REDWOOD CITY – The No. 4 California women's rowing team dominated the duel against No. 7 Washington sweeping all five races Saturday morning at the Redwood Shores in Redwood City. With the Bears' win in the V8+ race, the Simpson Cup, which goes to the winner of the varsity eight race, comes back to Cal for the first time since 2019. Cal's 2V8+, 3V8+, 4V8+ and V4+ also notched wins in the duel. This marks the second time this season the V8+, 3V8+ and V4+ defeated Washington as the two faced off at the San Diego Crew Classic earlier this month.
 
"Washington brought out the best in us today," Cal head coach Al Acosta said. "We've done quite a bit of racing and travel over the last three weeks, so I was a little concerned about how much juice we'd have for this one, but the team did an amazing job of going stroke for stroke with the Huskies early and then extending the margin later in the race. Four years ago, when our seniors were freshmen, we got swept by UW, so it's very gratifying to see the seniors get this one. Now that we're halfway through the season I think we're in a good spot, but we have some big races coming up and it's not going to get any easier so we will need to continue to get faster."
 
In the V8+ race, both boats were even through the first 20 strokes before Cal took a two-seat lead in the first 500 meters. As the boats approached the 1,000-meter mark, the Bears were ahead by a half boat. Cal kept the pressure on over the third 500 meters and extended its lead to a seat of open water. The Bears maintained that margin to take the victory in a time of 6:08.8 and bring home the Simpson Cup.
 
In the matchup of the 2V8+, it was fairly even off the start with Cal taking just a one-seat lead over the first 20 strokes. As the boats hit the halfway mark, the Bears kept their lead and went ahead by two seats. Cal kept the pressure on over the third 500 meters and went ahead by a half boat before extending its lead to almost a full boat over the closing 500 meters to take the win in 6:20.2.
 
In the 3V8+ race, it was tight over the first 500 meters until Cal took a four-seat lead at the 1,000-meter mark. The Bears were able to extend their lead to open water over the third 500 meters and held that lead to finish first in a time of 6:33.2.
 
In the 4V8+ duel, the first 500 meters were close before the Bears took a three-seat lead by the halfway mark. Cal was able to extend its lead over the third 500 meters and went ahead by a bit of open water to take the win in a time of 6:46.9.
 
In the V4+ race, Cal got off to a good start and went ahead by two seats within the first 20 strokes. The Huskies were able to walk back a seat and pulled nearly even over the first 500 meters. By the time Cal hit the halfway mark, it was ahead by almost a boat length. The Bears continued to press and built an open-water lead over the second half of the race to get the win in a time of 6:46.9. 
 
The Bears will have next weekend off before competing in the Big Row against No. 1 Stanford on May 4 at the Redwood Shores.
 
Results
 
V8+
1. Cal – 6:08.8
2. Washington – 6:12.6
 
2V8+
1. Cal – 6:20.2
2. Washington – 6:23.2
 
3V8+
1. Cal – 6:33.2
2. Washington – 6:40.8
 
4V8+
1. Cal – 6:46.9
2. Washington – 6:50.6
 
V4+
1. Cal – 6:46.9
2. Washington – 6:50.6
 
Lineups
V8+
Coxswain - Piper Melnick
Stroke: Fien van Westreenen
7: Lotta van Westreenen
6: Minou Bouman
5: Antonia Galland
4: Julia Hunt-Davis
3: Ella Wheeler
2: Star Miller
Bow: Amy Furlonger
 
2V8+
Coxswain: Lily Wieland
Stroke: Della Luke
7: Sophie Ward
6: Ella Berger
5: Tabo Stekelenburg
4: Shannon Kearney
3: Izzy Campbell
2: Sammie Henriksen
Bow: Katie McDermott
 
V4+
Coxswain: Charley Griffiths
4: Megan Culbert
3: Lola Crampin
2: Julia Irmler
1: Miya Meskis
 
3V8+
Coxswain: Emily Nowak
Stroke: Lily Pember
7: Zoe McKernan
6: Francesca Hammerer
5: Lily Rausser
4: Nicole Weber
3: Gwyneth Fagg
2: Sophie Fussell
Bow: Ella Lewerenz
 
4V8+
Coxswain: Julia Fullington
Stroke: Claire Banks
7: Eve Barrancotto
6: Tyra Hjemdal
5: Molly Gold
4: Annie Brown
3: Sydney Koutrouba
2: Sidney Curven
Bow: Kate Nixon
 
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