NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Stanford lightweight rowing punctuated another stellar season with its second straight national championship. The Cardinal captured the 2016 IRA Championship as a team and won the varsity eight IRA title during the national regatta on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey in early June. The Cardinal lightweight eight completed its second straight undefeated season, by capturing its Grand Final. The lightweight four and the lightweight double placed third in each of their respective Grand Finals as all three boats medaled. Stanford totaled 34 team points (only eight and four included in IRA scoring) to win the IRA team title by four points of Boston and Wisconsin.
ALL-AMERICAN TRIO
The Stanford lightweight rowing program saw three of its members named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Pocock Lightweight All-America Team. Senior Brittany Presten, sophomore Shea Cours and freshman Rena White were each recognized on CRCA's nine-member All-America squad. All three were part of Stanford's varsity eight that captured its sixth IRA title in the past seven years.
SIX NAMED CRCA SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
Six Stanford lightweight rowing student-athletes were named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar-Athletes. Senior Brittany Presten (Biomechanical Engineering), juniors Sarah Hirshorn (Public Policy) and Christine Cavallo (International Relations), and sophomores Shea Cours (Pyschology), Taylor Harris (Chemistry) and Hannah Levy (Psychology) were each honored by the CRCA. To be eligible, student-athletes must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better, be in their second, third or fourth year of eligibility, and have rowed in 75 percent of the program's spring races.
CARDINAL TAKES WIRAs
Stanford lightweight rowing won all three of its races at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on Lake Natoma in early May. The Cardinal's top boat captured the varsity eight/open Grand Final by open water on Sunday with a time of 6:45.8. San Diego State placed second with a time of 6:57.1, with Sacramento State (7:02.5) finishing third.
LIGHTWEIGHT INVITATIONAL CHAMPS
Top-ranked Stanford lightweight rowing captured the trophy in the varsity eight at the Lightweight Invitational on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts in April.
The Cardinal's top boat won all three of its races over the two-day event, punctuating its weekend with an open water win over Boston and Wisconsin in the Grand Final. Stanford posted a 6:32.8, to beat the Terriers (6:40.5) and Badgers (6:45.2) in the finals.
The Cardinal also fielded a lightweight entry in the Stanford Invitational at Redwood Shores in mid April. Stanford's lightweight crew faced Humboldt's second varsity eight, coming within three seconds (6:51.0 - 6:54.5) of the Lumberjacks.
KNECHT CUP VICTORY
Stanford captured three Grand Final victories in the Knecht Cup on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey in April. The Cardinal won the crown in the lightweight varsity eight, lightweight varsity four and novice eight, while also taking first in the Petite Final of the lightweight varsity eight.
Stanford had two entries in the lightweight varsity eight, with the Cardinal's top boat capturing the crown in the Grand Final. Stanford's top boat won its heat by four seconds over Wisconsin's top boat (6:43.49 – 6:47.84). In the Grand Final, Stanford earned the victory with a time of 6:35.96. The Cardinal beat Boston University (6:38.68) by a couple seats to capture the title.
Stanford's second entry in the lightweight varsity eight won the Petite Final with a time of 6:54.84, defeating a second entry by Boston University (6:57.24) by several seats.
The Cardinal lightweight varsity four also took home the crown in its Grand Final, winning by open water over Villanova (7:31.83 – 7:45.53).
SIXTH STRAIGHT COGGESHALL CUP
Stanford's varsity eight won its sixth straight Coggeshall Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic at the beginning of April. The Cardinal's top boat defended its crown by open water over Boston University and Princeton. The Cardinal also had a boat in the Open Eight Grand Final in San Diego. Stanford's lightweight crew took home the bronze out of eight boats in the race.
PAC-12 CHALLENGE SWEEP
Stanford earned a sweep of its six races in the season-opening Pac-12 Challenge Regatta on the course at Redwood Shores at the end of March.
Stanford took both races against UC Santa Barbara by open water. The varsity eight raced down the 2,000-meter course in 6:40.8, nearly 20 seconds ahead of UCSB. In the second varsity eight, the Cardinal won by more than 25 seconds over UCSB. In the afternoon session, the Cardinal varsity eight earned its second win of the day, capturing the open-water triumph over Western Washington. The second varsity eight lightweight race saw Stanford take the win over Vikings to complete the sweep.
The Cardinal also recorded open-water victories over UC San Diego in both the varsity eight and the second varsity eight.
BYRNES LEADS CHARGE
In two seasons as the head coach of the Stanford women's lightweight rowing program, Derek Byrnes has captured two IRA Championships. The varsity eight has completed undefeated campaigns each of the two years. Assistant coach Bonnie Chilibeck won an IRA title in her first season on the Cardinal staff.
