SEATTLE – The No. 9 California women's rowing team V8+ put up a good fight but ultimately was unable to retain the Simpson Cup against No. 3 Washington at the Montlake Cut in Seattle on Saturday morning as the Huskies held off the Golden Bears.
 
In the battle for the Simpson Cup between the Cal and Washington V8+ boats, it was even after the first 20 strokes before Cal was able to take a one-seat lead at 500 meters. Washington, however, responded and took a two-seat lead over the second 500 meters. The Huskies' momentum continued and they went ahead nearly bow to stern with 500 meters left and reclaimed the Simpson Cup in a time of 6:33.279.
 
In the matchup of the 2V8+ boats, Washington took a two-seat lead after the first 20 strokes and went ahead by a boat of open water by the 1,000-meter mark. The Bears were unable to cut into the deficit as the Huskies took the win in a time of 6:37.841.
 
In the V4+ dual, it was extremely tight over the first 500 meters as Cal was ahead by less than a second. The Huskies made a push in the second 500 meters to take an open water lead. Washington extended its lead to two boats of open water by the 1,500-meter mark and took the win in a time of 7:19.204.
 
In the race between the 2V4+ crews, Cal had a half-boat lead over Washington's B crew at the 500-meter mark. The Bears extended their lead to bow to stern by the halfway point. The Huskies B crew made a push over the last 500 meters and got to within a half boat, but the Bears held them off for the win in a time of 7:24.709.
 
The 3V8+ race pit Cal against three crews from Washington. Cal and Washington's novice eight formed the lead pack in the opening 500 meters with the Bears taking a seven-seat lead by the halfway mark. The Huskies' novice eight maintained contact with the Bears over the second half of the race but Cal was able to hold them off and take the win in a time of 6:53.093.
 
Cal's 4V8+ went up against Washington's 4V8+ and third novice eight. Cal took a boat-length lead over the Washington third novice eight and a couple boats of open water over the 4V8+ by the halfway point. With 500 meters to go, the Bears extended their lead to easily win in a time of 6:52.825.

"It was great to see both teams in the 1975 throwback tanks doing essentially the same thing and learning the same lessons that our alums did 50 years ago," Cal head coach Al Acosta said. "Our 2V4, 3V, and 4V had outstanding races. For some it was the highlight of their rowing career at Cal. For our crews that didn't race to our standards today, we (coaches and athletes) need to make sure that we get right back on the horse on Monday, push harder, and get ready for No. 1 Stanford next Saturday."
 
NEXT UP
Cal returns home to compete in the Big Row against Stanford at Redwood Shores on May 3.
 
Results
 
V8+
Washington – 6:33.279
Cal – 6:39.011
 
2V8+
Washington – 6:37.841
Cal – 6:53.177
 
V4+
Washington – 7:19.204
Cal – 7:31.670
 
2V4+
Cal – 7:24.709
Washington A – 7:26.213
Washington B – 7:29.713
 
3V8+
Cal – 6:53.093
Washington N8 – 6:56.548
Washington – 6:59.817
Washington 2N8 – 7:14.868
 
4V8+
Cal – 6:52.829
Washington – 6:59.845
Washington 3N8 – 7:07.413
 
Lineups
V8+
Coxswain: Piper Melnick
8. Giulia Bosio
7. Della Luke
6. Minou Bouman
5. Ella Berger
4. Julia Hunt-Davis
3. Ella Wheeler
2. Star Rose Miller
1. Lotta Van Westreenen
 
2V8+
Coxswain: Julia Fullington
8. Julia Irmler
7. Lily Pember
6. Lily Abbott
5. Shannon Kearney
4. Izzy Campbell
3. Sophie Ward
2. Olivia Roth
1. Lola Crampin
 
V4+
Coxswain: Kira Obsitnik
4. Miya Meskis
3. Alex Pearson
2. Allegra O'Sullivan
1. Zoe McKernan
 
2V4+
Coxswain: Samantha Jaffe
4. Vivi Spitz
3. Katie McDermott
2. Amy Furlonger
1. Annie Brown
 
3V8+
Coxswain: Emily Nowak
8. Claire Banks
7. Ella Lewerenz
6. Zara Hoadley
5. Madeline Cox
4. Francesca Hammerer
3. Maude Smith-Montross
2. Pippa Jamieson
1. Charlotte Hill
 
4V8+
Coxswain: Emily Kendall
8. Eve Barrancotto
7. Filippa Ljunggren
6. Gwyneth Fagg
5. Sidney Curven
4. Kate Nixon
3. Gabrielle Jennings
2. Maile Nelson
1. Isabella Laddy
 
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