2000-2009

Women's Crew History

The 2000 NCAA Team silver medalists, including the National Champion 4+ (like 1999, all frosh) and silver medalists in the V8 and 2V8. It was a powerful Brown squad that took home the team trophy in the winner-take-all Varsity final. UW Rowing photo

The Henley Royal Regatta’s featured women’s eight-oared event was introduced as the “Henley Prize” in 2000 (later to become the Remenham Cup). Washington’s Varsity 8 was invited, and opened the regatta with a win over the University of Virginia (by 2 lengths), followed by a stunning victory by a quarter-length over the University of London (a composite British National Team) in the semi. On July 2nd in the Grand Final, the team defeated the University of Victoria (a composite Canadian National Team) by a half-length to win the inaugural event in one of the most exciting races at Henley in 2000. Pictured bow to stern: Nicole Rogers, Rika Geyser, Lindsey Horton, Anna Mickelson, Vanessa Tavalero, Theresa Nygren-Birkholz, Nicole Borges, Sabina Telenska (stroke) and Mary Whipple (coxswain).

“This was an awesome race,” said head coach Jan Harville of the grand final, the team pictured here in front of the enclosures. “We were ahead at the first marker (Barrier) by a foot. At the second marker (Fawley), Victoria was ahead by a foot… and then we went up again. I told our crew that Victoria had a fast boat and we would have to take the race away from them. We did it in the last 500 meters of the race. I am so proud that our team could end the season in this way… it was a tremendous opportunity to be here and represent the University of Washington.”

The Huskies moving in the last 500 meters of the Grand Final to take the inaugural Henley Prize (Remenham Cup) July 2nd, 2000.

The 2000 women gather together prior to taking the medal stand at Henley. UW Rowing photo

The 2001 Varsity 8 across the line by about a deck in a headwind on Lake Lanier in 7:04.03; Brown in second in 7:05.34; and Michigan for the bronze in 7:08.45. “In the last 500, our coxswain, Mary Whipple, did an excellent job,” said senior Nicole Rogers. “She said ‘let me take you guys home. Listen to me. It’s going to get creative.’ She started calling us up and we all went together. Once we started moving, we knew. She kept calling ‘believe, believe, believe’ the whole time. When she called ‘believe’, we did and we just went.” UW Rowing photo

The 2001 V8 on the podium, left to right: Annabel Ritchie, Nicole Rogers, Carrie Stasiak, Adrienne Hunter, Rika Geyser, Anna Mickelson, Nicole Borges, Lauren Estevenin (stroke), and Mary Whipple (coxswain), with head coach Jan Harville. A quick start put this team in the lead through 500m, but Brown put on a move and kept a 2-3 seat lead through the body of the race, the Huskies only pulling through in the last 150m to take the win. “The crew said it was pretty rough,” said Coach Harville. “It wasn’t pretty. They won it on guts. It was an outstanding performance.” UW Rowing photo

The 2001 NCAA Team Champions. UW Rowing photo

Windermere Cup 2002: Mary Whipple is shouldered to the lake by teammates Yvonneke Stenken, Anna Mickelson, and Kara Nykriem after the open water V8 Windermere Cup victory over Stanford and Great Britain. WRF photo

The 2002 Pac-10 Champion 2V8, open water victors in an absolute downpour on Lake Natoma, and ultimately the NCAA 2V8 National Champions in a comeback win for the ages over Brown. Front row: coxswain Anne Hessburg, stroke Jenni Vesnaver, Shannon Oates, Jessica Harm; back row: Erin Becht, Sanda Hangan, Marghe Pallotino, Erin Curry and Mandy Nelson. The Huskycrew full coverage of 2002 is here: 2002 Race Results. WRF/Oates photo

The 2002 NCAA National Champion Varsity 8 on the Indianapolis Eagle Creek course, left to right: Mary Whipple (coxswain), Lauren Estevenin (stroke), Annabel Ritchie, Anna Mickelson, Heidi Hurn, Adrienne Hunter, Carrie Stasiak, Kara Nykreim, and Yvonneke Stenken. “When we got off the plane last night we were equally as excited as last year when we won the team championship,” said Anna Mickelson. “Last year we wanted to take the title from Brown and we did. This year we had our junior varsity team win for the first time since 1994. We’re just really proud of what we did.” UW Rowing photo

The V8/2V8 sweep was the first for Washington since the NCAA began sponsorship in 1997 (and the first since 1987 for Washington), and although Brown would win the team title based on their win in the V4+, Jan Harville was philosophical when it came to her team taking second: “They may go home with the trophy this time,” she said, “but I’m not going to trade two wins for that. The Brown coach and I congratulated each other. It’s a little bizarre, but we knew it might happen like this.” UW Rowing photo

The caption from the 2003 Race Results page of this photo from the UW/Cal Dual Regatta: “The women’s Varsity event was a ferocious race by both clubs – a classic duel down the entire length of the course. Both teams still had good speed as they entered the sprint, with Washington beginning to pull away at the end. A terrific collegiate boat race of two exceptional crews: Varsity Eight — 1, UW 6:41.9. 2, Cal 6:44.6.”

The V8 lineup: cox Anne Hessburg, Lauren Estevenin, Carrie Stasiak, Adrienne Hunter, Heidi Hurn, Jessica Harm, Erin Curry, Mary Reeves, Yvonneke Stenken. HRF photo

The team with the 2003 NCAA Team Bronze trophy, the V8 taking 4th; the 2V8 taking 2nd, and the V4 finishing 7th overall. UW Rowing photo

JAN HARVILLE RETIRES AFTER

23 YEARS

Jan Harville, after coaching at Washington for 23 years, stepped down as women’s head coach in the summer of 2003. “I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of years. I never dreamed that I would even coach this long,” Harville said. “Coaching for me is something that has been a full-time passion and lately it takes more and more energy to create the passion needed to be 100 percent.”

Jan accomplished a number of first’s while at Washington: she was the first Women’s US National Team member to come out of the UW program (while it was still a club sport) and a two-time Olympian; the first female head rowing coach at Washington (1987); the first coach to win an NCAA championship at Washington (all sports) and the first female rowing coach (nationally) to win a Team National Championship (1997) and the first to win a Women’s major Henley event (2000). She left the UW with 3 Team NCAA titles, 11 National Championship crews and 41 Conference champions.

“I’ve been fortunate to be associated with rowing at the University of Washington,” said Harville. “We celebrated the centennial of rowing at Washington this year (2003) and I really appreciate the tradition and history of the program. Coaches at Washington feel that we’re kind of caretakers for the program for a period of time. That’s a lot of responsibility.”

Eleanor McElvaine, Jan’s highly successful Frosh coach since joining the staff in 1987, was announced as the new UW Women’s Head Coach later that summer, and would take over the program beginning in the fall of 2003. Photos: UW Rowing and HRF: hat tip to source Dan Lepse from GoHuskies in 2003

The 2004 V4+ winning the Pac-10 Championship on Lake Natoma (and would later win silver at the NCAA’s), left to right: Eva Anderson (cox), Alina Tabacaru, Signe Johannes, Analena Sepherd, and Katherine Ramos. Full coverage of the 2004 season is here: 2004 Race Results. Photo thank you Buckland family/WRF

The 2005 V8 over Texas at the Windermere Classic on a sunny Redwood Shores course In April. Full coverage of the 2005 season is here: 2005 Race Results Photo: thank you Sean Mulligan

The Varsity 8 at the 2006 NCAA’s left to right: Ava Anderson (cox), Courtney Plitt, Jamie Unwin, Sarah Hubbard, Kim Armstrong, Megan Kalmoe, Allison DePalma, Olivia Morrow, and Marah Connole. Full coverage of the 2006 season is here: 2006 Race Results. Photo: thank you Mary Whipple

The class of ’07 together on Class Day – left to right: Andrea Smith, Liz Simenstad, Corianne Bowman, Kristy Gauthier, Cara Troelstra, Courtney Plitt, Asiha Grigsby, Victoria Gibson, and Andrea Sooter. HRF photo

On April 7, 2007, the University of Washington presented Varsity Letters to female athletes (all sports) that competed prior to 1975 (pre-Title IX) and would have earned Letters under current requirements, in a formal dinner and ceremony at the Bank of America Arena on campus. The major event – including individual introductions and award presentations – celebrated over 300 athletes, including more than thirty UW rowers. “Prior to Title IX, a lot of things were not very formal, so the records kept were hit and miss,” said Ann Higgins, an assistant to senior associate AD Marie Tuite. “That became one of our other goals – preserving the history of the women of Washington.”

Angie Mentink, UW All-America softball player in 1994, FSN sportscaster and master of ceremonies for the event said, “I don’t have any stories of sleeping on floors or anything like that. Because of them, I don’t,” she said. “We were stinking spoiled, so I have no stories like that at all.” Mary Schutten, one of the event organizers and a tennis player at the UW in the mid-70’s added, “I want to honor and understand the history. We stand on all those women’s shoulders and it wasn’t easy. These were my athletic emancipators. At the very least, they deserve this night and our thanks.”

Pictured here are some of the pre-Title IX Washington Rowers who were honored and awarded at the event, and then took a spin on Lake Washington in celebration. WRF Photo/Thank you sources Athletic Business and The Seattle P-I

The 2007 V8 over OSU on the Cut in April bow to stern: Liz Simenstad, Kim Armstrong, Samantha Smith, Andrea Sooter, Kim Kennedy, Taryn Langlois, Jamie Unwin, Cara Toelstra (stroke) and Alysha Koorji (coxswain); that same photo became the cover of the 2008 UW Rowing Media Guide one year later.

Full coverage and many more photos of the 2007 season are here: 2007 Race Results. HRF photos

BOB ERNST ONCE AGAIN LEADS THE

VARSITY WOMEN'S PROGRAM

In July of 2007, Bob Ernst stepped down as the Washington men’s head coach, only to step up to once again lead the Varsity Women’s program at Washington, a position he held from 1980 through 1987. He replaced long-time women’s coach Eleanor McElvaine, a committed athlete and coach at Washington for over twenty years. In her coaching career, Eleanor’s teams won multiple conference and national championships as assistant to Jan Harville, before moving into the head coaching role in 2003.

A Washington Hall of Fame member, Eleanor was a mainstay in the six-seat of the varsity eight from ’83-’85, winning three straight National Championships. “I have the utmost respect for Eleanor, who has put an indelible stamp on the Husky program both as a student-athlete and coach” said Athletic Director Todd Turner.

With this change, Ernst became the first D1 rowing coach in history to move from the men (1974-1980) to women (1980-1987) to men (1987-2007) and back to women (2007-2015), coaching multiple National Championship teams along the way, including NC sweeps with the women (1987) and the men (1997), and an Olympic Championship in 1984 with the USA Women’s 8+.

Click the button below to listen to Bob Ernst talk about the 2007 coaching transition, and his new role as Women’s Varsity Coach (4 min, mp3)

The 2005 V8 over Texas at the Windermere Classic on a sunny Redwood Shores course In April. Full coverage of the 2005 season is here: 2005 Race Results Photo: thank you Sean Mulligan

The 2008 team came out of nowhere at the NCAA’s, surprising just about everyone but themselves in taking the Team Silver. From the 2008 Race Results page, some of the interviews we did following this exceptional performance (Interviews: Eric Cohen; Photo: Brian Jackson/HRF):

Bob Ernst: “The kids rose to the occasion – every single player did her best. Everybody had a great weekend…everybody – everybody – on this team rose up to their potential this weekend…these kids just deserve a mountain of credit.”

Ashley Jones, Senior Captain: “Washington Rowing is like nothing I have ever experienced before… I wouldn’t give up any of it for anything and I feel very honored to be a part of such an amazing tradition…”

Isabelle Woodward, Sophomore V8 coxswain: “Yea, Well, being part of this team, we don’t quit. None of our boats quit. You saw all of us walk back today. That is what Husky Rowing is about. We never quit, we never give up…”

Charlene Franklin, Senior 2 Seat of the V4+: “We really were focused on relaxing and racing our own race. When we got passed by Virginia around the 1000 we didn’t let it get to us, we knew we would get it back, and we had an awesome sprint…”

Colin Sykes, coach of the V4+, talks about the race and the 4+ athletes: “They rowed a lot of the piece at a 32…you knew they would have the gear if they had contact at the end, and they did. They really put a lot of heart into it, I’m really super proud of them because they had to dig deep to get it, and when they were through they had really gone to the tank. I explained a lot to the four about the people that go before them and how much support is behind them and the alumni….they were out there representing us. It’s a big thing for them. They really wanted to make a statement. It is a fun, great group to coach – they are really focused – and that made my work easy.” Full interview (2:30 min) below.

Mary Whipple (left) and Anna Mickelson (right) celebrate as Olympic Champions in the USA Women’s 8+ at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Classmates at the UW (class of ’02), Mary and Anna went from the NCAA National Champion V4+ as freshmen to the Varsity 8 for the rest of their careers… which went like this: 2000: NCAA V8 silver and Henley Prize (Remenham Cup) Champions; 2001: undefeated NCAA V8 Champions; 2002: undefeated NCAA V8 Champions. Together they went on to the US National Team where – as mainstays in the USA Women’s 8+ – they reeled off the following: a World Championship together in 2002; an Olympic silver medal in 2004; another World Championship in 2006; and capped it off with this Olympic Championship in 2008. Anna would retire after 2008, but Mary would stay on through 2012 (continued below). One more thing: Anna Mickelson never rowed before her first day at Washington – training in Old Nero – as a feshman walk-on rower.

Here is what Anna had to say about her experience with Husky Crew when interviewed in 2008 prior to the Olympics: Anna Mickelson ’02 and Washington Rowing (click the button below): “I vividly remember getting my first unisuit… and to be a part of all of the pictures I had seen on the walls at the boathouse and to be a Washington Husky… it was so amazing, we were now a part of this bigger thing. To be a part of something like that – once everyone puts all of themselves into it and you’re part of that – then you become something bigger than yourself, which is more powerful than you by yourself, and you can accomplish great, great things.”

Washington Women’s Varsity 8 shell. It all started in the fall of 2007, when Brooks Simpson ran into Bob Ernst at a football tailgate; Brooks remembered that in the course of conversation, “I asked him, ‘Can you still get a shell to the Olympics?’” Ernst said he thought he could. Brooks continued, “It just kind of fell in place. As was the case before, the shell comes home. It will be the (UW’s) number one shell while it’s competitive.”

On March 28th, 2009, The Hunter was inaugurated with the help of ten returning Washington Olympians, seen here with the 2009 Varsity. More on The Hunter and the celebration at Washington is here: The Hunter HRF photo; thank you source Seattle P-I

The Juniors, (pictured here left to right: Adrienne Martelli, Alison Browning, Jenny Park, and Erika Shaw) with the Seattle Times trophy on a wet and wild 2009 Class Day. The first women’s Class Day took place 100 years before this celebration (Washington Rowing History – Women: 1900 – 1909), this photo capturing the significance and meaning – and the fun – of this long-standing tradition at Washington. HRF Photo

The 2009 2V8 out of the gates strong in their semi, finishing 2nd in a gut-check and advancing to the final where they would finish 5th, helping to solidify a 7th place team finish (substantially higher than their seeding) in the strongest field at the NCAA’s since inception. More on the 2009 season is here: 2009 Race Results. HRF Photo

“Yea, well, being part of this team, we don’t quit. None of our boats quit. You saw all of us walk back today. That is what Husky Rowing is about. We never quit, we never give up…”

Isabelle Woodward, 2008 Varsity Coxswain

Women's Crew History

2000-2009

JAN HARVILLE RETIRES AFTER

23 YEARS

BOB ERNST ONCE AGAIN LEADS THE

VARSITY WOMEN'S PROGRAM

Washington Rowing History

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