best time or pretty close to the best time we've ever posted down here."

Mercyhurst led throughout the eight race, edging Western, ranked No.1 in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II Poll, by 2.39 seconds. Mercyhurst, which placed second last year after entering the final rated No.1, won the 2004 national title, the last time the Vikings lost to a Division II opponent in the varsity eight, when they placed third.

"Mercyhurst was a little faster today," Fuchs said. "They earned the right to say that they're the best eight out there."

Western took the team championship with 20 points, followed by Seattle Pacific 11, Philadelphia 10 and Florida Tech 9. Mercyhurst was not eligible because the Lakers only got an at-large bid for their varsity eight.