GOLD RIVER - Led by wins in the varsity four and second varsity eight and a second place finish in the varsity eight, Cal women's crew took home their third NCAA Championship title in program history at the 2016 NCAA Rowing Championships held on Lake Natoma. The varsity four powered to a national championship over Washington and Virginia and the second varsity eight came from behind to take the national title over Ohio State and Washington. Cal scored 129 points to Ohio State's 126 to take the team title for the third time after winning both in 2005 and 2006.

“Every boat did an amazing job today,” said head coach Al Acosta. “There were opportunities for each boat to slip back one spot and it never happened. The four was down and came through, the second varsity was down and they came through, it was amazing”

The varsity four started the morning battling between Washington and Virginia with only a few seconds separating the three crews into the halfway mark. The lineup of Eleanor Howe (4), Hunter Deuel (3), Kendall Ritter (2), Franny Wood (1), and cox Riley Brown then pulled ahead into the final 250 meters ahead of the Huskies to secure the first National Championship of the day and give the Bears the momentum they needed to continue the afternoon, 07:08.410 to 07:09.203.

The second varsity eight proved to be the most exciting of the championships. Washington took the early lead, but Cal never let them get too far. Inching closer into the second half of the race, the Bears battled between Washington and Ohio State. The lineup of Charlotte Wesselmann(8), Roisin Duffy (7), Sydney Payne (6), Dana Moffat (5), Ellen Heile (4), Charlotte Passot (3), Katherine Kelly (2), Sarah Schwartz (1), and cox Rachel Lether pushed forward and secured the second National Championship for the Bears, 06:28.064 to 06:28.900 and contributing vital points to the team standings.

Going into the final race, the Bears needed to secure a top two finish to position themselves as National Champions regardless of how three time defending champions Ohio State finished. Stanford, Cal and Princeton took the early lead batting each other during the first half of the race. Ohio State then surged ahead taking the final with a 06:19.035 and Cal finishing second ahead of Stanford, 06:21.111 to 06:22.167.

This is the third championship title for Cal women's crew, and the first in nine years, last accomplishing this feat during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Cal capped of a near perfect season after wins in the regular season at the San Diego Crew Classic, Pac-12 Invitational, and the Lake Natoma Invitational. In dual meet competition the varsity eight saw a victory over Washington and the varsity four, third varsity eight and second varsity eight saw wins over Stanford. The Bears then won their second consecutive Pac-12 title two weeks earlier that saw senior Kendall Chase take home the 2016 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

Official Results: 

Varsity Four Grand Final:

1. Cal 7:08.410

2. Washington 7:09.203

3. Virginia 7:12.071

4. Stanford 7:14.757

5. Ohio State 7:15.086

6. Michigan 7:16.876

Cal Lineup: Eleanor Howe(4), Hunter Deuel(3), Kendall Ritter(2), Francis Wood(1), Cox: Riley Brown

 

Second Varsity Eight Grand Final:

1. Cal 6:28.064

2. Ohio State 6:28.900

3.  Washington 6:30.551

 4. Virginia 6:33.662

5. Texas 6:35.285

6. Princeton 6:41.308

Cal Lineup: Charlotte Wesselmann(8), Roisin Duffy(7), Sydney Payne(6), Dana Moffat(5), Ellen Heile(4), Charlotte Passot(3), Katherine Kelly(2), Sarah Schwartz(1), Cox: Rachel Lether

Varsity Eight Grand Final:

1. Ohio State 6:19.035

2. Cal 6:21.111

3. Stanford 6:22.167

4. Brown 6:22.186

5. Virginia 6:23.308

6. Princeton 6:26.186

Cal Lineup: Kendall Chase(8), Rowan McKellar(7), Inger Kavlie(6), Dorothee Beckendorff(5), Charlotte Siering(4), Mia Croonquist(3), Jacinta Edmunds(2), julia vander hoeven(1), Cox: Hannah Christopher