Saturday, March 24
Seattle, WA
10:00 AM
University of Washington
vs
Class Day Regatta
Start Your Engines: 117th UW Class Day Regatta
March 20, 2018 | Women's Rowing
SEATTLE – While both the UW men's and women's teams got their 2018 seasons underway a few weeks ago in Las Vegas, this Saturday, March 24 marks the traditional start to the spring at Washington as the 117th Class Day Regatta comes to Montlake Cut. Races begin at 10 a.m. PT.
The Class Day Regatta began in 1901 and was created by men's coach Hiram Conibear. Washington women's rowing participated in Class Day as early as 1907, and started competing regularly at Class Day starting in 1980, having competed every year since.
Class boats are made up of the top eight within each of their respective classes. Class Day promotes unity within and encouraging rowers to identify with and take pride in their class and also drives interclass competition and sets the tone for the season.
"This whole weekend is a celebration of UW rowing," said men's coach Michael Callahan. "It's an event that brings together the Washington rowing community - athletes, alumni and families – to share in the heritage of our program."
"The amount of pride in each class is so important to building the team culture," said women's coach Yasmin Farooq, who will be participating in her second Class Day at UW. "The bonds that these women build last for decades."
Seattle Times Women's Eight
The 2018 junior class took home the Class Day title last year, continuing a recent trend that has seen classes win the race as juniors, then again as seniors. Both the classes of 2014 and 2016 won two years in a row (in 2013-14 and in 2015-16, respectively), setting up chance for this year's senior boat to continue that streak with a victory.
"The first day of finals week, our seniors took their lineup out, and some of them had a pretty heavy class load," Farooq said. "It's so important to them. They want to win so badly. But I have no idea which boat will come out on top. The spirit of the day and the cohesion of each class are as important to the outcome of the results as the talent in each class."
A win for the 2018 senior class, would be the 20th victory for the seniors in Class Day history. The seniors and juniors have dominated over the years, with the sophomores and freshman combining to win only four times since 1980. The most successful stretch for the seniors came in the 1980s, when the seniors won eight of nine between 1981-1989.
The junior class has controlled Class Day in recent years, winning four of six from 2012 through 2017. The juniors have a total of 16 wins in Class Day history.
The sophomores have won just five times and haven't earned a victory since 2003. They also recorded victories in 1999, 1991, 1976 and 1917.
The freshman class has had only four victories, their most recent in 1990, which was their first win since 1909.
Women's Class Day victories by class:
Seniors – 19
Juniors – 16
Sophomores – 5
Freshman – 4
Note: Many years do not have results available; the above totals reflect only recorded results.
George M. Varnell Men's Eight
The George M. Varnell Trophy will be awarded to a new winner this year as the Class of 2017 won it the last two years, as juniors in 2016 and seniors last March.
As with the women's race, the recent trend has been for classes to win the Class Day race as juniors and again as seniors, as that's been the case for the last six seasons as the classes of 2013, 2015 and 2017 all won two years in a row.
"This year's seniors have been putting it all together and have really figured out what it means to be Washington oarsmen," Callahan said. "They've learned and matured a lot in their time here, and that's what I think is a signature of this year's team. I can't wait to see that maturity out there on the race course."
The seniors have come out the victor 39 times in the Class Day history, and have won three of the last six after losing seven straight from 2006-2012. The seniors have dominated in stretches, winning four straight twice (1961-1964, 1986-1989) and seven straight from 1999-2005.
The juniors have had recent success, winning five of the last eight including three straight from 2010-2012. The junior class has won a total of 25 times.
The sophomore class has 18 victories, their most successful stretch coming in the 1930s and early 1940s, when the sophomores won three of four from 1932-1935 and three straight from 1939-1941. They have only won four times in the last 50 years, their last win coming in 1998.
The freshman class has won just seven times in Class Day history, but won the first-ever Class Day Regatta in 1901. The last victory for the freshman class came in 2009, ending a stretch from 2006-2009 when the freshman won three of four. Prior to 2006, the freshman hadn't won since 1947.
Men's Class Day victories by class:
Seniors – 39
Juniors – 25
Sophomores – 18
Freshman – 7
Note: Many years do not have results available, the above totals reflect only recorded results.
Class Day Race Schedule
Fans are encouraged to watch from the Montlake Cut and at the finish line at the west end of the Cut.
10 a.m.: Race 1: Men's Varsity / Freshmen Challenge
10:15 a.m.: Race 2: Women's Varsity / Novice Challenge
10:30 a.m.: Race 3: George M. Varnell Men's Eight
10:45 a.m.: Race 4: The Seattle Times Women's Eight
Follow The Action
Washington will provide a live stream of the races via Facebook Live (go to facebook.com/UWHuskyCrew). You can also get live results on HereNow.com and follow along on the program's Twitter (@UW_Rowing) and Instagram (@washingtonrowing) feeds.
Additional Class Day Weekend Information
The Class Day Regatta will be accompanied by a weekend full of festivities, highlighted by the Washington Rowing Banquet on Friday, March 23, featuring a preview of the season with head coaches Michael Callahan and Yaz Farooq. The weekend also includes the Class Day "Cruise With Croissants," and the Class Day Awards and Barbecue.
Additionally on Saturday morning prior to the main event, the annual Alumnae Race Saturday morning starts at 8 a.m. and the men's Class of 1968 will hold a 50th reunion.
Over the course of the weekend, team captains will be announced as will the Piggott Award (given to the most inspirational men's and women's teams members), and the Schaller Award (given to the male and female student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA).
Up Next
The UW men and women will host the Husky Open while the women's team concurrently takes on Washington State in their annual dual regatta. All of those races will take place on Montlake Cut next Saturday, March 31.
About Washington Rowing
Rowing at University of Washington was established in 1901 with support from the local business community. In 1903, Washington entered its first intercollegiate race and defeated California, starting their storied "Cal Dual" rivalry. From this beginning, UW crews became the champions in the nation, winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics in 1936 as described in the New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat. UW has continued its tradition of winning championships and Olympic medals, and today is one of the best university rowing programs in the world. With its state-of-the-art training facility located on the UW campus right on the shores of Lake Washington, surrounded by mountains and in close proximity to the iconic Montlake Cut, Washington Rowing attracts the best men and women student-athletes from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. More information at GoHuskies.com, WashingtonRowing.com and @UW_Rowing.
The Class Day Regatta began in 1901 and was created by men's coach Hiram Conibear. Washington women's rowing participated in Class Day as early as 1907, and started competing regularly at Class Day starting in 1980, having competed every year since.
Class boats are made up of the top eight within each of their respective classes. Class Day promotes unity within and encouraging rowers to identify with and take pride in their class and also drives interclass competition and sets the tone for the season.
"This whole weekend is a celebration of UW rowing," said men's coach Michael Callahan. "It's an event that brings together the Washington rowing community - athletes, alumni and families – to share in the heritage of our program."
"The amount of pride in each class is so important to building the team culture," said women's coach Yasmin Farooq, who will be participating in her second Class Day at UW. "The bonds that these women build last for decades."
Seattle Times Women's Eight
The 2018 junior class took home the Class Day title last year, continuing a recent trend that has seen classes win the race as juniors, then again as seniors. Both the classes of 2014 and 2016 won two years in a row (in 2013-14 and in 2015-16, respectively), setting up chance for this year's senior boat to continue that streak with a victory.
"The first day of finals week, our seniors took their lineup out, and some of them had a pretty heavy class load," Farooq said. "It's so important to them. They want to win so badly. But I have no idea which boat will come out on top. The spirit of the day and the cohesion of each class are as important to the outcome of the results as the talent in each class."
A win for the 2018 senior class, would be the 20th victory for the seniors in Class Day history. The seniors and juniors have dominated over the years, with the sophomores and freshman combining to win only four times since 1980. The most successful stretch for the seniors came in the 1980s, when the seniors won eight of nine between 1981-1989.
The junior class has controlled Class Day in recent years, winning four of six from 2012 through 2017. The juniors have a total of 16 wins in Class Day history.
The sophomores have won just five times and haven't earned a victory since 2003. They also recorded victories in 1999, 1991, 1976 and 1917.
The freshman class has had only four victories, their most recent in 1990, which was their first win since 1909.
Women's Class Day victories by class:
Seniors – 19
Juniors – 16
Sophomores – 5
Freshman – 4
Note: Many years do not have results available; the above totals reflect only recorded results.
George M. Varnell Men's Eight
The George M. Varnell Trophy will be awarded to a new winner this year as the Class of 2017 won it the last two years, as juniors in 2016 and seniors last March.
As with the women's race, the recent trend has been for classes to win the Class Day race as juniors and again as seniors, as that's been the case for the last six seasons as the classes of 2013, 2015 and 2017 all won two years in a row.
"This year's seniors have been putting it all together and have really figured out what it means to be Washington oarsmen," Callahan said. "They've learned and matured a lot in their time here, and that's what I think is a signature of this year's team. I can't wait to see that maturity out there on the race course."
The seniors have come out the victor 39 times in the Class Day history, and have won three of the last six after losing seven straight from 2006-2012. The seniors have dominated in stretches, winning four straight twice (1961-1964, 1986-1989) and seven straight from 1999-2005.
The juniors have had recent success, winning five of the last eight including three straight from 2010-2012. The junior class has won a total of 25 times.
The sophomore class has 18 victories, their most successful stretch coming in the 1930s and early 1940s, when the sophomores won three of four from 1932-1935 and three straight from 1939-1941. They have only won four times in the last 50 years, their last win coming in 1998.
The freshman class has won just seven times in Class Day history, but won the first-ever Class Day Regatta in 1901. The last victory for the freshman class came in 2009, ending a stretch from 2006-2009 when the freshman won three of four. Prior to 2006, the freshman hadn't won since 1947.
Men's Class Day victories by class:
Seniors – 39
Juniors – 25
Sophomores – 18
Freshman – 7
Note: Many years do not have results available, the above totals reflect only recorded results.
Class Day Race Schedule
Fans are encouraged to watch from the Montlake Cut and at the finish line at the west end of the Cut.
10 a.m.: Race 1: Men's Varsity / Freshmen Challenge
10:15 a.m.: Race 2: Women's Varsity / Novice Challenge
10:30 a.m.: Race 3: George M. Varnell Men's Eight
10:45 a.m.: Race 4: The Seattle Times Women's Eight
Follow The Action
Washington will provide a live stream of the races via Facebook Live (go to facebook.com/UWHuskyCrew). You can also get live results on HereNow.com and follow along on the program's Twitter (@UW_Rowing) and Instagram (@washingtonrowing) feeds.
Additional Class Day Weekend Information
The Class Day Regatta will be accompanied by a weekend full of festivities, highlighted by the Washington Rowing Banquet on Friday, March 23, featuring a preview of the season with head coaches Michael Callahan and Yaz Farooq. The weekend also includes the Class Day "Cruise With Croissants," and the Class Day Awards and Barbecue.
Additionally on Saturday morning prior to the main event, the annual Alumnae Race Saturday morning starts at 8 a.m. and the men's Class of 1968 will hold a 50th reunion.
Over the course of the weekend, team captains will be announced as will the Piggott Award (given to the most inspirational men's and women's teams members), and the Schaller Award (given to the male and female student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA).
Up Next
The UW men and women will host the Husky Open while the women's team concurrently takes on Washington State in their annual dual regatta. All of those races will take place on Montlake Cut next Saturday, March 31.
About Washington Rowing
Rowing at University of Washington was established in 1901 with support from the local business community. In 1903, Washington entered its first intercollegiate race and defeated California, starting their storied "Cal Dual" rivalry. From this beginning, UW crews became the champions in the nation, winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics in 1936 as described in the New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat. UW has continued its tradition of winning championships and Olympic medals, and today is one of the best university rowing programs in the world. With its state-of-the-art training facility located on the UW campus right on the shores of Lake Washington, surrounded by mountains and in close proximity to the iconic Montlake Cut, Washington Rowing attracts the best men and women student-athletes from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. More information at GoHuskies.com, WashingtonRowing.com and @UW_Rowing.
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