After sweeping their opponents in the regattas last weekend, the WSU women’s rowing team seeks to end their fall season on a positive note as they race at the Head of the Lake in Seattle Sunday.

The Lake Washington Rowing Club, one of the largest on the West Coast, is the host of the race and will take place in Lake Union and Lake Washington. The race is unique because it will consist of a three-mile stretch through Montlake Cut and will finish outside of the Conibear Shellhouse at Lake Washington.

The race will include teams from the Northwest including Stanford, who will be competing in the race for the first time, and Washington. Crews from Gonzaga University, University of Portland, Lewis& Clark College, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, University of Fraser Valley, University of Victoria, Camosun College, University of British Columbia, Portland State University, Simon Fraser University, University of Oregon, and Vancouver Rowing Club will also compete at the event.

Last year, Washington State’s varsity four took the spotlight and won the women’s collegiate varsity four race with a time of 20 minutes and 15 seconds, out-stroking Washington by three seconds. The Cougars also took home the varsity eight race with a time of 18:57. Meanwhile, both the varsity eight and second varsity eight finished at second in their respective races.

WSU rowing Head Coach Jane LaRiviere said the team has worked up to race its final race of the fall season.

“My expectations are always to have our best race when it counts the most,” she said. “I think that all fall we’ve worked up to Head of the Lake as our final race of the fall, and this year Stanford is going to come up, so it’ll be nice to race both Washington and Stanford.”

LaRiviere said she also enjoys competing in Seattle because of the support the team gets.

“It is great to compete in Seattle because a high percentage of our team is from the Westside and so we have tremendous parent support and fans,” she said. “The parents, supporters and fans all organize a brunch after racing, so it’s a really nice time to hang out and relax for a little bit before we jump back on the bus.”

The team begins its spring season on March 22 in Silver Lake against Gonzaga, Portland State and Loyola Marymount.