After finishing outside the top three at the NCAA Tournament last season, Washington State’s women’s rowing team is poised to head back to the tournament with another strong senior class.

The only members of the varsity eight boat that graduated last May are Sarah Wu, Mickey Aylard and Savannah Davison.

Head Coach Jane LaRiviere returns 16 seniors and 23 upperclassmen for her 14th season in Pullman. The Cougars also have seven sophomores and no freshmen. WSU will hold an informational meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, for those interested in being a walk-on for the rowing team. More information can be found on wsucougars.com.

Regardless of the amount of walk-on rowers for the 2015 season, LaRiviere has a relatively easy puzzle to solve when replacing her departed seniors.

Sophomore Mangiagli Next Coxswain Up

LaRivere has yet to name who will be in the varsity eight, second varsity eight or third varsity boats for the 2015-16 season, but one position is looking promising already. With former coxswain Sarah Wu now graduated, sophomore Jenna Mangiagli appears to be the likely heir to the varsity eight boat throne.

Mangiagli was a fairly consistent starter as the coxswain for the second varsity eight boat last season. Under her guidance, the Cougars fared well against other second varsity eight boats and even a handful of varsity eight boats.

Julia Monroe, who was another the coxswain for the second varsity eight boat last season, graduated, leaving Mangiagli the only logical replacement.

Hare, Cathrea and Adomaviciute Bring Medals Back To Pullman

Washington State seniors Nicole Hare, Morgan Cathrea and Ieva Adomaviciute participated in the 2015 Under 23 World Rowing Championships at the end of July. Adomaviciute, a native of Lithuania, won gold while Hare and Cathrea won silver for the Canadian crew team as members of the varsity four boat.

All three played a crucial role in the success of last season’s WSU varsity eight boat, and will be called upon again this year.

WSU has seen its rowers have incredible success at the national level, both during and sometimes before they arrive in Pullman. Getting rowers from all around the world has been something LaRiviere has prided herself on, being able to get the best talent and mesh it together to make a great program.

Reporting by Lars Hanson