2020-2025

Women's Crew History

The 2020 season started off where the 2019 team left off, the defending National Champions winning the Championship 4’s at the 2019 Head of the Charles in October – for the first time in the history of the program. Pictured here are some of the Washington fans who made the trip to support the team, including the UW Alumni boat that finished 5th in a competitive Alumni Race on the Charles.

Hints of a possible international pandemic began making the news in February 2020, with each day bringing increasing concern about the potential veracity of the virus. By early March global markets were selling off, and the governments of China and Italy had locked down their countries. On Wednesday, March 11th, the World Health Organization officially declared a global coronavirus pandemic.

The following day, March 12th, the UW Athletic Department was in emergency meetings and phone calls, with coaches waiting to hear the outcome. That afternoon, Yaz reluctantly shared the news: “As everyone is hearing, the NCAA has canceled the remainder of the season for public safety. Tomorrow morning, the athletic department will be meeting to discuss how to best support student-athletes in the coming weeks. I know we are all coming to terms with this. I’ll see you at 2:45 to say thank you and to also thank our seniors for an amazing four years.”

And with that, the 2020 collegiate rowing season was canceled.

“When you’re older you’ve experienced a fair amount of hardship,” Yaz said. “And for these women, they’re in the prime of their life and the prime of their fitness. And especially for those seniors, everything they were doing was about preparing for the season. So I think that’s the most heartbreaking part of (the season being canceled), really — to see the whole team denied that.”

In essence, however, all of this was just the beginning. Within days the country was in lockdown; “two weeks to flatten the curve” became more than a year of online classes, masks, six feet of separation, and economic hardship. The real test for Washington Rowing was just beginning. (Eric Cohen/HRF Photo)

Source: The Seattle Times: Their season was swept away by the coronavirus outbreak, but the reigning NCAA champion UW women’s rowers remain unified; March 22, 2020

If uncertainty and loss were the overriding themes of the 2020 season, then perseverance, gratefulness and triumph were the themes of 2021. Heading into the fall of 2020, the shellhouse remained in virtual lockdown; strict rules on separation, masks, and indoor activity were enforced by the UW, but practices were allowed to proceed if approved.

To avoid indoor training on the ergometers, the team moved to the outdoor concourse of Husky stadium and set up there, the ergs separated by ten feet. On the water, the athletes were allowed to practice, but only in singles and with full separation on the docks.

By January the team was allowed to train in pairs, and by the spring move to fours and finally to eights. Made better was the fact the NCAA granted fifth year eligibility to the 2020 seniors, many returning for the 2021 season. (Photo: Dana Brooks)

The 2021 team, with a number of top fifth year seniors returning, was deep and experienced. Throughout the season the team continued to improve, winning the Cal Dual in May (combined with the Windermere Cup) on a surreal Montlake Cut devoid of fans, with the crowd and boats expressly told not to attend the races.

Two weeks later at Lake Natoma, the team was in high gear, sweeping the eights and winning the Varsity race by three seconds, taking home the Pac-12 team trophy. “It was a hard-fought day of racing, but that’s how the whole year has been,” said coach Farooq. “This team made many sacrifices to get here. It was so rewarding to see them step up today, for everyone here and for everyone back home who helped us have this opportunity.” Source: GoHuskies/Jeff Bechthold; Photo: Alika Jenner

At the NCAA’s in Sarasota, all three crews advanced to the Grand Finals, setting Washington up with Stanford and Texas as the favorites for the title. The Varsity four was first up, driving from the first stroke into the lead, then hanging on in the sprint to win the NCAA Championship. The 2V8 (pictured here) had the same result – but did it only through sheer human will in the last 500m. “It was an epic finish,” said second varsity eight stroke McKenna Bryant. “We gave everything we could. We crossed the finish line and still had to check that we had it. Our coxswain knew. She said we were two seats up, so she knew. We just never gave up, that’s the thing. Three hundred meters to go and five seats down, and we said, ‘No! We’re going!”

The Washington Varsity started well, but both Stanford and Texas began to pull away, the UW putting the heat on in the last 500 but it was not enough, Texas crossing the line in first, followed by Stanford and Washington. Those three teams would tie with 126 points each in the team standings, but the order of finish was determined by the Varsity Eight finish, the Huskies finishing with the third-place team trophy.

“I am enormously proud of how this resilient group made the most of every situation and emerged as a deeply caring and cohesive team,” said Yaz. “As a symbol of our unbreakable bond, we traveled with a massive chain link once attached to the I-520 bridge. Captain Holly Drapp launched the team theme: ‘The Power of the Pack.’”

“A year ago, the mere idea of racing in 2021 seemed like a dream,” she continued. “Now, I look back at an incredible racing season that included a Pac-12 crown, three NCAA podium performances (including two national championships), and an oh-so-close NCAA title finish that capped one of the most extraordinary seasons I’ve experienced in my 36 years as a competitor and coach.” Source: GoHuskies/Jeff Bechthold; Photo: Alika Jenner

The Varsity 8 winning the Simpson Cup at the UW/Cal Dual at Redwood Shores in April. Throughout the fall/winter training season the team suffered through bouts of injury and illness, particularly Covid, but were able to sweep the eights at the Dual in a solid team performance. The downside? By the time they arrived back in Seattle, ten more members of the team were once again sidelined with Covid. Photo: Alika Jenner

Ranked eighth in the nation coming into the NCAA regatta, all three crews made the Grand Finals on Sunday, with the V8 finishing 5th, the 2V8 3rd, and the V4 5th, securing the fourth-place trophy and a spot on the podium. “What’s gratifying is that we’re here as a team at full health,” said varsity coxswain and 2022 team captain Nina Castagna. “It’s not the result we were hoping for, but at the same time, a couple of months ago, we weren’t even sure we could field an NCAA team. The fact that we were all able to come here and send the seniors off is exciting.”

“If you had asked me in March what it would take for us to make the podium, I’d have said it was going to be very challenging and we were going to have to work very, very hard,” said head coach Yasmin Farooq. “And we did. We’ve made so much progress since then. It was like a race against the clock to get the team to full speed. It was awesome to be back in the hunt again, and I’ve honestly never been so proud of a fourth-place overall finish.” Source: GoHuskies/Jeff Bechthold; Photo: Alika Jenner

The Varsity 8 on their way to Henley to row in the top women’s event, the Remenham Cup, left to right: Cox: Nina Castagna, Stroke: Carmela Pappalardo, 7: Teal Cohen, 6: Ella Cossill, 5: Holly Drapp, 4: Holly Dunford, 3: Aisha Rocek, 2: Isabel van Opzeeland, Bow: McKenna Bryant. Source: GoHuskies; UW Athletics photo

As a reward for three of the most difficult training years in the history of the sport (2020 – canceled; 2021 – uncertainty and upended training; 2022 – restricted training and illness), Yaz took the largest group of athletes to Henley in the history of the program, entering in four events: The Remenham Cup (V8 – seen here on the starting blocks); The Island Challenge for Student 8’s (2V8); The Hambleden Pairs Cup (W2-); and The Princess Royal Challenge Cup (W1x).

Although none of the Washington crews would ultimately win their events, the trip was a successful finale for the many athletes who had faced some of the most unique and challenging student-athlete conditions since Women’s Rowing was first re-established at Washington over fifty years ago. “We’re so grateful to our Husky alums and supporters for helping us bring our team to Henley every four years,” said Yaz. “The opportunity to race against the best in the world in this historical setting is the experience of a lifetime. A very special thank you to our 10 seniors and fifth-years who took their final strokes this weekend as Huskies. You’ve left a legacy of making hard work fun, along with boundless enthusiasm and a love of Washington and rowing. We will miss you.” Source: GoHuskies; UW Athletics photo

On a sunny Class Day Saturday in March – and in a tradition dating back to the earliest days of the Washington Women’s team in the 1900’s – the senior class (celebrating here with their men’s team senior counterparts) take the early lead and power to a one length win, carving the Class of ’23 in perpetuity onto the Seattle Times trophy. “On paper, it looked like the seniors were the team to beat,” said coach Farooq. “They took the lead and never looked back. The fifth-year/junior boat did protest the race. They had some oar-clashing with the sophomore boat 200 meters into the race … they requested a re-row; it was not granted. It’s Class Day, and any issues will have to be settled on land.” Source: GoHuskies; UW Athletics photo

The Varsity 8 blasted out of the gates at the UW/Cal Dual on the Montlake Cut in April, attacking the course and putting a half-length on Cal by Fox Point in a textbook first 500m, cruising to a six-second victory to take the Simpson Trophy. UW/Scott Eklund photo

The dedication of the newest shell in the fleet, the Kit Green, in a special celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX on the apron of Conibear Shellhouse after the Cal Dual. Kit Green was instrumental, in the early 70’s, in supporting and growing the women’s club team – and was the women’s athletic director in the 74/75 season that ushered the women’s teams at Washington from club status to varsity status.

Christening the shell with finish line water from the Montlake Cut, Kit toasts the Varsity 8 that had – about an hour prior to these photos being taken – won the Simpson Cup on the Cut. “I’m really happy with that result,” said UW head coach Yasmin Farooq. “What made it extra special was that they raced in the ‘Kit Green,’ which we dedicated today. Kit was in the coaches’ launch with me and got to watch the whole race.”

“We have been so fortunate with all of the support of all who came before this generation, beginning with the women from the 1970s, who started the Title IX endowment in honor of the 50th anniversary,” Farooq continued. “For us to be able to race in that boat with Kit watching made it a really great day.” Source: GoHuskies; Eric Cohen/HRF photos

The Varsity 8 over a strong Australian National Team crew by five seconds to take home the Windermere Cup on a sparkling Opening Day. UW/Scott Eklund photo

The 2V8 with a 7-seat win at the Pac-12’s, the Washington and Stanford teams tied in points going into the Varsity race, where the Cardinal would pull out the win heading into the NCAA’s. “I cannot put into words how proud I am for this team,” said Dimitra Tsamopoulou, the bow seat in the second varsity eight. “Today in my boat, we committed on getting our bow ball first through the finish line. There was no plan B. We trained for it, we visualized it and we did it. Source: GoHuskies/Jeff Bechthold; Photo: Alika Jenner

“It was the most emotional race for me as it was my last Pac-12 championship and because these women in my boat kept reminding me every day why I started rowing, why I love the sport and what it means to not give up,” she continued. “I have never been more inspired by a group of people than I have from this team. I am so honored and grateful that I can call myself a Woman of Washington and be part of the legacy. Next stop: NCAAs.” Source: GoHuskies/Jeff Bechthold; Photo: Alika Jenner

Entering the NCAA National Championships seeded 8th in the V8 and 4th in the 2V8, both crews would save their best race of the season for last. With a hard-fought silver in the 2V8, followed by a relentless Grand Final and a stunning silver medal for the V8, the combined result would earn the full team a second-place finish at the 2023 NCAA’s, making it an unprecedented 6th year in a row on the NCAA podium (top 4) for Washington as a team. “Everything we do is built towards this moment,” said Coach Yaz Farooq. “The results that you saw on the water today are really the results of our entire roster. None of this happens without all of those women back home and, specifically, the work that the first varsity eight and the second varsity eight did together all year.” Source: GoHuskies/Jeff Bechthold; Photo: Alika Jenner

Sunrise at Conibear Shellhouse, ushering in the 123rd Class Day in the history of Washington Rowing. (Eric Cohen/HRF Photo)

The Washington Varsity celebrating the Windermere Cup victory in front of a packed house on the Montalke Cut, the Seattle crowd finally getting back to pre-covid levels. “It was my last trip down the Cut and it was made very special, especially with everyone in my boat,” said fifth-year UW rower Angharad Broughton, the seven-seat in the varsity shell. “It was so loud,” she continued. “You couldn’t hear [coxswain] Grace [Murdock}. She was banging on the side of the boat so we could hear her for the steps in the sprint. It was really great.” Source: Jeff Bechthold, GoHuskies; Photo: Scott Eklund

After an up and down year and the building of experience in a young team, the Huskies came into the NCAA’s seeded 10th in the V8, 7th in the 2V8 and 8th in the V4+, a combined score that would rank them as a team at about eighth in the nation. But that quickly got turned on its head during the semi-finals, as all three Washington crews gutted out big performances to move every team into the grand finals. “The semifinals this year were probably the most nerve-racking in my seven years at UW,” said coach Farooq. “I knew we were capable of making the three finals, but so were a lot of other teams that were ranked above us.”

On Sunday, in the wet weather conditions on Harsha Lake, the 2V8 would make the podium in 4th, with the V8 and V4 both finishing 6th, but the combined score put the Husky Team at fifth, another over-performance at the NCAA’s and an incredible 19 out of 27 tries finishing fifth or higher for Washington at the NCAA National Championships (the UW is one of only two schools (other is Brown) that has been invited to every NCAA Championship since inception in 1997). “This is a young and enthusiastic group,” said Farooq. “For nine of them, it was their first NCAA’s. Having the opportunity to race in the grand final for an NCAA championship was invaluable. They’ll be hungry for next year. I’m incredibly thankful to our seniors and fifth years who are so deeply invested in their younger teammates’ development and growth. Their contributions to the legacy will be felt for years to come.” Source: GoHuskies/Jeff Bechthold; Photo: Alika Jenner

Varsity coxswain Isabel Michaelson takes to the sky courtesy of her V8 teammates after the Simpson Cup victory over Cal at The Dual on the Montlake Cut in late April. The Huskies also won the other two major events, the 2V8 and the V4… an early season test over their traditional rival a month out from championship season. Photo: Scott Eklund

The Varsity across the line with an open water win over New Zealand and Indiana University for the 2025 Windermere Cup, completing an all-event sweep for the women of Washington. “It was awesome,” said 4-seat Zola Kemp, a New Zealand native going head-to-head against her own National Team. “It’s definitely something I have never experienced before and it was so cool lining up against these amazing women that I’ve looked up to so much.”

“The atmosphere was great,” said head coach Yaz Farooq. “Of course, Husky Nation showed up. Driving through the Cut, not only in the race, but also on the way back, you just really feel that everybody knows that this is Rowtown, USA… it really makes you feel the strength of this community and its support for the sport of rowing.” Source: Jeff Bechthold, GoHuskies; Video: Eric Cohen

2025 would be the first year that conference realignment took hold, scattering the Pac-12 schools to four different conferences across the country: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah to the Big 12; Washington, Oregon, USC and UCLA to the Big 10; Cal and Stanford to the ACC; and WSU and OSU left to fend for themselves in a hollowed-out Pac-12.

For the Washington Women, it would be the first time in their history they would not race for a west coast championship against traditional rivals like California and Stanford, instead joining the already established, full Varsity programs at Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, UCLA, USC and Rutgers in the Big 10. Many of these teams have storied pasts, including three straight NCAA Championships for Ohio State from 2012-2014. But even before the first NCAAs in 1997, Minnesota and Wisconsin were firmly established and challenging for the top spot at Nationals, the Badgers (including now UW head coach Yaz Farooq as an undergrad coxswain) defeating Washington in 1986 – the only team between 1981 and 1988 to do that.

The 2025 Big 10 Championships featured seven total events: 1V8, 2V8, 3V8, 4V8, 1V4, 2V4 and 3V4, all individually scored. Washington qualified all seven crews into the Sunday, May 18th Grand Finals; one by one each team rowed their race plan and won gold, the closest race coming down to the 1V8. Starting strong, the Washington Varsity held off a strong Rutgers team by 3 seats to sweep the regatta and the Team Title, the first Big-10 Conference Championship in any sport at Washington and only the second time in history any team has swept the Big-10’s (the other being Ohio State in 2014, a feat the press called at the time “remarkable”).

“The 4V8 – which consists of all freshmen including walk-ons — set the stage for the day with a great battle with Ohio State,” Yaz said. “We knew that race would be a smoker. Our boat raced gritty and tough — and the way they raced inspired all of us.”

“We believed we had the potential to win, and even sweep, the Big-10s,” she continued. “To do that, we knew we would have to withstand a number of challenges today, which we definitely got. I was extremely proud of how our team handled every scenario this weekend. We were prepared and every single person stepped up.”

A remarkable finish for a remarkable team. Source: Jeff Bechthold, GoHuskies; Photos: Alika Jenner

Novice rower Sami Tyler, 5-seat in the champion 4V8, yelling “Go Dawgs” into the mic, with her teammates receiving their gold medals on the podium at the Big 10 Championships, left to right: Claire Cunningham (Seattle, WA); Peyton Wold (Arlington, WA); and Sami Tyler (Camas, WA). Photo: Alika Jenner

The 2025 NCAAs on Lake Mercer could easily have been a celebration for how far women’s rowing has come in the last fifty years, if not for the absolutely searing competition between the teams there. Overflowing with athletic talent and top-level coaching, this event has become one of the pinnacles of the sport every year.

Stanford, Texas, Yale, Princeton, Tennessee, Washington… all came into this regatta with a very real chance of taking home the NC, and the early heats/semis reflected it. By Sunday, four of those teams: Washington, Stanford, Texas, and Yale, had fought their way into all three Grand Finals.

In the Varsity 4 Grand, Washington exploded out of the gate in the quartering tailwind and held the lead, but Stanford stayed in contact through the 1000m and then took the lead with 500 to go, crossing the line in first, but the Huskies held on for the silver, a sub-7-minute race that would set the tone for the day. “The V4 race was truly inspirational,” coach Yaz said. “Their theme this year was ‘Be Bold,’ and it was awesome to see them assert themselves right out of the blocks, lead the field for 1,500 meters, and come away with a silver medal.”

The 2V8 duel between Princeton and Washington for the silver medal (Stanford rowed wire to wire for the gold) was epic, the two crews locked within a seat or two for the last 500m, Washington taking the silver by about two feet at the finish. “The best way to describe the 2V8 race is ‘gritty,'” Yaz said. “They were down, the wind and waves were starting to get wild, and they just clawed their way back into the race and all the way to the line, pushing Stanford and then fighting to edge Princeton in the final strokes. Truly an incredible effort.”

The Varsity race at the women’s NCs should be globally televised; it has now become such a dependably extreme, all-out, stroke-for-stroke race featuring many of the best athletes in the world. 2025 was no exception, Yale stroking out to a half length by the 1000m mark, but the wind and Lake Mercer created ulcer-inducing conditions for every coach on shore. But the crews stayed clean, Yale powering across the line for the upset win over Stanford, Texas in 3rd, with the Huskies in 5th. “What Yale did was extraordinary,” said Yaz. “They raised the bar for the entire field. They put Stanford on their heels, and the rest of us were racing for third in challenging conditions. That wind made the last thousand very tactical. I think our crew gave it all they had. We got a best effort out of all three boats, and I am incredibly proud of the overall effort of the entire squad.”

That effort culminated in the 4th Place Team Trophy, the eighth podium finish out of nine seasons for coach Farooq and her Washington team at the NCAAs. “Looking back, we’re proud not just of today, but of everything we’ve accomplished this season, every race we’ve won, and how far we’ve come together,” said varsity bow seat Aisha Rocek. “Personally, it means so much to be part of this program and to live this journey alongside such an inspiring group of women.” Source: thank you, Jeff Bechthold and GoHuskies; Photos: Alika Jenner; Video: UW Athletics

"We have been so fortunate with all of the support of all who came before this generation, beginning with the women from the 1970s, who started the Title IX endowment in honor of the 50th anniversary. For us to be able to race in that boat with Kit watching made it a really great day."

Coach Yaz Farooq, 2023

Women's Crew History

2020-2025

Washington Rowing History

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