LOWELL, OR – With an open water victory in the varsity eight race, the Cal men's rowing team captured its 16^th Pac-12 Championship on Sunday at Dexter Lake. Cal finished with 72 points overall, earning wins in the varsity 8+, second varsity 8+, varsity 4+, and novice 8+.

"Really, really good day for all our crews," said head coach Scott Frandsen. "Proud of how they all raced. Varsity had a great race from start to finish. JV, what a comeback win, that was a gutsy, internal, just awesome race for those guys to come and win in the last five strokes. 3v had a very good race and came up just a little short in the last 500m. We accomplished exactly what we wanted to do. And now the focus very much shifts to the IRA in three weeks."

Cal's championship day began with a strong showing in the novice eight. The Huskies opened up the race with an early lead. In the second 500 meters, the Bears took three seats back and overtook Washington just past the 1,000-meter mark. Over the last 500 meters, Cal increased their lead over Washington and finished with a time of 5:44.98. Washington finished in second with a time of 5:47.41.

In the third varsity eight race, Washington again jumped out to an early lead. Through the middle 1,000 meters, Cal battled back and drew within a few seats of Washington but fell short in the final push to the finish line.

In the Varsity 4+ race, the Bears took back the momentum with a strong showing. Cal grabbed the early lead and never looked back. After 1,500 meters the Bears had a 10-second lead and finished with open water between their boat and rival Washington. Cal finished with a time of 6:28.85, Washington in second with a time of 6:42.45.

The 2V8 race proved to be the difference in a day of strong racing for the Bears. Washington claimed the early lead and added to its lead over the second 500 meters. Cal began to cut into the Huskies' lead in the third 500 meters, taking back three seats. Over the final 500 meters, Cal finished with a blistering split of 1:20.56 and edged out Washington in a photo finish. Cal crossed the line with a time of 5:38.53, Washington just behind at 5:38.66.

In the final race of the day, with the momentum squarely in the Bears' corner, Cal put on a repeat performance of the dual race at Redwood Shores in late April. Cal jumped out front early, holding a three-second advantage after 500 meters. After the halfway point Cal extended its lead; down the stretch, the Bears had open water between themselves and the Huskies. Cal finished with a time of 5:36.90, and Washington finished in second with a time of 5:42.21.

Cal will return to the Water the first weekend in June when they compete at the IRA Championships June 3-5 at Mercer Lake in West Windsor Township, N.J.

Pac-12 Championships Men's Results

1. California                         72 points
2. Washington                     65 points
3. Oregon State                   47 points
4. Stanford                           42 points
5. Washington State           40 points
6. Oregon State                    17 points
7. Colorado                          13 points 

Men's V8+ Results

1. California                          5:36.90
2. Washington                     5:42.21
3. Stanford                           5:49.67
4. Oregon State                    5:53.27
5. Washington State           6:14.79
6. Colorado                          6:30.07
7. Oregon                              6:39.95

Men's 2V8+ Results

1. California                          5:38.53
2. Washington                     5:38.66
3. Stanford                           6:00.12
4. Oregon State                    6:01.78
5. Washington State           6:37.99
6. Oregon                              6:40.42

Men's V4+ Results

1. California                          6:28.85
2. Washington                     6:42.45
3. Oregon State                    6:55.92

Men's 3V8+ Results

1. Washington                     5:43.52
2. California                          5:44.42
3. Oregon State                    6:07.23

Men's N8+ Results

1. California                          5:44.98
2. Washington                     5:47.41
3. Washington State           6:43.43

Sunday's Lineups
Varsity 8+
Luca Vieira (cox)
Iwan Hadfield (stroke)
Elliott Kemp 
Tim Roth
Ollie Maclean
Gennaro di Mauro
Angus Dawson
Frederik Breuer
Campbell Crouch (bow)

Second Varsity 8+
James French (cox)
Tommy Barrell (stroke)
Fred Roper
Balthasar Issa
Daton Wolfaardt
Olav Molenaar
Josh Anderson
Michael Chandler
Evan Lane (bow)

Third Varsity 8+
Iliad Izadi (Cox)
Harry Cox (stroke)
Alex Langstone-Bolt
Tyler Kurth
Matthew Gallagher
Bret Holt
Adam Stephenson
Spencer Dettlinger
Ed Digby (bow)
 
Novice 8+
Savannah Adamo (Cox)
Marcus Cameron (stroke)
Wil Morton
Jamie Arnold
Harry Manton
Guy Ferrera
Andrew Treger
Henry Furrer
Farley Dimond Brown (bow)
 
STAY CONNECTED
For complete coverage of Cal men's rowing, please follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalMRowing), Instagram (@CalMRowing), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalMRowing).