Saturday, May 13, 2023

DEXTER, Ore. – For the second straight year, the GNAC Women’s Rowing Championships came down to a one-point difference. But for the first time, the conference has a repeat team champion.

Central Oklahoma used a first-place finish in the varsity 4+ final and a second-place finish in the varsity 8+ final to claim its second GNAC championship Saturday, beating out Cal Poly Humboldt by one point at Dexter Lake.

The Bronchos finished with 27 points to finish one point ahead of Cal Poly Humboldt, which has its best GNAC Championships finish ever with a score of 26 points. The Lumberjacks won the varsity 8+ and placed third in the varsity 4+. Western Washington placed third with 19 points and Seattle Pacific was fourth with 18 points.

The difference in the team competition was the varsity 8+ final, where Cal Poly Humboldt emerged victorious. The crew of coxswain Sonja Scallon and rowers Molly Urtz, Ellie Walters, Kealey Scott, Cassidy Hollenbeck, Goldie Foley, Gabbie Griffin, Alyssa Paynton and Malia Seeley were four seconds clear of Central Oklahoma and Seattle Pacific with a winning time of 7:01.991. It was a close race for second with Central Oklahoma finishing in 7:05.337 and Seattle Pacific finishing in 7:05.663.

For the third straight year, Central Oklahoma rowed away as the varsity 4+ champion. The crew of coxswain Emily Overholt and rowers Hope Brooks, Danielle Holle, Audra Hempfling and Peyton Miller cruised to a five-second victory in a time of 7:51.924. Western Washington edged Cal Poly Humboldt for second place with the Vikings finishing in 7:56.064 and the Lumberjacks finishing in 7:56.088.

Seattle Pacific opened the day with the victory in the exhibition 4+ race. The team of coxswain Lexi Roybal and rowers Brit Dahlberg, Addie Clark, Bella Lisenby and Gem Gatmaytan finished in a time of 8:03.544, six seconds ahead of second-place Cal Poly Humboldt.

Ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division II West Region rankings (as of May 3), Central Oklahoma is almost assured a spot in the NCAA Division II Women’s Rowing Championships, which takes place May 26 through 28 in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The selections will be announced via a selection show on NCAA.com that will be streamed on Tuesday, May 16 at 2:30 p.m. (Pacific).

GNAC WOMEN’S ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sat., May 13 at Dexter Lake, Dexter, Ore.
Team Scores: Central Oklahoma 27, Cal Poly Humboldt 26, Western Washington 19, Seattle Pacific 18.
Exhibition 4+: 1, Seattle Pacific, 8:03.544. 2, Cal Poly Humboldt, 8:09.330. 3, Central Oklahoma, 8:15.804. 4, Western Washington, 8:16.112.
Varsity 4+ Final: 1, Central Oklahoma, 7:51.924. 2, Western Washington, 7:56.064. 3, Cal Poly Humboldt, 7:56.088. 4, Seattle Pacific, 7:57.458.
Varsity 8+ Final: 1, Cal Poly Humboldt, 7:01.991. 2, Central Oklahoma, 7:05.537. 3, Seattle Pacific, 7:05.663. 4, Western Washington, 7:09.889.

Boat Lineups
Cal Poly Humboldt
Open 4+: Taylor Carrington (coxswain), Emily Marsolias, Baya McIntosh, Emry Yount, Marie Clare Desplacke
Varsity 4+: Emily Daniels (coxswain), Gwen Sutton, Chloe Pieper-Wasem, Kylie Mosley, Sarah Lorenzini
Varsity 8+: Sonja Scollon (coxswain), Molly Urtz, Ellie Walters, Kealey Scott, Cassidy Hollenbeck, Goldie Foley, Gabbie Griffin, Alyssa Paynton, Malia Seeley

Central Oklahoma
Open 4+: Macie Cohlmia (coxswain), Caleah Oliver (coxswain), Allie Schein, Kylie Eagan, Isabel Brown
Varsity 4+: Emily Overholt, Hope Brooks, Danielle Holle, Audra Hempfling, Peyton Meiler
Varsity 8+: Sydney Large (coxswain), Lauren Clark, Samantha Hutchings, Kenna Chamlee, Sinead Quirke, Victoria Petschnig, Faith Brooks, Keyna Swoosh, Raphaela Sanchez

Seattle Pacific
Open 4+: Lexi Roybal (coxswain), Brit Dalberg, Addie Clark, Bella Lisenby, Gem Gatmaytan
Varsity 4+: Lucy Sandahl (coxswain), Megan Popielak, Anna Boatman, Sophie Sandahl, Megan Rouse
Varsity 8+: Moxie McCandless (coxswain), Jacinda Grandel, Natalie KOrolenko, Audrey Rekedal, Kalais Saumelson, Elise Cornwell, Ixchel Watson, Macie Leach, Hannah Miller

Western Washington
Open 4+: Emma Hopkins (coxswain), Lex Clark, Kaylie McRea, Linnea Olix, Anna Iliff
Varsity 4+: Janisa Cook (coxswain), Reed Chesnek, Maddie Kidd, Jenna Buckholt, Mia Knipe
Varsity 8+: Kylie Lovrich (coxswain), Clarice Ruhlin-Hicks, Paige Donner, Morgan MacIntyre, Emma Clark, Taylor Wall, Lily Bjork, Sarah Ernst