Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing begins the spring racing season today, welcoming teams from all over the Pacific Northwest and Midwest for the PLU Invitational on American Lake.
Teams Racing: Eight total women's teams and four men's teams will be participating at the PLU Invitational. On the women's side, Pacific Lutheran will be joined by fellow D3 institutions Pacific University, Lewis & Clark College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, and boathouse rival University of Puget Sound. Also in the field will be D2's Seattle Pacific University and Western Washington University, along with the University of Oregon club team.
Men's teams competing include Lewis & Clark, Oregon, Puget Sound, and Western Washington.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran has lofty goals heading into the spring season after qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships and placing eighth at the national regatta last May. For the Lutes, last spring was a return to the national regatta for the first time since 2022 and was the seventh all-time appearance for the program. PLU’s varsity eight boat placed eighth overall and was runner-up in the petite final with the second varsity eight boat having an identical finish in their races at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey. Anchoring the program’s high expectations is the reality that eight of the nine crewmembers from the varsity eight and five of the nine from the second varsity eight return for the 2026 campaign. Leading the charge of a stacked veteran 1V8+ is Riah Heil. An All-Northwest Conference selection last spring, the Maple Valley, Washington native was one of just two Division III West Coast rowers to make the cut in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association’s Athlete to Watch list released in February. Also returning is Kennadi Jones who was also tabbed All-NWC at the conference regatta that the Lutes placed runner-up in the 1V race and second overall in the team standings. Rounding out the rest of the returners on the varsity eight is coxswain Louisa Compton along with crew members Abby Andrews, Adia Carei, Makyala Hall, Kat Judd, and Tate Trahan. Returning this spring is Hannah Miyasaki. A Honolulu, Hawaii native, Miyasaki rowed in the 1V8+ during the 2024 season before missing all spring last year while participating in a study away program. Ashley Teague rowed in the 2V8+ at the NCAA Championships but appeared in both boats over the course of the spring, and looks to take the next step heading into the 2026 racing slate. In addition to Teague, the Lutes also return Sareena Dhaliwal, Mackenzie Poppe, Suzie Roberts and coxswain Sylvie Manz from the second varsity eight. Among the first-years on the team, Oclander has been particularly impressed with Washington natives Joscelyn Barenaba and Tlalli Ruiz along with Minnesota native Kate Dery. Pacific Lutheran enters the spring coming off a successful fall slate of racing with the Lute varsity eight boat defeating Division I Seattle University at the Head of the Lake on the Mountlake Cut in Seattle back on Nov. 2, while earning a head-to-head win over boathouse rival University of Puget Sound six days later at the Fall Fixture on American Lake.
The Lutes first test of spring comes this Saturday, racing crews from Lewis & Clark College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Pacific University, and the University of Oregon club team at the PLU Invitational on American Lake. The PLU Invite is the first of two regattas on home turf with the Lutes battled University of Puget Sound on March 21 in the annual Lamberth Cup race.
This year the Lutes will also make a return to the East Coast, racing on Lake Quinsigamond in Massachusetts against some of the nation’s best teams in mid-April. Just a week after the East Coast trip, the Lutes will be racing on Vancouver Lake outside Portland at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Championship. The following weekend will be in Sacramento, California and Lake Natoma for the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, the last big meet for the Lutes to impress prior to the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships that are held this May on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
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Next Home regatta:
Mar. 21: Lamberth Cup vs Puget Sound
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu