TACOMA, Wash. (May 15, 2024) - The University of Puget Sound Women's Rowing Team was one of only eight teams selected for the 2024 NCAA DIII Women's Rowing Championships announced Tuesday. The Loggers' last appearance in the NCAA Championship was in 2015. Puget Sound's highest place finish at nationals was in 2003 when the team finished second.
Competition at the 2024 NCAA DIII Women's Rowing Championships will begin on Friday, May 31 and the finals will take place on Saturday, June 1 at Harsha Lake within East Fork State Park in Bethel, Ohio.
The other seven schools selected for the 2024 DIII Rowing Championships include Ithaca College, Tufts University, Smith College, and St. Mary's College (Md.), who earned automatic berths with their conference titles. Puget Sound received an 'at large' entry, along with Trinity College, Wesleyan University, and Williams College.
Although they did not receive an automatic bid, the Loggers were largely expected to be traveling to Ohio for the championships after their strong season which culminated with a dominating performance at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) championship two weeks ago. "At WIRA, we were able to make the grand final for the first time since 2015," says Head Coach Dave Hammond. The Loggers showed up with a solid performance in their heat, taking 6th in the grand final, competing against NCAA Division II and club competition. Senior Claudia Luthy was awarded an All-WIRA Second-Team award at the event.
Conference Recognition
As the regular season came to a close, seniors Sydney Maysmith, Becca Murphy, and Skylar Reynolds were awarded All-Northwest Conference honors for their efforts this season. With Reynolds directing from coxswain, Maysmith rowed in the No. 6 seat and Murphy rowed in the No. 5 seat. The Logger Women's Rowing has earned yet another Lamberth Cup, topping PLU for the second year in a row. The Loggers Women's Rowing team has gone undefeated against all other NWC teams this year.
Coach Hammond's Praises
When asked about the three All-Northwest Conference honorees, Coach Hammond shared his thoughts:
"[Reynolds] started last year and has developed quickly into being a very capable boat leader, she steers straight courses, pushes the crew when they need to be pushed, and lets them run when it's time to let them run."
"[Maysmith] has really been our powerhouse who we've built [the team] around all year. She's going to end up in the top six for 2000-meter testing times in school history. She's a consummate teammate who always supports everyone around her - it's so good to have someone like that in the middle of the boat."
"[Murphy] is our rock. She's the heart and soul of the team, rowing in the middle of the boat, and has great connections with everyone. This translates well to being able to efficiently row with the team, as there's so much trust generated through her actions."
The Loggers are extremely "senior-laden", says Hammond. Coxswain Skylar Reynolds, 7-seat Claudia Luthy, 6-seat Sydney Maysmith, 5-seat Becca Murphy, 4-seat Austyn Smith, and 3-seat Lily Steller are all wrapping up their senior years with a trip to the 2024 NCAA Division III Championships.
The 2024 NCAA Division III Championships will be streamed online at www.ncaa.com. The schedule for the event is as follows:
Friday, May 31
8:12 a.m. | II Eights Heat 1
8:24 a.m. | II Eights Heat 2
8:36 a.m. | I Eights Heat 1
8:48 a.m. | I Eights Heat 2
3:48 p.m. | II Eights Repêchage
4 p.m. | I Eights Repêchage
Saturday, June 1
10:36 a.m. | II Eights Petite Final (places 7-8)
10:48 a.m. | II Eights Grand Final (places 1-6)
11:24 a.m. | I Eights Petite Final (places 7-8)
11:36 a.m. | I Eights Grand Final (places 1-6)
12:45 p.m. | Awards ceremony
