Thursday, February 17, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – Coming off of its third consecutive national championship, Central Oklahoma tops the list once again in the Pocock/College Rowing Coaches Association’s Division II Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Bronchos received four of five possible first-place votes to lead the poll with 197 points. Central Oklahoma won the first GNAC women’s rowing championship last spring, sweeping both the varsity 8+ and varsity 4+ races. They went on to pull off the same feat at the NCAA Championships, scoring a perfect 30 points.

Central Oklahoma’s crews will be led by senior Madisyn Kitchell, who was the 2021 GNAC Coxswain of the Year, senior Sage Kroeker, the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, and sophomore Faith Brooks, who was named the 2021 Freshman of the Year.

All four GNAC teams earned a spot in the preseason poll. Seattle Pacific is ranked No. 5, Western Washington is No. 6 and Cal Poly Humboldt is tied for No. 8.

Seattle Pacific placed second to the Bronchos at the GNAC Championships with 25 points, taking second in both the varsity 8+ and varsity 4+ races. The Falcons are led by senior Jennifer Hoag, who is the program’s only returning All-GNAC selection.

Western Washington was third at the 2021 GNAC Championships with 20 points. The Vikings will be led by senior Maddie Bangasser, who earned both First Team All-GNAC and First Team All-American awards last year.

Cal Poly Humboldt is back after rowing with a limited roster and schedule in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lumberjacks are led by senior Malia Seeley, who was the team’s lone All-GNAC selection last year.

The spring championship season begins on Saturday, Mar. 5, with Seattle Pacific and Western Washington competing in the PLU Invitational in Lakewood, Washington. Central Oklahoma opens its title defense by hosting Creighton in Oklahoma City on Saturday, March 12, while Cal Poly Humboldt will compete in the Sacramento State Invitational on Lake Natoma.