WSU rowing competed at the Lake Wheeler Invitational, Friday and Saturday on Lake Wheeler in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Lake Wheeler Invitational is co-hosted by North Carolina and Duke and featured a total of 18 different rowing programs from across the country.

The highlight of the weekend for the Cougars came on Saturday in the second varsity eight race. WSU’s 2V8+ crew of Ainsley Tiernan, Jess Horrigan, Hana Anderson, Sydney Wick, Jess Schneider, Meg Montgomery, Siena Snow, Saskia Steltman and Hannah Elliott came first in their heat, posting a time of 6:56.348. No. 19 Iowa came in second place with a time of 7:00.418, 4.070 seconds behind WSU’s boat.

The Cougs took second place in the first varsity eight race. The 1V8+ boat clocked in at 6:44.282, finishing second to No. 19 Iowa who won the race in 6:40.910. The Cougs finished ahead of Miami (6:45.622), Clemson (6:46.090), Oklahoma (6:53.932) and Boston College, who finished with a time of 6:58.344.

The Cougars came in third place during the first varsity four race. The 1V4+ boat finished with a time of 7:54.530, which was behind Oklahoma and No. 19 Iowa, who won the race with a time of  7:41.676.

WSU’s second varsity four crew captured a second-place finish, coming in at 7:58.071. The No. 19 Hawkeyes also placed first in this race, finishing with a time of 7:56.827.

“The Wheeler Invitational did not disappoint,” said head coach Jane LaRiviere, in a recent press conference. “It was a well-run regatta and we got three tough races in with worthy opponents. I think we learned something from each race and we’re able to put it all together and have our best performance today.”

WSU finished the 2023 Lake Wheeler Invitational in seventh place, with a total of 45 points. The Cougs earned 24 points during Friday’s morning and afternoon races and ended the invitational by grabbing 21 points in Saturday’s final heats. Duke won the regatta with 88 points.

The WSU women’s rowing team will prepare for the 2023 Pac-12 Championships. This year’s Pac-12 championship will take place May 14 at Dexter Lake, Oregon.