END OF AN ERA
Following the conclusion of the 2016 season, Yasmin Farooq announced her decision to leave her position as head coach of the Stanford women's rowing program to pursue other opportunities. During a highly successful 10-year tenure at the helm of the Cardinal, "Yaz" led Stanford to the first NCAA championship in program history in 2009. She also guided the Cardinal to a Pac-12 Championship in 2014 – the first conference title in the program's history. Under her direction, Stanford finished in the top two at the Pac-12 Championships in six of the past eight years. Yaz, the 2009 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Coach of the Year, coached her top three boats to a pair of NCAA titles and nine medals since 2008.
ANOTHER PODIUM FINISH AT NCAAs
Stanford placed fourth as a team and captured the bronze in the varsity eight at the 2016 NCAA Championships in May at Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. The Cardinal collected 107 team points to finish one point ahead of fifth-place Washington. Along with the varsity eight's bronze medal, the second varsity eight placed third in the NCAA Petite Final to place ninth overall, and the varsity four took fourth in its NCAA Grand Final.
FIVE EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Five members of the Stanford women's rowing program were named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Pocock All- Americans. The Cardinal's five All-America selections were the most of any NCAA Division I women's rowing program in the nation.
Senior Simone Jacobs and junior Lilly Tinapple were First Team All-America selections, while seniors Ellie Parker and Kay Rusher, and sophomore Leigh Warner were Second Team All-America picks.
All five served in Stanford's varsity eight that placed third in the NCAA Championships at Lake Natoma in May. Jacobs was the stroke of the Cardinal's top boat, while Warner served as the coxswain, Tinapple rowed in the seven seat, Parker rowed in the five seat, and Rusher rowed in the two seat.
ALL-PAC-12 TRIO
Three members of the Cardinal were selected to the All-Pac-12 Women's Rowing Team. Senior Simone Jacobs, junior Ruth Narode, and sophomore Leigh Warner were each named to the league's 13-member all-star squad.
All three members of the Cardinal are first-time honorees by the Pac-12. Jacobs and Warner were named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Region and All-America selections as well.
SIX TABBED CRCA SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
Six members of the Cardinal were named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar-Athletes. Seniors Emily Grundman (International Relations), Simone Jacobs (Science, Technology and Society), Ellie Parker (Mechanical Engineering) and Hope Sheils (International Relations), and sophomores Alie Rusher (undeclared) and Leigh Warner (undeclared) 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.
16 HONORED BY CONFERENCE FOR ACADEMICS
The Pac-12 named 16 members of Stanford's women's rowing program to the conference's all-academic team. The 16 all-academic honorees were the second most in the Pac-12, one behind Washington State. Stanford has totaled 57 all-academic selections over the past three years.
The senior quintet of Emily Grundman (international relations), Simone Jacobs (science, technology, society), Ellie Parker (mechanical engineering), Hope Sheils (international relations) and Nathalie Weiss (international relations) earned first-team all-academic honors.
Senior Meredith Fischer (earth systems), junior Jackie Huddle (international relations), and sophomores Alie Rusher (undeclared) and Leigh Warner (undeclared) garnered second-team all-academic laurels.
Juniors Reilly Hayes (mechanical engineering), Filippa Karrfelt (computer science), Karli Kirk (biomechanical engineering) and Ruth Narode (human biology), and sophomore Madi Kist (undeclared), Anya Miller (undeclared) and Tracy Roberts (undeclared) were honorable mention all-academic selections.
SILVER AT PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Stanford women's rowing captured second place at the Pac-12 Women's Rowing Championships at Lake Natoma. The Cardinal took the silver in an exciting varsity eight race, while it captured the bronze in the second varsity eight and varsity four and fourth in the third varsity eight to total 35 team points. Cal accumulated 45 to take the conference championship.
In one of the closest races around the nation this season, No. 2 California edged Stanford by 0.8 second in the varsity eight to claim the conference title.
VARSITY EIGHT TAKES BIG ROW
Stanford women's rowing's varsity eight sent its seniors out with a Big Row victory. The Cardinal handed top-ranked and previously undefeated California its first loss of the season in the varsity eight, when it captured the Lambert Cup with a win over the Golden Bears at Redwood Shores in late April.
The varsity eight race was a battle from the start with both crews racing side-by-side down the course. The Cardinal recorded a season-best time of 6:12.82, while the Golden Bears completed the course in 6:16.63. Stanford placed second in the second varsity eight, varsity four and third varsity eight.
TOP BOATS BATTLED ON LAKE NATOMA
In a matchup of the top boats in the nation, No. 7 Stanford placed second in the varsity eight in the headline race of the Lake Natoma Invitational. In the varsity eight, No. 2 California won the race with a time of 6:13.13, while Stanford placed second with a time of 6:16.38, and No. 1 Brown finished third with a time of 6:18.39.
OREGON STATE CLASSIC VICTORY FOR VARSITY EIGHT
Stanford's varsity eight won both of its races to lead the Cardinal at the fourth annual Oregon State Classic at Dexter Lake in Oregon in early April.
The Cardinal went head-to-head with No.8 Washington during the morning session. In a close race throughout, the Cardinal varsity eight edged the Huskies by a couple seats, 6:20.85 – 6:21.50. UW (6:30.34) took the win over Stanford in the second varsity eight and the Huskies captured the victory over the Cardinal in the varsity four. The afternoon session saw lots of exciting racing, as Stanford went up against Oregon State, Oklahoma, UCF and the Huskies in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four. The Cardinal crossed the finish line in 6:52.20, ahead of second-place Washington (6:56.09), third-place Oregon State (7:13.26), fourth-place Oklahoma (7:21.34) and fifth-place UCF (7:24.31). Stanford's second varsity eight placed second to Washington, while the Cardinal's varsity four also finished second to the Huskies in the five-boat races.
SUCCESSFUL SEASON OPENER AT PAC-12 CHALLENGE
Stanford captured five of its seven races overall, including all three duals against No. 20 Duke Saturday in the season-opening Pac-12 Challenge regatta at Redwood Shores at the end of March.
The Cardinal won two of its five dual races against No. 2 California, capturing victories in both the varsity four and second varsity four.
Stanford recorded open-water victories in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four over the Blue Devils during the afternoon session. The Cardinal started strong with a win over Cal in the varsity four. The Bears struck back in the next two races. In a close varsity eight race the entire way, Cal won by a couple seats (6:15.6 – 6:18.0).
