Against some of the best teams of the nation, the No. 14 ranked Washington State women’s rowing varsity eight finished in third place in the San Diego Classic held throughout the weekend at Mission Bay.

After Saturday’s performance, the Cougars had qualified all four boats to their respective Grand Finals.

“I has been a couple years since we raced all four entries into the grand finals,” said Head Coach Jane LaRiviere in a press release after Saturday’s races. “This is a great start to our season. We are pumped up and ready for tomorrow.”

In the first flight on Saturday morning, WSU’s varsity eight (bow-Isabella Watt, Kendall Boliba, Mickey Aylard, Nicole Hare, Mollie McCabe, Jordan Watson, Morgan Cathrea, Elise Jones, coxswain-Sarah Wu) took second in flight A of the women’s Collegiate Varsity Invitational with a time of 6:38.218.

The Cougar women’s varsity four (bow-Kim Coon, Chloe Rogers, Alex Waddell, Carly Johnson, coxswain- Rebecca Burns) also took second in its flight.

In the third event of the day, the second varsity eight (bow-Mihaela-Teodora Berindei, Kayla Wakulich, Kerry Hassall, Noel Christiansen, Carter Marks, Ieva Adomaviciute, Emily Starkel, Megan McDonald, coxswain- Emily Boquet) finished second in flight B of the Women’s Collegiate Second Varsity.

In the final race of Saturday’s competition, the novice eight (bow-Brittany Brooks, Lori VerMurlen, Hunter Jones, Kacie Hillery, Jessi Howe, Jordyn Erno, Christina Larsen, Hanna Erickson, coxswain-Zoey Haver) placed second with a time of 7:10.594.

To finish competition on Sunday, the Cougars battled tough competition finishing atop the standings.

Washington State’s varsity eight team took home the bronze, finishing with a time of 6:48.57 in third place, behind USC (6:38.61) and Washington (6:40.86).

The Cougar varsity four team finished the 2,000-meter course in 7:46.55, in fourth place, 10 seconds behind USC (7:36.92). USC later won the Grand Final and took home the Plumleigh Cortney Cup.

The Cougar second varsity eight team placed fourth with a time of 6:55.74. California won the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy.

In the final flight, WSU’s novice eight finished sixth in the Women’s Collegiate Novice Grand Final with a time of 7:55.55. Washington won the Laurel V. Korholz Perpetual Trophy finishing the race in 7:04.59.

Washington State will face Washington in their next competition in Seattle, April 12.