Huskies sweep competition at conference championship

INDIANAPOLIS — In their first year in the Big Ten Conference, the second-ranked Washington Huskies women’s rowing team is the conference champions, winning all seven grand finals, according to a statement by UW Athletic Communications. 

In the 25-year history of the Big Ten regatta, Washington was just the second team ever to sweep, winning every grand final and joining Ohio State, which accomplished that feat in 2018.

Washington won the team title with a perfect points total of 264. Rutgers was second with 239 points and Michigan (212) finished in third.

"We have dreamed of days like today since the very start of the season and to have that dream become a reality means more than words will ever be able to describe," said Olivia Hay, the Huskies' 2025 team captain. “To win every single race across the board is a true testament to what we have been creating this year, with all of us here in Indianapolis and all our teammates back home, too.” 

The Huskies' victory marked the 27th conference championship in program history. UW joined the Big Ten having won 18 Pac-12 Women's Rowing Championships, as well as eight conference titles prior to the Pac-10/Pac-12 era (1987-2024).

“I was definitely aware that we were in a position to win Washington's first Big Ten Championship, but we never really talked about it,” said UW women's head coach Yasmin Farooq. “We knew each race was going to take our very best and I think we were just truly focused on preparing for tough racing and bringing our best performances to the table.”

 According to Farooq, she and the Huskies always felt they had the potential to win the Big Ten Championship. They knew if they worked as a team to overcome the obstacles throughout the season, they could do it.

The day's final race, the varsity eights grand final, began with a tightly packed field at the starting line. With the team championship essentially already won, the Huskies were seeking the sweep, having already won all six previous grand finals.

Defending conference champion Michigan crept away in the first 500 to take the lead, gaining a half-length over UW by 1,000 meters. In the third 500, though, the UW crew responded and gained ground on the Wolverines. 

As the Huskies pulled away from Michigan, Rutgers came on, moving into second and giving UW a legitimate challenge down the homestretch.

Washington held off the Scarlet Knights, who also finished second as a team, winning by about two or three seats and less than a second. UW's final time was 6:05.233, while Rutgers crossed the line in 6:06.081.

"We had a great race where we were pushed all the way down the course, which allowed us to elevate ourselves and never take a stroke for granted," said Megan Lee, UW's varsity eight-stroke rower. 

Michigan, Rutgers and UW jumped to the front at the start of the second varsity eight final, but before 500 meters, the Huskies had edged into a three-seat edge.

The Huskies had an open-water advantage just after 1,000 meters and rowed the second half of the course in command of the lead. UW's second eight won its final in 6:11.674, just under six seconds ahead of Rutgers.

Ohio State and Minnesota gave UW an early challenge in the first of the "NCAA boat" races, the varsity fours.  By 500 meters, Washington had established a clear lead over the Golden Gophers and the Huskies left the rest of the field well behind for the remainder of the 2,000 meters.

Washington won the fours in a time of 6:53.520. Rutgers fought off Michigan to finish second, about 3.3 seconds back of the Huskies.

Michigan jumped out to the early lead in the second fours grand final, but by 500 meters, Washington had moved in front, with Rutgers taking second spot from the Wolverines.

Rutgers hung in and kept contact with the UW crew, but the Huskies answered each challenge. Washington crossed the line about a half-length in front of Rutgers, winning the race in 6:58.341, about 1.6 seconds ahead.

 In the third fours event, Washington led early, but Rutgers moved ahead in the second 500. The Scarlet Knights' lead was short-lived, though, as the Huskies moved back in front and stretched the lead to nearly a length by 1,500 meters. The Huskies pulled away in the stretch at won in 7:03.150, more than three seconds ahead of Rutgers.

 In the third varsity eights race, with UW's top novice boat racing, the Huskies faced an early challenge from Ohio State but led by a half-length at 500 meters. In the second 500, Rutgers moved into second, but Washington held the lead the rest of the way, winning in 6:31.866, a length ahead of the Scarlet Knights.

The morning began with a win in the fourth varsity eights event, with the Huskies' second novice eight. In that race, Ohio State crossed the 500-meter buoy in first place by a half-second. By 1,000 meters, the UW had moved in front by that same margin and, in the third 500, the Huskies pulled in front.

Washington won the race by just under four seconds, in a time of 6:41.711 to the Buckeyes' 6:45.679.

"The 4V8 – which consists of all freshmen, including walk-ons – set the stage for the day with a great battle with Ohio State," Farooq said. "We knew that race would be a smoker. Our boat raced gritty and tough – and the way they raced inspired all of us."

With the completion of the Big Ten Championships, the All-Big Ten Women's Rowing Team was also revealed, with six Huskies honored. Washington's first-team selections were Marilou Duvernay-Tardif, Zola Kemp and Aisha Rocek, while Sophie Houston, Megan Lee and Cillian Mullen were named to the second team.