Friday, May 20, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – After helping to lead Seattle Pacific back to the NCAA Division II Championships for the first time since 2019 and a second-place finish at the GNAC Championships, Falcons senior Jennifer Hoag has been selected as the Rower of the Year to lead selections to the 2021-22 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Rowing All-Conference Team.

Hoag was the mainstay for the Falcons in the stroke seat of the varsity 4+ crew all season. She helped lead Seattle Pacific to a second-place finish in the D2/D3/Club grand final at the WIRA Championships and at the GNAC Championships. In one of her only appearances in the varsity 8+ boat, Hoag was in the stroke seat as the Falcons rowed to third place in the Cascade Cup race at the Windermere Cup. Hoag was one of three repeat selections to the all-conference team.

Conference champion Western Washington took three of the five special awards and earned five of the all-conference spots. Senior Adele Houston was named by coaches as the Coxswain of the Year. Sarah Ernst was named the Freshman of the Year and John Fuchs was selected as the Coach of the Year.

Houston served as the coxswain for the Vikings’ varsity 8+ all season. She helped lead WWU to a number of big victories, including the D2/D3/Club grand final at the WIRA Championships and the varsity 8+ final in a close race at the GNAC Championships.

Ernst spent most of the season in the bow seat of the varsity 8+ boat in her first year with the Vikings. She occupied that seat for the Vikings’ victories at both the WIRA Championships and the GNAC Championships.

Now in his 23rd season as Western Washington head coach, Fuchs coached the Vikings to their first GNAC championship and the program's first berth in the NCAA Championships since 2019. Under his direction, the Vikings earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region for the NCAA Championships and as high as a No. 4 ranking in the Pocock/CRCA Division II Coaches Poll.

Cal Poly Humboldt junior Dana Foley was named the Newcomer of the Year. The walk-on found herself in the No. 6 seat of the varsity 8+ boat by the end of the season, helping the Lumberjacks to their victories at the Covered Bridge Regatta and a second-place finish in the D2/D3/Club grand final at the WIRA Championships.

Joining Houston as an all-conference selection for Western Washington are seniors Haley Moss and Maddie Bangasser, junior Clarice Ruhlin-Hicks and sophomore Morgan MacIntyre. All four were part of the Vikings varsity 8+ lineup that won at the WIRA Championships and the GNAC Championships. Bangasser was named all-conference for the second straight season.

Joining Hoag on the all-conference team for Seattle Pacific is senior LeeAnn Arrington and junior Macie Leach. Arrington served as the coxswain on the varsity 8+ all season while Leach occupied the No. 7 seat. Both were in the Falcons’ boats that placed second at the GNAC Championships and third at the WIRA Championships.

Senior Sage Kroeker and sophomore Faith Brooks earned all-conference honors for Central Oklahoma. Both were part of the Bronchos’ varsity 8+ crew with Kroeker occupying the No. 2 seat and Brooks occupying the No. 5 seat.

Senior Malia Seeley was Cal Poly Humboldt’s all-conference selection for the second straight season. Seeley was in the varsity 8+ bow seat for the Lumberjacks’ victories at the Covered Bridge Regatta and was in the No. 3 seat for the team’s second-place finish at the WIRA Championships.