1980-1989

Women's Crew History

The 1980 Lightweight 8 on their way to the Pac-10 Championship at Redwood Shores. Thank you Cindy Spranger McCormick

1980 Pac-10 Lightweight 8 Champions. Photo thank you Cindy Spranger McCormick

The 1980 Women’s Lightweight team continued the strong tradition, dating back to 1970, of the UW fielding championship level Lightweight squads. Cindy (Spranger) McCormick (4-seat in the 1980 Lightweight 8) recently remembered that year: “That year we were undefeated, I believe, and our boat was always so strong no matter who was in it. The roster changed a bit because a couple of the rowers were in the Varsity 8 for most of the regular season and then moved into the Lightweight boat for Nationals. Those that joined the boat later just fit right in and the boat didn’t lose a beat. This boat had the best swing! You felt a little like you were just skimming on top of the water. We believed in ourselves and supported each other…we all wanted to win but knew we could only do it together. Now every spring there are days that I walk out of my house and the air just smells like rowing. I close my eyes and can feel myself back in a boat…”

Photos: Thank you Cindy Spranger McCormick.

In the summer of 1980, Dick Erickson announced that men’s freshmen coach Bob Ernst – whose frosh teams went undefeated four of the six years he coached and won six straight Conference Championships – would take over as head women’s coach at Washington. Ernst quickly hired Jan Harville, UW alum and two-time Olympian, as his Novice women’s coach. “With Bob Ernst now coaching the women’s varsity, and with Jan Harville and Gil Gamble coaching our first-year athletes, we have the most experienced and complementing coaching team in the business,” said Erickson. “Washington will now achieve its goal of one rowing program for both men and women.” HRF photo

The 1981 Varsity 8+, the first women’s open eight Varsity National Champions in the history of the Washington women’s program. Out of the gates with a 2-seat lead into a slight headwind, Washington and Yale had separated themselves from the pack by the midpoint. Yet it was in the final 200m that the Huskies pulled away, winning in 3:20.8, Yale second in 3:22.9. “When this crew is ahead, there’s not a chance of catching them,” said first year coach Bob Ernst after the race, adding, “I like coaching these women. They win all the time. But they paid for it… they paid in the weight room and they paid on the water.”

Left to right: Head Coach Bob Ernst, Debbie Moore (bow), Madeline Hanson, Sue Broome, Karen Mohling, Peg Achterman, Kris Norelieus, Shyril O’Steen, Jane McDougall (stroke) and Lisa Horn (coxswain). Out of this team, Broome, Norelius, and O’Steen would become Olympians, with Bob Ernst leading the USA Women’s eight to gold in 1984. Source: The Oarsman Magazine, June/July 1981; HRF Photo

Peg Achterman, five-seat on the 1981 team and long-time Washington Rowing Steward, said in 2017: “I came to rowing as a sophomore after being on the track and field team my first year. Laura Jackson and Katie Fox — who were just ahead of me — they convinced me to shift. I also give a lot of credit to Ken Shannon (UW track coach) for making me a better athlete for success as a rower, and I also looked up to Kris Norelius (AND at her back a lot!) since she’d been on the USA Olympic team in 1980.

We all learned about the ’36 crew from the start and I think just knowing the traditions and successes of UW rowing over the years makes all the difference. The women’s teams had had a few successes leading up to the ’81 championship, but not like the men. It was still too early to look to the women of the mid 70s – even though we knew Jan did well. Those stories were more about a few who were on the National Team or in the very successful lightweight boats. I guess I like to think that even though it wasn’t the Olympics against the Germans – that first open-weight National Championship boat is pretty special in the history of the women’s program at UW. I was just in the right place at the right time. So, maybe the young women now look at us and think the same thing I thought about the ’36 guys – ‘wow, they’re old!’ But particularly for the young women, I think those of us from the late 70s and early 80s are a good reminder of how far the program has come… and also how far women’s athletics have come. Title IX wasn’t even a decade old when I started at UW in ’78; the fact that the current rowers see the alums regularly at events is just a far-reaching influence. And the fact that names are attached to scholarships, to shells, to rooms and such – they see what it takes to keep UW Rowing strong.”

She also remembers her first win over Cal: “We had glorious weather on Opening Day of 1981 and it was back in the days when this meant the Cal Dual race (every other year). 1981 was the first season with the women for Bob and we’d surprised everyone at the Crew Classic with a win, and Opening Day was our chance to show that we weren’t a fluke… but we only had about 3 minutes to do it since we were still racing 1,000 meters rather than 1,500 or 2,000. That meant our halfway was at the opening of the Cut… and all I remember was the noise as we started to move on Cal. We could barely hear Lisa Horn (our coxswain) but we knew we were moving and by the time we hit the bridge we were ahead by a few seats. Once we crossed the finish line I could hardly hear OR see — everything was pounding, we were all gasping for air, but we’d won the Cal Dual for the first time. Every time we have a nice sunny day on Opening Day I think about that race as a junior and the confidence it gave us to go on to win the National Championship that year.

I appreciate that the traditions have mostly stayed the same – whether it’s how we christen shells, or how teams work together – Washington Rowing is steeped in commitment to the team and to excellence. The other thing that remains constant is our course and our lake. It doesn’t matter where I am in the waters of the north end of Lake Washington, or Lake Union, the Cut, the Ship Canal – I can remember a practice or a race. The Mountain is still there – kind of saying ‘think you’re so tough?’” Thank you Peg Achterman; Interview with Eric Cohen 9/2017; UW Rowing photo

The 1981 National Champion JV8, the first 2V8 NC in the history of the program, left to right front row: Ellen Pottmeyer, Cindy Spranger, Sharon Ellzey, Penny Craig; back row: Monica Kronlof, Nancy Leppink, Karla Goodwin, Marisa Velling, and Sue Winters.

“The 1981 JV8 was special because a lot of us started out in the last boat,” recalled Cindy (Spranger) McCormick. “We worked extremely hard with the help of our coach, John Squadroni. Part of that work was bonding through laughter… I remember looking forward to practice because we had so much fun together, even though we were working our butts off. We did the work and made it into the JV boat and showed what we were made of… the National Championship was so satisfying because our boat was so strong, and we had worked so hard to get that win.

Crew instilled in me a belief that I could do anything I set my mind to. I didn’t join Crew to win. I joined because I liked to canoe and it seemed similar. I came from Chicago and hadn’t ever rowed in a shell before, but once I started rowing, I realized I was good at it… but I still never thought about winning. I just went to practice and worked out and had fun. But that first time the boat started to swing together and fly across the water I thought, this is amazing! I thought you could do anything by working towards your goal a little at a time.” Photo: Thank you Cindy Spranger McCormick.

Karla Godwin hits the drink after the first 1V/2V sweep in the history of the UW women’s program at Nationals. Photo: Thank you Cindy Spranger McCormick.

An artist’s snapshot of the launching of the state-of-the-art Bodacious in 1982, a gift from the Hunter Simpson family and the first gifted 8-oared shell to the women’s team. This brand new Pocock shell (what Stan Pocock referred to as a “C”-shell, the “C” standing for a composite of “fiberglass, urathane foam, kevlar, carbon fiber and epoxy resin”) honored the 1981 National Championship, while at the same time continued to meet Bob Ernst’s goal to equalize the women’s program with the men. HRF photo

The stern six of the 1982 National Champion 2V8, left to right: stroke Sue Winters, Marisa Velling, Sharon Ellzey, Janise Fulton, Ellen Pottmeyer, and Madeline Hansen. Not pictured: bow pair Debbie Moore and Monica Kronlof, and cox Betsy Beard. UW Rowing photo

Two photos of the 1982 Varsity 8+ National Champions, rowing in the Bodacious (note the stripes next to the coxswain’s seat), bow to stern: Loren Smith, Karen Mohling, Sue Broome, Peg Achterman, Margie Cate, Kris Norelius, Julie Baker, Jane McDougall (stroke), and Lisa Horn (coxswain). The women’s collegiate race distance shifted from 1,000m to 1,500m in 1982 and 1983; then shifted back to 1,000m during the Olympic year of 1984; then permanently went to 2,000m in 1985. UW Rowing photos

The 1982 Women’s team after sweeping the eights at the Cal Dual Regatta: top row: Varsity; middle row 2V8; bottom row Novice 8. Every athlete in this photo went undefeated in 1982. UW Rowing photo

Members of the 1983 USA women’s eight, silver medalists at the Senior World Championships in Duisberg, Germany, left to right: Shyril O’Steen (UW); Carie Graves; Carol Bower; Kris Norelius (UW); and Jan Harville (UW).

On the cover of the Oct/Nov 1983 Rowing USA Magazine, the 1983 USA Women’s 8 on the podium at the Wedau Sports Park in Duisburg, Germany. At the 1000m distance this race was over in a flash, the USSR and East Germany out in front in the first half, but the USA charging back in the last 500m to take the silver. Left to right Kris Thorsness, Pat Spratlen, Shyril O’Steen (UW), Carie Graves, Carol Bower, Kris Norelius (UW), Jan Harville (UW), Holly Metcalf and coxswain Val McClain. USRA photo

The 1983 National Champion Varsity 8+, stern to bow: coxswain Betsy Beard, stroke Loren Smith, Julie Baker, Eleanor McElvaine, Karen Mohling, Jan Fulton, Ellen Pottmeyer, Sara Nevin, and Maureen King. Washington Rowing photo

Members of the the Class of ’86, undefeated Pac-10 Champions in 1983, left to right: Trudi Holt, Kristi Stingl, Jennifer Schifsky, Mary Winecoff, Paige Nilles (stroke) and Lynne Kalina, coxswain. Washington Rowing photo

Hunter and Dolly Simpson (far right) with the 1984 Varsity and their newest shell, the Eagle. The Simpson family in 1984 gifted both the Jane’s Friendship (rowed by the 1984 Women’s Olympic team) and the Eagle to the team. Washington Rowing photo

The 1984 Women’s Varsity 8+ National Champions, left to right: Liz White, Kristi Stingl, Chris Campbell, Cherie Gawley, Liese Hendrie, Eleanor McElvaine, Sara Nevin, Gail Stewart (stroke), Jeannie Bucko, coxswain, and interim coach John Squadroni (Bob Ernst took a leave of absence in 1984 to coach the USA Women’s National Team to Olympic Gold in Los Angeles). The National Championships were held at Greenlake in Seattle in 1984, the V8 taking the 1,000m race in 3:29.5, with Radcliffe (Harvard) a half length back in 3:31.10. Washington Rowing photo

The 1984 Olympic Champion USA Women’s 8+ – coached by Bob Ernst – on the podium left to right: Jeanne Flannagan, Holly Metcalf, Carol Bower, Carie Graves, Shyril O’Steen (UW), Kris Norelius (UW), Kris Thorsness, Kathy Keeler, Betsy Beard (UW) Tom Cohen photo

The Final of the 1984 Olympic Women’s 8+ Rowing event as called by NBC’s Kurt Gowdy and a youthful Steve Gladstone. Like the ’36 team, you know the outcome… but still very, very much worth the watch… about as perfect of a crew race as you will ever see.

“There’s no defense in a 1,000 meter race. It’s all offense.” – Bob Ernst

Huskies Betsy Beard, Shyril O’Steen, and Kris Norelius celebrate their gold medal performance in the USA 8+ at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics on Lake Casitas. HRF photo

The 1985 Varsity 8 with the new* Jane’s Friendship, a gift from Hunter Simpson by way of the 1984 Olympic Team. It was Bob Ernst – looking for the very best equipment for his Olympic team in LA – that first approached the Simpson family about funding the brand new Empacher. Hunter agreed, but only if the shell ended up back at Washington. “The pitch was, ‘Hey, Hunter, how about coming to L.A. and the Olympics and watching your boat win a gold medal?’ ” Ernst said in a Seattle P-I interview, the shell originally named “Friendship” (thus the asterisk above) and, as predicted by Ernst, the victorious shell rowed by the USA women at the 1984 summer Olympics. A few months later and back in Seattle, the shell was re-christened the “Jane’s Friendship” in honor of the late Jane McDougall, stroke of the first National Champion V8 (1981) in program history. UW Rowing photo; thank you Seattle P-I

The 1985 V8 National Champions, closing out a run of five straight National Championships from 1981 – 1985, stern to bow: coxswain Lynn Kalina, stroke Chris Campbell, Sara Nevin, Eleanor McElvaine, Liese Hendrie, Birgit Ziegler, Cherie Gawley, Christy Dotson, and bow Kristi Stingl (of this group, Eleanor McElvaine and Sara Nevin were three-time Varsity National Champions). 1985 was the first year the women’s race distance was moved officially to 2,000m, significantly changing strategy and training. However, at the 1985 National Championship race, the distance was shortened to 1750m due to heavy rain and flooding conditions on the Occoquan Reservoir in Virginia, forcing the team to quickly adjust back to a shortened distance. And adjust they did, dominating the 7-boat final (due to a dead heat in one of the semis between Radcliffe and Minnesota), and winning it in 5:28.4, with open water over Wisconsin in 2nd (5:32), and Minnesota reaching the podium in 3rd (5:33.4). UW Rowing photo

The 1986 Varsity 8 on the Conibear docks. The youthful 1986 team swept the Pac-10’s and finished with a bronze (V8) and silver (2V8) at the National Championships. UW Rowing photo

1987 was the inaugural year for the Windermere Cup, the Seattle Boating Season Opening Day crew races (originally established in 1970) becoming fully sponsored by Windermere Real Estate to bring international competition to the already spectacular event. For this inaugural season, Windermere, working in conjunction with the UW and the US State Department, brought the Soviet Union’s men’s and women’s top teams to Seattle to compete on the Cut with the Huskies. For a full week in May in the spring of 1987, it was the top story in Northwest sports, KOMO TV bringing Keith Jackson (the original KOMO reporter, turned national football announcer, who traveled to Moscow with the 1958 UW team) back to do the play by play of the live televised races.

The results of the races were anti-climatic: both Soviet teams fully dominated their collegiate counterparts, both teams winning by open water. But the event was a game-changer for the Seattle rowing community and was a huge success in the thawing relationship between the two cold-war countries. “It is one of the greatest moments of my life”, said Sarah Watson, 5-seat of the varsity and quoted in the Seattle Times that day. “I’ll never forget it.”

Above are three of the items Sarah saved in her scrapbook of that week, including the athlete’s itinerary and the program to the formal Power Ten dinner. The banner – signed by the Washington women’s team and the Soviet team – remains in the UW collection as a historical memento to a day that changed Washington Rowing, and established the Windermere Cup as a permanent, globally-recognized international rowing regatta. Thank you Sarah Watson ’88, Windermere Real Estate, and the Seattle Times

Washington’s 1987 rowing team was the only squad to sweep all events (V4+, 2V8, V8) in the history of the Women’s Collegiate National Championships prior to the sport becoming NCAA in 1997. Washington remains the only team in history to sweep the National Championships, and they have done it three times: 1987 (NWRA); 2017 (NCAA); and 2019 (NCAA). The 1987 National Champion women’s varsity, bow to stern: Linda Lusk, Katarina Wikstrom, Fritzi Grevstad, Sara Watson, Heidi Hook, Lisa Beluche, Alice Henderson, Kris Sanford, and Trish Lydon (cox). UW Rowing photo

The premier rowing magazine in the country at the time, American Rowing, with the UW women’s varsity eight featured on the cover of the May/June 1987 issue. The photo was taken after the victory in the Whittier Cup at San Diego in April, bow to stern: Linda Lusk, Katarina Wickstrom, Fritzi Grevstad, Sarah Watson, Heidi Hook, Lisa Beluche, Alice Henderson, Kris Sanford (stroke) and Trish Lydon (cox).

In the “Collegiate Rowing in America” featured article inside, five schools are represented: the UCSB women’s team; Stanford’s women’s team; the Purdue men’s club team; the Brown men’s varsity team; and the Washington women. The Washington section, written by athletes Karen Boone and Julie Gardiner entitled “Commitment, Pride, Tradition”, is a well-written contribution that expands on the effort (“no one is cut from the team; hard work and regular attendance are the only requirements”) and expectations at Washington. “At Washington, we receive generous support from our athletic department, the community, and the Seattle media”, the writers note.

And a snapshot into the rower’s life in 1987: “At Washington, there is a certain level of excellence and dedication that is expected of all rowers, from the varsity eight through the novice class; selections are based on the survival of the fittest. Intrasquad competition begins with pair trials in the fall, a race against the clock over a 3,500 meter course that determines the boats that will compete in the autumn regattas. The competition continues throughout the winter with erg tests, timed runs, weight-lifting contests, and “Ham and Eggers” (randomly drawn lineups that race 2,000 meters for the “prized” t-shirts).”

“Turn outs are held in the afternoons during fall and winter quarters and at 6:00 a.m. during the spring term. Bob often lightens up the mood at the half way point of particularly arduous practices by letting a rower tell a joke or making each boat perform a “boat trick”. Some of the more spectacular boat tricks are pushups on the gunwales or balancing the oar with one foot while standing up. Bob is also a believer in alternative rowing workouts which may be anything from swim meets to snow soccer…”

The article finishes with the following passage that so well sums up the timeless values (hard work, team over self, camaraderie, row to win) of the program built over time:

“In writing about the Husky Team, it would be unfair to leave out the contributions made by the coaching staff, mainly Bob Ernst. Bob is the foundation of Washington Crew; he built it and maintains it. He is an innovator and a motivator who thrives on competition and winning and instills those traits in all of his teams. Bob is a master technician and is able to detect the most subtle flaws in someone’s stroke. He assumes an uncompromising level of excellence and anything less ‘just isn’t good enough’.”

“People decide to row at Washington for many different reasons… each member works to make the team better and stronger. This dedication enhances the performance of the team as well as the pride and tradition surrounding Washington Crew. A tradition we hope to perpetuate.” Paul Semonsen photo, USRA; Added 10/22

Jan Harville – a pioneer of Washington Rowing in the early 70’s, two-time Olympian in the 80’s, and highly successful UW women’s novice coach from 1981 – 1987, took over the helm of the Washington Varsity Women’s Team in the summer of 1987, replacing Bob Ernst as he moved to the men’s team.

In an interview years later, Harville shared the core values of Washington Rowing she sought to teach her athletes: “Work hard to improve every day. Demand excellence. Fight until the last stroke. Support your teammates. The essence of rowing at Washington has stayed the same – it is the ultimate team sport. It’s your determination, toughness, and perseverance that is at the heart of it all.” UW Rowing photo

1987 WOMEN: “ON A MISSION” TO THE

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Originally published in SWEEP Magazine, Spring 2005, Eric Cohen

The 1987 women’s squad was coming off a rare and disappointing loss at the National Championships in 1986; Washington had swept the varsity event for five straight years – a streak that still stands as the longest in the history of women’s rowing. Every program in the nation had been gunning for Washington for years, and when Wisconsin prevailed in the final that June day in 1986, the question on everyone’s mind was – “is the dynasty dead?”

Not quite. To say the team re-committed itself early that year is an understatement. “We were on a mission,” said Kris Sanford, ’87 varsity stroke (and former women’s head rowing coach at Syracuse). “The year before we were a very young team. We had T-shirts that said ‘Remember We’re Young’. Coach Ernst said he never wanted to see those again.”

The ’87 varsity was tested in their first race at San Diego, but powered through the defending champion Badgers to win by a half-length, boosting team confidence. Two weeks later, after sweeping the Redwood Shores event over Harvard and Princeton, the team was poised for greatness. “We were so incredibly up for that race,” said Sanford, “it felt like the weight of the world was lifted off our shoulders. That was a pivotal point in our season.”

Meanwhile, not so subtly, the 2V8 was cruising. By the middle of May, the crew had won every race entered by open water, and became Pac-10 champs by stroking to an eighteen-second victory over the closest competition. “We did pretty well against the varsity in training, and felt we were talented”, said Stephanie Doyle, coxswain of the 2V. “From the first day of October, everyone on the team knew we were not there to have fun: we were there to avenge. The one goal we had together as a team was to be first across the line at Nationals.”

On the last day of May, that goal would become reality. The Varsity four began with a one-length victory over runner-up Princeton. The 2V8 followed with a gut wrenching four-seat win over Yale. “We were untested in the sprint,” said Doyle “and we ended up rowing neck and neck down the course. I remember ending that race and feeling like I hadn’t taken a breath the whole way.”

That left the Varsity. In their heat the day before, they were forced to row through Harvard in the sprint, after being down by a length early. In the final it was déjà vu, only this time both Yale and Harvard charged ahead. But in the end, the fit and intensely determined Huskies powered through the east coast schools to win by a half-length. “I think that is what distinguished that team,” said Sanford. “There was never any fear whether or not we could come back in a race. We just knew we would. They had that quality.”

Bob Ernst, who coached the 1987 women’s team, reflected on that season. “1987 was the perfect storm. The team was committed to getting better. Lake Natoma felt like our home course. We had a lot of good athletes. And they really wanted to win.”

From the first day of October.

Photos: The 1987 V8 (top two photos) and the 2V8 (lower photo) on picture day. UW Rowing photos

FROM TRANSITION TO TRIUMPH

THE STORY OF THE ’88 WOMEN

Originally published in SWEEP Magazine, Summer 2017, Eric Cohen

The alarm clock went off at 3:30 a.m. Eastern time (12:30 a.m. Seattle time). Monday morning, June 6th, 1988. Time to race for a National Championship.

For the women of Washington, it was just another adjustment. They had spent most of the year getting up in the dark and practicing at dawn, why not race in it?

The 87/88 season was a year of adjustment for Washington as Bob Ernst – the coach behind the historical run of women’s National Championships – would turn his focus to the men’s squad. Jan Harville, the ‘80 and ’84 Olympian and women’s novice coach since 1981, was elevated into the women’s head coaching role. “It’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle” she said to the Seattle P-I in 1988, “It’s what I want to do. I’m lucky”.

In her first year as head varsity coach, she joined a veteran team coming off of a historical National Championship sweep in 1987. Stephanie Doyle was the senior varsity coxswain in 1988, and working under the new coach was an easy transition: “Once we all got over the shock of it“, said Doyle, “it united us even more because we had someone joining us who we knew. We had pursued success together before. Jan and I met every day, as we were all trying to preserve and protect the tradition and culture that was built into that program.”

“I knew Jan was a great coach and had the experience… I wasn’t worried at all,” said Trudy (Ockenden) Taylor, bow seat of the V8. “You knew where you stood. There was no drama.”

Jan echoed that sentiment right back to the athletes. “I had coached the freshmen for seven years and felt like I was walking into a situation with great athletes,” she said. “Bob (Ernst) was a great mentor and talked me through a number of challenges along the way. We were all working within the system that he created.”

“There was pressure on everyone. They (the V8) were favored everywhere they went, so it was different from 1987. They had a target on their back and they knew it, but the personality of this team was one of strength and confidence. The experience and trust they had within that team helped them maintain their focus.”

The mid to late 80’s saw many of the east coast universities re-building their women’s programs. Wisconsin, in 1986, had knocked Washington off of the top spot on the podium for the first time since 1981. The team was forced to re-group, and the result was an expectation of performance that was visible each day. “When it is that clear, when it is something people share, everyone is on board…” said Doyle, “those women were not going to let one stroke go by that they did not pull their hardest and row their best. It was a standard of excellence I had never seen before.”

The varsity eight would proceed through the spring season undefeated, but the competition was fierce. At the Redwood Shores match-racing regatta in April, the team would face down Radcliffe (Harvard), Yale and Brown in three separate races, and in each case were tested the full 2k. Taylor remembered the trust and confidence she had in her team: “We were behind to Brown by a length at the 1500 meter mark. None of us cared where we were because we knew we would win. My biggest take away from that year was the confidence our team had – we were so amped up in the last 500 we could beat anyone.”

By the time Nationals rolled around the team had perfected both their race strategy and their physical conditioning, and knew they were on the cusp of meeting the expectation they had set at the beginning of the year. But the stormy weather at Hammond Lake, in the upper reaches of Pennsylvania, had a different agenda that June weekend. On a windy Sunday, when the Varsity finals were set to go, there had been enough swampings and near sinkings in the earlier races that regatta officials canceled the marquee V8 event. It was agreed that the race would be postponed to Monday, but due to flight schedules and concerns for more bad weather, it was going to need to be early. And early it was.

“We got up at 3:30 a.m. It was dark when we were stretching,” said Taylor. “and it was dark when we went to launch.” Doyle remembers the same, but with a twist: “It was very peaceful. Contemplative and serene. And then suddenly Radcliffe showed up and started blaring music from their van. I just remember thinking ‘Bring it on.’”

Bring it on is what Washington delivered. Out of the blocks in a flash, the Huskies held the lead through the first 1500. “We were in Jane’s Friendship (the 1984 US Olympic Empacher named for the late Jane McDougal ‘82 and donated by longtime UW Rowing Steward Hunter Simpson). We were ahead and I remember feeling in control, and in the last 500 we poured it on. Yaz was in that race… I remember her voice so distinctly,” said Taylor.

Yaz remembers that day too. As the senior coxswain for the Wisconsin Varsity 8, she was at the starting line that morning as well. “We knew Washington was the team to beat,” she said. “They were big, fit, and looked confident.” Even so, as the only team to beat Washington at the National Championships since 1981, Wisconsin figured they had a shot. “We held with them through the first 1500 meters… but coming into the last 500 the UW just started walking. Nothing appeared to distract them. As a coach now I can tell you that team was a product of high performance coaching. They had been trained all season for that moment and nothing was going to stop them.”

“We finished and there were no fans,” Doyle said. “No one was there. Our parents had all left on Sunday. We got off the water and hugged each other. Jan had a smile from ear to ear.”

“I give full credit to that crew,“ said Harville. “It felt like racing in the middle of the night. It was pitch dark when we got to the course… it was not right. But you train for the unexpected… to be ready for anything. And we got it. And they just went out there and took care of business in the biggest race of the year. We won the team championship that year as well, so all around it was an exceptional group of women.”

Thirty years later those same women still highly value their experience at Washington. “It was one of the most profound experiences of my life,” says Taylor. “I had never been on a team before that was that dependent on your teammates. I learned so much about discipline, dedication and hard work.”

For Doyle, when asked what Washington Rowing has meant to her, she said, “Excellence, and what it means to truly want it. I continue to attempt to live by that idea on a daily basis. It instilled that as part of my being to this day.”

Excellence, dedication, confidence… all words that describe the women of 1988. Throw in the ability to adjust to a dawn start for the biggest race of the year… and you have the makings of a champion.

The 1989 2V8 on Lake Wingra (Wisconsin) on their way to the National Championship. UW Rowing photo

“When this crew is ahead, there’s not a chance of catching them. I like coaching these women. They win all the time. But they paid for it… they paid in the weight room and they paid on the water.”

Bob Ernst, 1981

Women's Crew History

1980-1989

1987 WOMEN: “ON A MISSION” TO THE

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM TRANSITION TO TRIUMPH

THE STORY OF THE ’88 WOMEN

Washington Rowing History

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