The Washington rowing team opened its spring season with the Class Day Regatta on Saturday in Seattle, and it was the upperclassmen who stole the show on both the men’s and women’s side.
On the men’s side it was the seniors who took home the title in the George M. Varnell Men’s Eight, placing first with a time of 6:01:22. The junior class took second, the freshman took third, and the sophomores took fourth.
The class of 2015 group took home the title in the event as juniors a year ago.
“I’m really excited the seniors won,” men’s head coach Michael Callahan told Gohuskies.com. “This is a big senior class with lots of personality and a lot of guys peaking in their careers right now. This program is rowing at its optimum when we have really strong, strong seniors and this class is a great one.”
In the Seattle Times Women’s Eight it was the juniors who took home first place with a time of 6:50.30. The class of 2016 was followed by the sophomores in second, the seniors in third, and the freshman in fourth.
“I think the race between the sophomores and the juniors was really, really good,” women’s head coach Bob Ernst told Gohuskies.com. “That’s going to be the core of the varsity and junior varsity. It was good racing and I’m pleased with the way it went today.”
After the races the two groups announced their team captains. Senior Edward Nainby-Luxmoore earned captain honors on the men’s side, and junior Danielle Olson was selected captain for the women.
The men’s team will open the season against Brown on April 4 in Providence, R.I., and the women’s team will travel to Dexter Lake, Ore., to compete in the Dexter Lake Regatta beginning the same day. The lower boats for both teams will compete in the Husky Open in Seattle also on April 4.
Reach Sports Editor Erik Erickson atsports@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @Erik_Erickson
