West Coast Conference Rowing Round Up – May 7

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – All West Coast Conference rowing programs are preparing for the 2025 West Coast Conference Rowing Championship.

Washington State and Oregon State’s varsity eight boats won Heluva Good Dip Crew of the Week honors the past two weeks. The Cougars competed in the Lake Wheeler Invite while the Beavers took home victory in their home regatta. 

In The Rankings

Oregon State is the only West Coast Conference team currently ranked. The Beavers are ranked 20th in the latest Pocock CRCA Coaches’ poll. Oregon State has been ranked all season.

This Week

All programs are idle this week as they prepare for the 2025 West Coast Conference Rowing Championships at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. The championship takes place from May 16-17, with heat races on Friday and the petite and grand finals on Saturday. The finals on Saturday will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Last Time Out

Several WCC programs have been competing all over the country these last few weeks.

Gonzaga’s varsity eight most recently competed in the Wheeler Invite, facing off against the likes of Duke and Virginia. The Bulldogs finished with a time of 6:30.43 as they faced off against some of the top programs in the country. 

Creighton set records in Kansas City in its most recent set of races. Both the first and second varsity eight recorded program records. Creighton’s first varsity eight finished with a time of 7:42.33 while the second varsity eight followed up with a time of 7:46.68.

Santa Clara last competed in the WIRA’s at Lake Natoma, where the varsity eight logged a time of 7:07.46. The Broncos would go on to win the novice four race later in the event.

Washington State also last raced at the Lake Wheeler invitational, where the varsity eight boat placed fourth. The Cougars beat nationally ranked North Carolina in that race after facing off against other ranked competition. Washington State was named Heluva Good Dip West Coast Conference Crew of the Week for its efforts after that weekend.

Oregon State recently was named Heluva Good Dip West Coast Conference Crew of the Week for the fourth time this season, the most weekly honors of any boat this season. Oregon State’s varsity eight has now topped ranked opponents in four straight regattas. 

Saint Mary’s last raced in Chula Vista against San Diego and UC San Diego. The Gaels’ first varsity eight boat picked up their first win of the event, defeating San Diego by open water, with a time of 7:07.78. In the second race amidst windier conditions, Saint Mary’s varsity eight finished ahead of UC San Diego for its second win of the weekend.

San Diego was last in the water at the Oregon State Invite at Dexter Lake. The Toreros’ varsity eight placed fourth in its race with a time of 7:15.79 while USD’s second varsity four had a nice showing with a second-place finish in their race with a time of 8:04.16.

Portland took second in all of its races in the WIRA’s at Lake Natoma. The varsity eight started things off for the Pilots, finishing second to the Sacramento State Hornets with a time of 6:48.546. 

Sacramento State also last competed at the Oregon State Invite at Dexter Lake. The Hornets were coming off a medal at the WIRA’s and placed third behind nationally ranked Oregon State and USC. Sacramento State’s varsity eight had a time of 7:02.95.