2010-2019

Women's Crew History

Erin Lauber putting the hammer down at the 2010 Pac-12’s in the V8. HRF Photo

The 2010 team rowing in some famous shells: Haley Yeager, bow seat of the 2V8 rowing the Jan Harville to victory over Wisconsin in the UW/Wisconsin Dual Race, and the Pac-12 Champion novice team in the simply named Hunter, the namesake of longtime friend and steward of the women’s program at Washington, Hunter Simpson. More on the 2010 season is here: 2010 Race Results. HRF Photos

The 2010 Women’s alumni row on Class Day weekend. HRF Photo

Two early season 2011 wins at the San Diego Crew Classic, the Novice 8 front row, and the 2V8 in the back. More photos and full coverage of the 2011 season is here: 2011 Race Results. Katie Gardner/HRF Photo

The 2011 Windermere Cup Champion V8 with an open water victory over Oklahoma and Cambridge, bow to stern: Veronica Tamsitt, Kirstyn Goodger, Kira O’Sullivan, Leslie White, Madison Culp, Kerry Simmonds, Erin Lauber, Camilla Sullivan (stroke), and Ariana Tanimoto (coxswain). UW Rowing photo

The 2012 Varsity 8 at the NCAA’s left to right: Fiona Gammond, Kirstyn Goodger, Erin Lauber, Skye Pearman-Gillman, Kelsey Jackson (cox), Madison Culp, Marie Strohmeyer, Ruth Whyman, and Amy Fowler (stroke). More photos and full coverage of the 2012 season is here: 2012 Race Results. Photo: Colin Sykes/HRF

Mary Whipple finished her coxing career in 2012 as a two-time Olympic Champion (2008, 2012), Olympic silver medalist (2004), and 5-time World Champion (2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011). Add to that three NCAA championships and a Henley championship as a UW athlete, and you have the most decorated rower in UW history. “Mary had the rare ability to get eight very strong women all working together,” said UW and USA National Team teammate Anna Mickelson. “When you lock into that, the power is something you can’t even quantify.” US Rowing photo

The USA Quad after winning the bronze medal in London, featuring Megan Kalmoe ’06 (2nd from right) and Adrienne Martelli ’10 (closest right). Kalmoe would continue on to the Olympics in 2020 (2021), becoming the first Washington rower, men and women combined, to be a four-time Olympian: 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. US Rowing photo

The 2013 Women’s V8 in the race of the day at the UW/Cal Dual Race, the crews within a seat throughout the first 1000m, then Washington with a move in the 3rd 500 to take two more seats, the two teams flying into the Cut within a half-length with the Huskies on top, drawing it out in the sprint to win for the first time in nine Simpson Cup races in 6:24, Cal trailing in 6:26.4. UW Rowing photo

Bob Ernst – whose men’s team had taken the trip to New Zealand for the “Gallagher Great Race” on the Waikato river in 2005 – was invited to bring his women’s varsity back to the event in the summer of 2014 and race for the Bryan Gould Trophy. On September 15th, 2014 (springtime in New Zealand), the UW women pulled off the upset over Waikato University and Melbourne University to win the 4.2k upstream, winding river course on the Waikato River (through central Hamilton). The New Zealand equivalent of the Windermere Cup – the community coming together to celebrate the storied New Zealand sport and the competition – the Great Race is a wonderful event with gracious hosts that make it that much more special. From the Waikato University article on the race:

“Waikato University, led by world champion Zoe Stevenson in stroke, made the early running along the east bank in the women’s race, as Washington remained close, with Melbourne dropping back. Washington’s attack forced Waikato to veer into the current as the teams moved to the west bank, where the Americans clipped a tree along the riverbank to drop back by two lengths.

>When the action returned to the eastern side of the river, the Washington crew attacked again, gaining the overlap to force Waikato back into the current in the middle of the river. It proved the pivotal move as the Americans pushed on over the final 200m to claim an historic victory.

“It was perfect execution out there today,” says Auckland’s Kirstyn Goodger, who rows for Washington. “The river was pretty challenging but I thought our coxswain handled it beautifully. The river was going a bit faster and we hit a couple of trees we hadn’t hit before so that was fun. Everything we planned we executed.”

Their long-time coach Bob Ernst heaped praise on their coxswain Marlow Mizer. “Most of our races are in swimming pools 1.25 miles long and everybody goes in a straight line. Our coxswain is very young but was a ski racer and so she understands the lines and she was perfect navigating on this river and in the currents today.”

The race culminated a week-long activity including indoor rowing, schools visits, corporate, university and schools eights rowing on the Waikato River.”

Washington’s roster for the trip: Kadie Brown, Soph., (Federal Way, Wash.), Maddie Cornder, Grad., (Melbourne, Australia), Allie Delarge, Jr., (Victoria B.C., Canada), Fiona Gammond, Sr., (Bucknell, England), Kirstyn Goodger, Grad., (Auckland, New Zealand), Marlow Mizer, Soph., (Kailey, Idaho), Patricia Obee, Grad., (Victoria B.C., Canada), Grace Spoors, Jr., (Christchurch, New Zealand), Phoebe Spoors, Soph., (Christchurch, New Zealand), Courtney Thompson, Jr., (University Place, Wash.), Elizabeth Vogt, Sr., (Trout Lake, Wash.) UW Rowing photo

Members of the 2014 Novice 8 (Class of ’17) celebrating an undefeated season at the Pac-12’s, with a spirit that reflected the improving overall team. Keep an eye on this group of athletes, you will be seeing more of them on the podium over the next three years… UW Rowing photo

Colin Sykes and Bob Ernst in 2014, a coaching partnership that excelled with both the men’s and women’s teams for twenty plus years through consistency, high expectations, and a commitment to the traditions and unique history of Washington Rowing. HRF photo

The 4th-ranked Washington V8 across the line over 3rd-ranked Virginia in a back and forth barn-burner in front of 50,000 fans at a sun-soaked 2015 Windermere Cup, one of the best crew races down the Cut in the decade. “This young team just keeps growing and getting better throughout the season,” said Bob Ernst. “Beating Virginia was a great indicator for us. They are one of the best teams in the country, and to beat them and win the Windermere Cup is an honor.” Bow to stern: Liz Vogt, Bella Chilczuk, Dani Olson, Grace Spoors, Phoebe Spoors, Sarah Dougherty, Fiona Gammond, Natasha Gay and coxswain Marlow Mizer. UW Rowing photo

“The Washington women fought hard and earned their spot on the podium this year, and all with a fairly young and inexperienced team,” said Bob Ernst after the team came home with the 4th Place Trophy from the 2015 NCAA’s on Lake Natoma. I am so proud of this team and my wonderful coaching staff – Conor Bullis, Colin Sykes, and Zoe Vais! Our progress has not been straight up over the last eight years, but we are getting there. The NCAA Championship is in sight and our system is ‘Built to last’”. UW Rowing photo

Bob Ernst, seen here in 2015 with the Simpson family (Brooks Simpson, Dottie Simpson, and Anne Simpson) as they christen the newest Hunter, was relieved of his duties as UW Rowing Program Director and Women’s Head Coach in the fall of 2015. Ernst had coached at Washington for 42 years, beginning his career as the men’s frosh coach in 1974.

Conor Bullis, in a photo from 2008 after coaching the men’s V4+ to a National Championship, would assume the women’s head coaching duties in December of 2015. Bullis had joined the women’s staff in 2012 as the Novice coach, leading the Novice 8 to two undefeated, Pac-12 Champion seasons in 2013 and 2014, before doing the same with the W3V in 2015. HRF photos

The 2016 women and men together on the Windermere Cup podium, the women defeating Cambridge and San Diego State for their 10th straight victory in the event. The women’s V8, front row left to right (not in boating order): Val Vogt, Grace Spoors (stroke), Phoebe Marks-Nicholes (cox), Natasha Gay, Sarah Dougherty, Dani Olson, Katy Gillingham, Calina Schanze, and Phoebe Spoors, with coach Conor Bullis far right. UW Rowing photo

The 2016 NCAA silver medalist V4 rowing the Allegra left to right: Vanessa Whatam, Sophia Dalton, Kadie Brown, Maggie Phillips and cox Madison Mariani. In the Grand Final, this team stormed into the lead but were overtaken by Cal in the last 500m. “Their coach Alan Meininghaus had a plan for them and I think they did everything they could to execute the best final race,” said Coach Bullis. “And boy what a race. That is what we expect at the NCAA championships.”

The 2V8 would make the podium with a bronze as well, the V8 unable to make the Grand but overall the team would finish 5th. “I’m really proud of the team as a whole,” said Coach Bullis. “It sounds cliché, but top to bottom, the 6V in our boathouse puts pressure on our 5V, to the 5V winning our home races. The 4V and the 3V winning the Pac-12 Championship for the third year in a row. The 2V having an amazing race and the 1V finishing with the best race of the year. That is all you can ask for. I am really proud of them.”

“We are a product of what we are willing to do for Washington Rowing to push for excellence in all aspects of our program. Our community is strong and able to do such incredible things in rowing and the lives of our student-athletes. I am honored to have been the interim women’s head coach during the 2016 season. The team is very strong and has a strong incoming class. The future is bright for Washington Rowing.” UW Rowing photo; source thank you Jeff Bechthold at GoHuskies

Olympic Champions Kerry Simmonds ’11 (bottom row, second from left), along with coxswain Katelin Snyder ’09 (next to Kerry), with their USA teammates and the gold medals won in the Women’s 8+ at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic summer games. Ed Hewitt/Row2k photo

YASMIN "YAZ" FAROOQ NAMED

Head Coach

In June of 2016, Yasmin “Yaz” Farooq was named the Head Coach of the Women’s Rowing Program at Washington. Bringing ten years of experience as the head women’s coach at Stanford – including an NCAA Team National Championship in 2009 – Yaz came to Washington with a built-in appreciation for the program: “I always knew the only place I’d leave Stanford for would be Washington,” she said. “In so many ways, this is the birthplace of modern-day women’s rowing, a truly pioneering program.”

A National Champion at Wisconsin in 1986 (the team that broke the Washington NC streak at five in a row in the 80’s), a mainstay in the USA eight from 1989-1996, a two-time Olympian (’92, ’96), three-time World’s silver and a World Champion in 1995, Yaz would bring extensive competitive experience, a commitment to hard work, and a coaching style emphasizing team over self and an appreciation for the uniqueness of the sport at Washington. “We have year-round water, a boathouse on campus, training table meals for all the UW student-athletes right here in our boathouse — plus academic resources, training, strength and conditioning, sports medicine, all within a 2-minute walk,” she said. “It’s a dream job to coach at a university and in a community that celebrates and supports rowing at such incredible levels.”

That fall a young team would meet her at the boathouse for the first time, Farooq noting, “They told me they weren’t afraid to work hard and do what I asked them to do. And they desperately wanted to win. They were hungry.”

How hungry? Hang onto your hat, this ride takes off in three, two, one… UW Rowing photo; source thank you UW Tyee

At the 2017 NCAA’s, Washington would enter the competition as the top seed after sweeping the Pac-12’s, the confidence and energy in this team boiling over as they arrived back at Lake Natoma two weeks later for the National Championships. The V8, 2V8 and V4 all qualified into the Grand Finals by winning their semis, setting the team up in the best lanes as the final day began on Sunday. First to cross the line was the V4+ with an open water win over the field in 7:07.1 (Cal was 2nd in 7:11.7), senior Val Vogt with arms outstretched in victory with teammates Valentina Iseppi (left), and Julia Paulsen (right). HRF photo

The 2V8 with one of the most dominant wins in the history of the NCAA’s, with an open water lead by the midpoint and then crushing the field in the 2nd half, finishing in 6:47.3 (2nd place Cal finishing in 6:53.3). Left to right: Isabella Corriere (Cox), Marlee Blue (Stroke), Maggie Phillips (7), Carmela Pappalardo (6), Phoebe Spoors (5), Karle Pittsinger (4), Bella Chilczuk (3), Anna Thornton (2), and Calina Schanze (Bow), along with assistant coach Josh Gautreau. HRF photos

With Cal finishing second in the first two events, the 2017 team title would come down to the V8: the team that finished in front of the other would take the NCAA Title. Blasting out of the gates it was Washington with a narrow lead at 500m, extending it through the midpoint, then after what seemed like an eternity the race coming into the close with Washington up by about 6 seats… Stanford charging hard now with Cal… but the Huskies holding them off to win in 6:36.9, followed by Stanford in 6:38.5, and Cal in 6:40.1. The varsity, shown here in the Grand Final; and then celebrating the sweep after reaching shore with their teammates, from stern to bow: Phoebe Marks-Nicholes (Cox), Chiara Ondoli (Stroke), Elise Beuke (7), Brooke Pierson (6), Katy Gillingham (5), Brooke Mooney (4), Tabea Schendekehl (3), Jessica Thoennes (2), and Annemieke Schanze (Bow). HRF photos

The 2017 NCAA sweep was the first sweep in the history of the NCAA’s, and the first Women’s National Championship sweep since Washington did it in 1987. “Every single boat executed the race plan perfectly,” said Yaz. “It took a lot of courage for them to do that because it required a lot of commitment early in the race that most people would think would be unsustainable. Every one of those boats delivered on all 240 of those strokes in that race.” HRF photo; source thank you Jeff Bechthold at GoHuskies

“For all the talk amongst competitors about pushing another crew so hard that you “break them,” the toughest warriors know that first you must triumph over your own fears, over pain, over adversity”, Yaz wrote later about this team. “This creates an inner conversation, no longer about who you can take out, but about how fast you can make your own boat go, what you can create together that translates into rhythm, run and pure boat speed.”

She continued, “Women of Washington, you did it. Thank you for dreaming big and following through on your promise to one another. You have added to the legacy. Alums, thank you for paving the way, inspiring us and for all you do to support this team. We are proud to carry on this amazing tradition, one that empowers our student-athletes within the boat and beyond.” HRF photo

The christening of the Title IX Sisterhood on Opening Day weekend, 2018, a collective gift from the women that pioneered the sport in the 70’s. Spearheaded by Linda Cox Fornaciari (1978 captain, see above), she discussed the background on how they arrived at the name: “Our group of teammates engaged in a vibrant discussion about the name for the boat, starting with over 50 suggestions,” she explained. “It became essential to have ‘Title IX’ in the name, since that was transformative for our team and women in the ’70’s. After many emails and votes, it came down to two names that really resonated with us: ‘Title IX Tenacity’, since tenacity is a quality that described us and describes the team today.”

“But we chose the name ‘Title IX Sisterhood,” she continued, “because of the importance of the bond we shared that we know continues today in the team. We want these incredible women to feel the strong spirit of the women of the ’70’s carrying them forward in the boat and in all that they do, as part of the rowing sisterhood that we share.” HRF photos; source thank you Jeff Bechthold at GoHuskies

The men and women together on the shores of Lake Natoma after a dominant Washington Men’s and Women’s Team Championship performance at the 2018 Pac-12’s, the women sweeping the regatta; and then the women together on the podium as they collect their team trophy, singing Bow Down To Washington, about as appropriate a finish to this championship regatta result as possible. HRF photos

A raucous and absolutely loaded with talent 2V8 celebrating a commanding win at the Pac-12’s, and then two weeks later as they cross the line with open water as NCAA Champions on the Benderson Sarasota course in Florida. “The 2V simply dominated the weekend,” Yaz said. “That group has been pushing the varsity eight all year, and it was really wonderful to see them get to spread their wings here and become National Champions.” Left to right on the podium: Cox: Marley Avritt, Brooke Pierson (stroke), Katy Gillingham, Carmela Pappalardo, Karle Pittsinger, Jess Thoennes, Jennifer Wren, Julia Paulsen, and Calina Schanze.

The 2018 NCAA’s were marked by typical Florida spring weather, a storm forecast for Sunday pushing the semis and finals onto Saturday and adding a major challenge to every team there. Washington faced an improving Cal V8 – these two exceptional teams somehow landing in the same semi together – Cal nosing out the Huskies in the morning and setting the stage for another UW/Cal burner for the final. Then as the weather deteriorated, the officials moved the V8 to the first final of the afternoon, Cal prevailing but only after an all-out effort once again by the Huskies.

With the 2V then rowing to their impressive win in their final – underscoring the depth of this Washington team for the 4th year in a row – it was down to the V4+ for the team title, Cal leading by one point. In that final, these two crews battled stroke for stroke, Cal prevailing by less than a second to win the NCAA Team Trophy, a race by the Huskies Farooq called “one of the best races I have ever seen at the NCAAs. Those women rowed out of their minds. It was the final race of the regatta and they were literally stroke for stroke with Cal for the final 1,500 meters of that race. They gave the finish-line crowd the best show of the day.” HRF and UW Rowing photos; source thank you Jeff Bechthold at GoHuskies

The team with the 2018 NCAA runner-up Trophy. “What a great team effort,” said Yaz. “Every single boat stepped up in the final. The varsity laid down a blistering start and threw down the gauntlet after finishing behind Cal in the semi. For both of those crews to face one another twice in the same day at the national championship made it an epic race. Congrats to Cal for a fantastic win. We definitely threw everything we had at them.” UW Rowing photo

The NCAA allows one international trip every four years for NCAA governed teams and from the outset, as UW Women’s head coach, Coach Farooq committed that she would maximize that opportunity. In the summer of 2018, she took 15 athletes – nine of them seniors – to Henley to row in three events: a double (Stonor Challenge Cup), a quad (Princess Grace Challenge Cup), and an eight (The Remenham Cup).

The Quad was knocked out on Friday against a combined Australia/Scotland team, while both the double and the eight advanced through to Saturday’s semis (the eight defeating a USA Training Center Crew, the win seen in this photo). Both Husky squads faced international level teams on Saturday: the double against a U-23 composite, and the eight against the senior British National Team. Both UW crews made heroic efforts but fell short, the double outmatched but holding strong throughout, and the eight leading through Fawley, but not able to hold it against the experienced British. In the Stonor Final on Sunday, Husky Anna Thornton did pick up a Henley gold medal racing with her British U-23 doubles partner.

“There was a lot of emotion this weekend after the races,” Coach Yaz said. “We’re a family and I think everyone is just really sad to part and to have their last race with our seniors. Those women have had an amazing run at Washington and I hope they’ll remember this experience for the rest of their lives. An enormous thank you to our donors, and especially the 101 Club for helping make this happen. No rowing team has better fans than RowTownUSA!” UW Rowing photo; source thank you Jeff Bechthold at GoHuskies

The 2019 2V bringing home the win and with it critical points toward the Pac-12 team trophy, left to right: Cox: Amanda Durkin, Klara Grube (stroke), Lark Skov, Elise Beuke, Holly Dunford, Molly Gallaher, Mackenna Cameron, Skylar Jacobson, and Adele Likin. UW Rowing photo

A Pac-12’s for the ages. First: the weather. Deteriorating quickly, the officials reversed the race order bringing reasonable conditions for the V8, but with each subsequent race a rapid descent into chaos, the final race – the 3V – being rowed in over the top victory-at-sea conditions.

Second: The V8 race. An all-timer, Stanford, Cal and Washington locked together down the full 2k, all three trading leads, Cal edging it over Stanford in the sprint, the UW in 3rd by tenths of a second and all finishing within a second of each other. But that third place dug a major hole for the team in the team points hunt: only a sweep of the remaining races would put Washington over the top.

“The hardest thing about that was that it was a great race, but third place gets you a lot fewer points,” said Coach Farooq. “So to have the 2V and the four then deliver such strong performances, all I kept thinking was ‘the strength of the pack is the dog and the strength of the dog is the pack’ over and over.”

As the 3V lined up in the slashing rain and headwind in the last race of the day, the team was behind by half a point:

“When it came down to the 3V, I was just excited,” she concluded. “I felt so great about what I knew they could do. They just crushed it. I’m so proud of the team, top to bottom, for every performance. Every performance took guts and heart, and it was out there. The depth of this team is its strength and that’s what we saw today.” Thank you Jeff Bechthold at GoHuskies

The 2019 NCAA V8 race will go down as one of the greatest crew races of all time. Not just the fact that Washington won it, but it was the improbability of how it played out: a team with a less than optimal start against a fully stacked field; staying within contact of the leaders but not moving at the midpoint, in fact the leaders maybe extending as they pushed each other; the Huskies coming into the last 500m in last place. And then it clicked. And the momentum built inside that team and they began to move, taking each competitor one by one until in the last ten strokes putting the bow in front, crossing the line to complete the 2nd NCAA sweep for Washington.

“It was sheer human will,” said head coach Yasmin Farooq. “We talk about it all the time; the strength of this team is its depth. When you look at the varsity eight, nearly everyone in that boat has put in a significant amount of time in another boat on our team. At every championship we always talk about our teamwork within each boat and across all boats. We talked about it last night before the finals, about not only pulling for the people in their boat and the people that are here but for all the incredible people back home supporting us this entire year.” UW Rowing photo; Thank you Jeff Bechthold at GoHuskies

The 2019 Team Champions after completing the sweep. “I knew that we had it in us, we just had to do something special,” said varsity eight coxswain Marley Avritt. “We had the support of our whole team. There was some magic out there. There is no one else I’d rather race with out there. We all trust each other one hundred percent. We knew what we had to do, we wanted to do it for one another but we also wanted to do it for everyone else watching.”

“We were not an undefeated eight coming into the regatta and we were not an undefeated eight in this regatta,” said team captain Marlee Blue. “We got third at the Pac-12’s and we lost in our heat to Texas, and through all of that, we never lost faith in each other and the process. It was always just about building to this today.” UW Rowing photo; Thank you Jeff Bechthold at GoHuskies

“Women of Washington, you did it. Thank you for dreaming big and following through on your promise to one another. You have added to the legacy.”

Yaz Farooq, 2017

Women's Crew History

2010-2019

YASMIN "YAZ" FAROOQ NAMED

Head Coach

Washington Rowing History

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