REDWOOD SHORES – The No. 10 California women's rowing team fell to No. 5 Washington in the battle for the Simpson Cup on Saturday morning on Cal's home course of Redwood Shores. The Golden Bears' third varsity eight outpaced the Huskies' 3V8+, while Washington picked up wins in the other six races, including the first varsity eight, to ultimately lift the trophy for the second consecutive year.
 
There was a strong headwind on the course on Saturday morning as a rainstorm rolled through the Bay Area. Washington won the first race of the day in the fourth varsity eight event before Cal answered with the victory in the third varsity eight race. Cal's third varsity eight defeated the 3V8+ from Washington by about a boat-length, finishing in 6:57.2. It was tight through the first 500 meters and at the halfway point, Cal picked up momentum and pushed out to the lead. The Bears maintained the advantage as they approached the finish line and clinched the race win by about a three-second margin.  
 
The Huskies won the three varsity four events, beginning with the return of the 3V4+ race. It was close at the 500-meter mark with Washington just two seats ahead of Cal. The Huskies pulled ahead at the halfway point to an open-water lead and maintained the advantage through the finish line to finish in 7:40.6 to Cal's 7:53.1.
 
The second varsity four event was also tightly contested through the first half of the race. Only one or two seats separated the boats as the two programs approached the bridge, but Washington gained momentum that carried it down the stretch of the course to see the Huskies finish five seconds ahead of the Bears. In the varsity four race, Washington pulled out to a slight lead at the start, but the Bears did well to push the Huskies down the stretch. Washington won the race by a five-second margin, finishing in 7:28.4 to Cal's 7:33.7.
 
The race for the Simpson Cup was determined by a slim margin, with the Bears finishing just 2.7 seconds behind the Huskies in a neck-and-neck battle of the varsity eights. Cal and Washington traded leads through the first 500 meters before the Huskies pulled into about a three-seat lead at the midway point. The Bears pushed the Huskies down the course, maintaining contact the entire way down. Cal kept its foot on the gas, making a big push to stay in contention at the end, but it was not enough to beat the Huskies in the rivalry race. The top Cal boat finished in 6:45.7, which was the Bears' fastest time of the day, just behind Washington's boat in 6:43.0.
 
"Congratulations to Washington on retaining the Simpson Cup," Cal head coach Al Acosta said. "They came out swinging and were very impressive. Although we're disappointed that we didn't win more than one race, we fought hard and closed the margins in just about every event since we last saw the Huskies in San Diego two weeks ago. We'll keep gaining momentum this week and look forward to taking on the Huskies and the rest of the Big Ten in Sacramento next weekend."
 
NEXT UP
Cal will return to the waters next Saturday at the Big Ten Invitational at Lake Natoma in Sacramento. The regatta will feature all 11 Big Ten programs, in addition to eight others from around the nation, including Cal.
 
RESULTS
V8+
1. Washington – 6:43.0
2. Cal – 6:45.7
 
2V8+
1. Washington – 6:43.7
2. Cal – 6:55.4
 
V4+
1. Washington – 7:28.4
2. Cal – 7:33.7
 
2V4+
1. Washington – 7:35.9
2. 7:40.9
 
3V4+
1. Washington – 7:40.6
2. Cal – 7:53.1
 
3V8+
1. Cal – 6:57.2
2. Washington – 7:00.6
 
4V8+
1. Washington – 6:57.5
2. Cal – 7:23.0
 
LINEUPS
V8+
Coxswain - Julia Fullington
8. Olivia Roth
7. Madeline Cox
6. Minou Bouman
5. Ella Wheeler
4. Julia Irmler
3. Lily Abbott
2. Star Rose Miller
1. Lotta van Westreenen
 
2V8+
Coxswain - Emily Kendall
8. Vittoria Pastorelli
7. Allegra O'Sullivan
6. Zara Hoadley
5. Bonnie Mollee
4. Giulia Bosio
3. Lola Crampin
2. Chloe Frushtick
1. Charlotte Johnson
 
V4+
Coxswain - Kira Obsitnik
4. Vivi Spitz
3. Annie Brown
2. Lily Pember
1. Alexandra (Alex) Pearson
 
2V4+
Coxswain - Sam Jaffe
4. Francesca Hammerer
3. Pippa Jamieson
2. Alexandra Ausfahl
1. Kylie Landers
 
3V4+
Coxswain -Saira Mitchell
4. Claire Banks
3. Harriet Cheetham
2. Amy Furlonger
1. Charlotte Hill
 
3V8+
Coxswain - Sofia Filice
8. Frieda Cramer
7. Sophia Turner
6. Beatrice Knight
5. Maile Nelson
4. Isabella (Bella) Laddy
3. Kylee Harrington
2. Gabrielle Jennings
1. Louisa Molloy 
 
4V8+
Coxswain - Chloe Milz
8. Ava Brooks
7. Eve Barrancotto
6. Rachel Furtaw
5. Lily Bonnem
4. Amalia Campbell
3. Alice Gallo
2. Ava Andrews
1. Sidney Curven
 
STAY POSTED
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