Sunday, May 17
Indianapolis, Ind.
6:00 AM PT
University of Washington
vs
Big Ten Championships
Photo by: Grace Mackinlay
Washington Wins Second Straight Big Ten Rowing Championship
May 17, 2026 | Women's Rowing
INDIANAPOLIS – In its second year as a member of the Big Ten Conference, the Washington women's rowing team took home its second consecutive conference championship, winning six of seven grand finals to earn the crown.
Washington, which became just the second Big Ten program to sweep all seven grand finals in 2025, narrowly missed repeating that feat, taking home the gold medal in all but one race. The Huskies won the first, second, and fourth varsity eights finals; and the first, second, and third varsity fours, while finishing second in the third varsity eight.
Rutgers, which finished second to UW in the previous six races, won the third varsity eight in the final event of the regatta.
Washington won the overall points championship with 350 points, while Rutgers was second with 322, and Ohio State third with 262.
"We didn't come here to defend a championship — we came here to make every one of our boats go as fast as possible, recognizing there would be strong competition to help drive us," said 10th year head coach Yasmin Farooq. "Winning six of seven events and earning a second-place finish in the seventh reflects the depth and competitiveness of this team. I'm beyond proud of all seven performances."
Due to a racing schedule that was modified to avoid bad weather and which changed the order of competition, the varsity eight grand final was the UW's second event of the morning. In that race, the Huskies jumped out quickly to the front of the pack, with Rutgers closest behind.
Through 500 meters, the Huskies held a 1.5-second lead over the Scarlet Knights, and had stretched it to nearly a length at the halfway point. Rutgers maintained contact with the Dawgs, but couldn't cut into the lead. In the final 500, Washington's top crew established an open-water advantage and won the race by just shy of a full length.
Washington's time of 6:31.017 was a little over three seconds faster than Rutgers (6:34.260).
"We did exactly what we wanted to do today," said Jess Weir, the six seat in the UW varsity eight. "After the heat, we figured out what we needed to do in order to take that next step, and make a statement. We definitely implemented it in today's racing. The boat atmosphere was electric and all of us had a blast coming down the course. The next step is NCAA's and this weekend helped prepare us for some competitive racing."
Washington and Rutgers turned in nearly identical times in Friday's second varsity eights heats, and figured to be the two that would compete for the win in their race category on Sunday. UW took the early lead, with Michigan giving Rutgers a fight for second position. After a one-second lead at 500, the Huskies crossed 1,000 meters in front by just 1.3 seconds.
The Huskies pulled away in the third 500 and won the race by a half of a boat length of open water over Rutgers. UW's time of 6:38.262 was 5.7 seconds faster than Rutgers (6:43.914).
In the varsity four final, it was Rutgers that went to the front off of the starting dock, with UW running second well ahead of the other four crews. Rutgers passed the 500-meter buoy 0.8 seconds in front, but in the second 500, UW closed the gap and moved into first just after 1,000 meters.
In the second half of the race, the Huskies' varsity four took command rowed to the finish in 7:35.729, nearly a boat-length of open water ahead of Rutgers (7:40.615).
Washington entered the second varsity fours final, the fifth race of the morning, in position to officially clinch the team championship with even a second-place finish. However, the Husky 2V4+ left no doubt, establishing a big, early lead and rowing to the most comfortable win of the morning to that point.
The Huskies clinched the team title with its widest winning margin of the morning. UW's 7:56.789 in the 2V4+ final was eight seconds faster than second-place Rutgers (8:04.778).
"It was an incredible day to be a Washington rower and to get to watch our teammates succeed and push the level of racing across all categories today," said senior Jordan Freer, stroke of the 2V4+. "In our team meeting the night before, people spoke about belief, trust, and expressing ourselves through racing. I think for many of us, racing today was about expressing our love for one another, our gratitude for each other's presence in our lives, and the privilege it is to race together.
"I know that's what it was about for me, and that it was love for my teammates and boatmates that drove us down the course for every stroke," Freer continued. "When you're surrounded by people who you believe to be capable of absolutely anything, you begin to believe the same of yourself and everything becomes possible - and you want to give it all to one another."
Having clinched the crown, the Huskies set their sites on another sweep with two races remaining. The first of those, the third varsity fours, was another dominant performance as the Huskies grabbed an open-water lead over the field early on. The Huskies' 3V4+ won in 8:01.811, nearly eight seconds ahead of the Scarlet Knights.
Washington's streak of 13 straight Big Ten grand finals victories came to an end in the final race of the morning as Rutgers won the third varsity eights final, with Rutgers winning by a little less than three seconds over a UW crew consisting of all freshmen, who earned silver medals.
The fourth varsity eight grand final opened the day. UW and Rutgers were neck and neck throughout, but the Huskies never trailed. For the majority of the 2,000 meters, the Huskies' lead was never more than a half-length until the very when, when Washington pulled away crossing the finish line. The Huskies (6:52.824) finished about 2.7 seconds in front of the Scarlet Knights.
"I am so grateful for this team and the privilege it has been to race four conference championships with Washington," said Freer. "I am immensely proud of what we accomplished today, and so confident in the next generation of athletes inheriting the legacy and carrying it forward. Nothing we have achieved this season would have been possible without the work of absolutely every member of this team for every moment of the year, from September until today. Without the belief, trust, and grit of every single one of us, this would not have been possible – with them, anything is."
"With so many new people on the roster this year, our focus from day one was development — not just how we row, but who we are and why we row." Said Farooq, who has won six conference titles at Washington. "We invested in the long game, blending experienced athletes with newcomers throughout the year, and even within the season, to build skill, standards, and identity. Alum Blake Nordstrom's philosophy of 'Extend Yourself' has been at the heart of our approach, and this team lived it daily.
"I'm especially proud of how our upperclassmen embraced the freshmen, and how the freshmen stepped fully into our culture and the expectations of being a Woman of Washington," Farooq continued. "Today's results reflect the collective commitment of this group."
The NCAA Selection Show is Tuesday afternoon. As Big Ten champs, the Huskies have secured a berth in the NCAA Championships for the 29th year in a row. This year's national championship regatta will be held May 29-31 at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga., host site of both the 1998 and 2001 NCAA Championships, both won by the Huskies.
As part of the Big Ten Championships, the conference also announced the All-Big Ten first and second teams, with six Huskies earning mention. Varsity coxswain Izzy Michaelson, as well as rowers Aisha Rocek and Violet Holbrow Brooksbank earned first-team recognition, while Mira Calder, Zola Kemp and Jess Weir were named to the second team. Additionally, team captain Margaret Young, who actually had to miss the Big Ten regatta as a late scratch due to illness, was honored as the Huskies' Sportsmanship Award winner.
For news, scores, highlights and more, download the Go Huskies app on your mobile device. Follow @washingtrowing on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and TikTok; and @UW_Rowing on X, and subscribe to UW Athletics on YouTube for the latest on the Dawgs.
VARSITY 8+ (I EIGHTS)
Shell: Jan Harville
Cox: Izzy Michaelson (Everett, Wash.)
Stroke: Aisha Rocek (Como, Italy)
7: Violet Holbrow Brooksbank (Monmouth, Wales, U.K.)
6: Jess Weir (London, England, U.K.)
5: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
4: Jayna Palmer (Truckee, Calif.)
3: Cillian Mullen (Tacoma, Wash.)
2: Zola Kemp (Wellington, New Zealand)
Bow: Katie Gardner (Cowbridge, Wales, U.K.)
SECOND VARSITY 8+ (II EIGHTS)
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Perry McLoughlin (Port Washington, N.Y.)
Stroke: Issy Melville (Hamilton, New Zealand)
7: Emily Myers (Oxford, England, U.K.)
6: Chloe Sheppard (Tewkesbury, England, U.K.)
5: Kalee Verd (Olympia, Wash.)
4: Grace Worthington (Grand Haven, Mich.)
3: Cait Whittard (St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada)
2: Amelia Westbrook (Lincoln, England, U.K.)
Bow: Sofia Suhinin (Adelaide, Australia)
FIRST VARSITY FOUR (I FOURS)
Shell: Sam & Raz
Stroke: Carmel Bollag (Seattle, Wash.)
3: Emily Downing (Marlow, England, U.K.)
2: Nienke Overgoor (Bunnik, Netherlands)
Bow: Cami Martin (Seattle, Wash.)
Cox: Camille Randall (Seattle, Wash.)
SECOND VARSITY FOUR (II FOURS)
Shell: Wendell Sykes
Stroke: Jordan Freer (Lotus, Calif.)
3: Jane Doyle (New York, N.Y.)
2: Ella Bayer (Olympia, Wash.)
Bow: Sami Tyler (Camas, Wash.)
Cox: Taylor Inouye (Kailua, Hawai'i)
THIRD VARSITY FOUR (III FOURS)
Shell: Coleen Lynch
Stroke: Audrey Cronin (Roswell, Ga.)
3: Caroline Law (Bellingham, Wash.)
2: Sofie Sand (Rochester, Wash.)
Bow: Annelise Hahl (Cary, N.C.)
Cox: Morgan Bradley (Portland, Ore.)
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT (III EIGHTS)
Shell: Title IX Sisterhood
Cox: Sloane Roth (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Stroke: Scarlett Shelton (Melbourne, Australia)
7: Willow Tzonev (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
6: Caitlin Woods (Melbourne, Australia)
5: Camille Hutton (Manson, Wash.)
4: Finley Stockstad (Tacoma, Wash.)
3: Zoe Keenan (Seattle, Wash.)
2: Grace Sisett (Kelowna, B.C., Canada)
Bow: Claire Rogge (Vancouver, Wash.)
FOURTH VARSITY EIGHT (IV EIGHTS)
Shell: Jenni Hogan
Cox: Ella Ryter (Seattle, Wash.)
Stroke: Liv Ormseth (Vashon Island, Wash.)
7: Katharina Stromberg (Seattle, Wash.)
6: Cora Madison (Kirkland, Wash.)
5: Caitlin Hane (Irvine, Calif.)
4: Victoria Trentin (Melbourne, Australia)
3: Kayla Coates-Robertson (Redmond, Wash.)
2: Emma Cronin (Roswell, Ga.)
Bow: Carly Lauritzen (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.)
Washington, which became just the second Big Ten program to sweep all seven grand finals in 2025, narrowly missed repeating that feat, taking home the gold medal in all but one race. The Huskies won the first, second, and fourth varsity eights finals; and the first, second, and third varsity fours, while finishing second in the third varsity eight.
Rutgers, which finished second to UW in the previous six races, won the third varsity eight in the final event of the regatta.
Washington won the overall points championship with 350 points, while Rutgers was second with 322, and Ohio State third with 262.
"We didn't come here to defend a championship — we came here to make every one of our boats go as fast as possible, recognizing there would be strong competition to help drive us," said 10th year head coach Yasmin Farooq. "Winning six of seven events and earning a second-place finish in the seventh reflects the depth and competitiveness of this team. I'm beyond proud of all seven performances."
Due to a racing schedule that was modified to avoid bad weather and which changed the order of competition, the varsity eight grand final was the UW's second event of the morning. In that race, the Huskies jumped out quickly to the front of the pack, with Rutgers closest behind.
Through 500 meters, the Huskies held a 1.5-second lead over the Scarlet Knights, and had stretched it to nearly a length at the halfway point. Rutgers maintained contact with the Dawgs, but couldn't cut into the lead. In the final 500, Washington's top crew established an open-water advantage and won the race by just shy of a full length.
Washington's time of 6:31.017 was a little over three seconds faster than Rutgers (6:34.260).
"We did exactly what we wanted to do today," said Jess Weir, the six seat in the UW varsity eight. "After the heat, we figured out what we needed to do in order to take that next step, and make a statement. We definitely implemented it in today's racing. The boat atmosphere was electric and all of us had a blast coming down the course. The next step is NCAA's and this weekend helped prepare us for some competitive racing."
Washington and Rutgers turned in nearly identical times in Friday's second varsity eights heats, and figured to be the two that would compete for the win in their race category on Sunday. UW took the early lead, with Michigan giving Rutgers a fight for second position. After a one-second lead at 500, the Huskies crossed 1,000 meters in front by just 1.3 seconds.
The Huskies pulled away in the third 500 and won the race by a half of a boat length of open water over Rutgers. UW's time of 6:38.262 was 5.7 seconds faster than Rutgers (6:43.914).
In the varsity four final, it was Rutgers that went to the front off of the starting dock, with UW running second well ahead of the other four crews. Rutgers passed the 500-meter buoy 0.8 seconds in front, but in the second 500, UW closed the gap and moved into first just after 1,000 meters.
In the second half of the race, the Huskies' varsity four took command rowed to the finish in 7:35.729, nearly a boat-length of open water ahead of Rutgers (7:40.615).
Washington entered the second varsity fours final, the fifth race of the morning, in position to officially clinch the team championship with even a second-place finish. However, the Husky 2V4+ left no doubt, establishing a big, early lead and rowing to the most comfortable win of the morning to that point.
The Huskies clinched the team title with its widest winning margin of the morning. UW's 7:56.789 in the 2V4+ final was eight seconds faster than second-place Rutgers (8:04.778).
"It was an incredible day to be a Washington rower and to get to watch our teammates succeed and push the level of racing across all categories today," said senior Jordan Freer, stroke of the 2V4+. "In our team meeting the night before, people spoke about belief, trust, and expressing ourselves through racing. I think for many of us, racing today was about expressing our love for one another, our gratitude for each other's presence in our lives, and the privilege it is to race together.
"I know that's what it was about for me, and that it was love for my teammates and boatmates that drove us down the course for every stroke," Freer continued. "When you're surrounded by people who you believe to be capable of absolutely anything, you begin to believe the same of yourself and everything becomes possible - and you want to give it all to one another."
Having clinched the crown, the Huskies set their sites on another sweep with two races remaining. The first of those, the third varsity fours, was another dominant performance as the Huskies grabbed an open-water lead over the field early on. The Huskies' 3V4+ won in 8:01.811, nearly eight seconds ahead of the Scarlet Knights.
Washington's streak of 13 straight Big Ten grand finals victories came to an end in the final race of the morning as Rutgers won the third varsity eights final, with Rutgers winning by a little less than three seconds over a UW crew consisting of all freshmen, who earned silver medals.
The fourth varsity eight grand final opened the day. UW and Rutgers were neck and neck throughout, but the Huskies never trailed. For the majority of the 2,000 meters, the Huskies' lead was never more than a half-length until the very when, when Washington pulled away crossing the finish line. The Huskies (6:52.824) finished about 2.7 seconds in front of the Scarlet Knights.
"I am so grateful for this team and the privilege it has been to race four conference championships with Washington," said Freer. "I am immensely proud of what we accomplished today, and so confident in the next generation of athletes inheriting the legacy and carrying it forward. Nothing we have achieved this season would have been possible without the work of absolutely every member of this team for every moment of the year, from September until today. Without the belief, trust, and grit of every single one of us, this would not have been possible – with them, anything is."
"With so many new people on the roster this year, our focus from day one was development — not just how we row, but who we are and why we row." Said Farooq, who has won six conference titles at Washington. "We invested in the long game, blending experienced athletes with newcomers throughout the year, and even within the season, to build skill, standards, and identity. Alum Blake Nordstrom's philosophy of 'Extend Yourself' has been at the heart of our approach, and this team lived it daily.
"I'm especially proud of how our upperclassmen embraced the freshmen, and how the freshmen stepped fully into our culture and the expectations of being a Woman of Washington," Farooq continued. "Today's results reflect the collective commitment of this group."
The NCAA Selection Show is Tuesday afternoon. As Big Ten champs, the Huskies have secured a berth in the NCAA Championships for the 29th year in a row. This year's national championship regatta will be held May 29-31 at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga., host site of both the 1998 and 2001 NCAA Championships, both won by the Huskies.
As part of the Big Ten Championships, the conference also announced the All-Big Ten first and second teams, with six Huskies earning mention. Varsity coxswain Izzy Michaelson, as well as rowers Aisha Rocek and Violet Holbrow Brooksbank earned first-team recognition, while Mira Calder, Zola Kemp and Jess Weir were named to the second team. Additionally, team captain Margaret Young, who actually had to miss the Big Ten regatta as a late scratch due to illness, was honored as the Huskies' Sportsmanship Award winner.
For news, scores, highlights and more, download the Go Huskies app on your mobile device. Follow @washingtrowing on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and TikTok; and @UW_Rowing on X, and subscribe to UW Athletics on YouTube for the latest on the Dawgs.
VARSITY 8+ (I EIGHTS)
Shell: Jan Harville
Cox: Izzy Michaelson (Everett, Wash.)
Stroke: Aisha Rocek (Como, Italy)
7: Violet Holbrow Brooksbank (Monmouth, Wales, U.K.)
6: Jess Weir (London, England, U.K.)
5: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
4: Jayna Palmer (Truckee, Calif.)
3: Cillian Mullen (Tacoma, Wash.)
2: Zola Kemp (Wellington, New Zealand)
Bow: Katie Gardner (Cowbridge, Wales, U.K.)
SECOND VARSITY 8+ (II EIGHTS)
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Perry McLoughlin (Port Washington, N.Y.)
Stroke: Issy Melville (Hamilton, New Zealand)
7: Emily Myers (Oxford, England, U.K.)
6: Chloe Sheppard (Tewkesbury, England, U.K.)
5: Kalee Verd (Olympia, Wash.)
4: Grace Worthington (Grand Haven, Mich.)
3: Cait Whittard (St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada)
2: Amelia Westbrook (Lincoln, England, U.K.)
Bow: Sofia Suhinin (Adelaide, Australia)
FIRST VARSITY FOUR (I FOURS)
Shell: Sam & Raz
Stroke: Carmel Bollag (Seattle, Wash.)
3: Emily Downing (Marlow, England, U.K.)
2: Nienke Overgoor (Bunnik, Netherlands)
Bow: Cami Martin (Seattle, Wash.)
Cox: Camille Randall (Seattle, Wash.)
SECOND VARSITY FOUR (II FOURS)
Shell: Wendell Sykes
Stroke: Jordan Freer (Lotus, Calif.)
3: Jane Doyle (New York, N.Y.)
2: Ella Bayer (Olympia, Wash.)
Bow: Sami Tyler (Camas, Wash.)
Cox: Taylor Inouye (Kailua, Hawai'i)
THIRD VARSITY FOUR (III FOURS)
Shell: Coleen Lynch
Stroke: Audrey Cronin (Roswell, Ga.)
3: Caroline Law (Bellingham, Wash.)
2: Sofie Sand (Rochester, Wash.)
Bow: Annelise Hahl (Cary, N.C.)
Cox: Morgan Bradley (Portland, Ore.)
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT (III EIGHTS)
Shell: Title IX Sisterhood
Cox: Sloane Roth (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Stroke: Scarlett Shelton (Melbourne, Australia)
7: Willow Tzonev (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
6: Caitlin Woods (Melbourne, Australia)
5: Camille Hutton (Manson, Wash.)
4: Finley Stockstad (Tacoma, Wash.)
3: Zoe Keenan (Seattle, Wash.)
2: Grace Sisett (Kelowna, B.C., Canada)
Bow: Claire Rogge (Vancouver, Wash.)
FOURTH VARSITY EIGHT (IV EIGHTS)
Shell: Jenni Hogan
Cox: Ella Ryter (Seattle, Wash.)
Stroke: Liv Ormseth (Vashon Island, Wash.)
7: Katharina Stromberg (Seattle, Wash.)
6: Cora Madison (Kirkland, Wash.)
5: Caitlin Hane (Irvine, Calif.)
4: Victoria Trentin (Melbourne, Australia)
3: Kayla Coates-Robertson (Redmond, Wash.)
2: Emma Cronin (Roswell, Ga.)
Bow: Carly Lauritzen (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.)
Players Mentioned
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COX
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COX
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COX
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/ Women's Rowing
COX
/ Women's Rowing
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/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
COX
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
COX
/ Women's Rowing
COX
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