STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford recorded a podium finish for the fourth time in six years, placing fourth at the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Stanford totaled 116 points, finishing fourth behind NCAA champion Washington (132), Texas (125) and Michigan (119), with Ohio State (105) rounding out the top five.
The Cardinal also placed fourth in 2014, 2016 and 2018 while finishing sixth in both 2015 and 2017.
With its fourth-place finish in 2019, Stanford's varsity eight posted a top-five finish for the fifth consecutive season. The varsity eight placed second in 2017, third in 2016, fourth in 2018 and fifth in 2015.
Four Podium Finishes In Six Years Stanford's varsity eight and second varsity finished fourth in their respective Grand Finals. The varsity four placed second in its Grand Final, matching its best finish in program history.
The NCAA adjusted schedule with inclement weather in the area, as the varsity eight Grand Final opened competition on Sunday. It was a wildly competitive race for the title, coming down to Stanford, Washington, Michigan and Texas at the finish. The Huskies captured the title with a time of 6:07.284. Stanford finished fourth with a time 6:09.344, behind Texas (6:07.971) and Michigan (6:08.659). California (6:10.515) and Ohio State (6:11.042) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
Stanford's second varsity eight finished fourth with a time of 6:16.937 in Sunday's Grand Final. Washington (6:11.262) and Texas (6:12.328) took the top two spots, with Michigan finishing third (6:15.063).
The Cardinal's varsity four placed second with a time of 6:55.642, matching its highest NCAA finish in program history. Stanford also placed second in 2014. Washington captured the title with a time of 6:52.451.
A post shared by Stanford Women's Crew (@stanfordwcrew) on Jun 3, 2019 at 6:04am PDT
Promising Pac-12 PerformanceStanford placed second at the Pac-12 Championships, totaling 39 points as the runner-up to Washington (39.5) in the smallest margin of victory since 2010.
The Cardinal placed second for the first time since a runner-up finish to California in 2016.
Stanford placed second in all four races: varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four and third varsity eight.
Cal won the varsity eight with a time of 6:11.901, followed by Stanford at 6:12.824. Halfway through the Pac-12 Championships, there was a three-way tie for first place between Stanford, Washington and California. The Huskies ultimately pulled away with three straight victories in the V4 (7:26.553), third V8 (6:39.054) and novice eight (6:28.972).
A post shared by Stanford Women's Crew (@stanfordwcrew) on May 20, 2019 at 2:27pm PDT
McGinley Headlines Pac-12 Honors
Seniors Stephanie Grauer, Elizabeth Sharis and Chase Shepley were selected to the All-Pac-12 team while freshman Kelsey McGinley was recognized as Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year.
A freshman from Westport, Connecticut, McGinley became the second Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year in school history, joining Abby Loughrey (2003) as Stanford's lone honorees. With the Cardinal battling injuries early in the year, McGinley took over the stroke spot on the varsity eight boat that earned silver at the Pac-12 Championships. McGinley has been a force on the water even before her time at Stanford, winning the Head of the Charles Regatta in the Women's Junior Varsity 8 from 2015-2017, setting a course record in 2015 and 2017.
Grauer earned her third straight All-Pac-12 honor. Sharis and Shepley were both named to the All-Conference team for the first time in their careers.
Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year!??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/cpbMsB5uJm
— Stanford Women's Rowing (@StanfordRowing) May 28, 2019
Pac-12 All-Academic Honors
Stanford was recognized with 21 student-athletes on the Pac-12 All-Academic squads.
The Cardinal placed seven student-athletes on the first, second and honorable mention teams.
Stanford has totaled 116 all-academic selections over the last six seasons.
Cardinal well represented with 2?1? Pac-12 All-Academic honorees. Make it 116 all-academic selections over the last six seasons. #GoStanford https://t.co/0rrBqcPzzQ
— Stanford Women's Rowing (@StanfordRowing) June 4, 2019
Portrait of Resilience
Within minutes after Derek Byrnes was announced as the new head coach for the Stanford women's rowing team, he received a text from one of his new athletes.
Byrnes knew of Devin Norder from her days as a top junior rower, and while Byrnes coached the Stanford lightweight team the year before, he was aware of an injury history that prevented Norder from rowing in a single race her previous two years on the Cardinal varsity squad.
Norder wanted to talk to him and, moments later, was in his office. Byrnes sensed where this conversation was going to go.
"Are you quitting?" he asked.
Norder looked at Byrnes as if she'd been insulted.
"Why would you think I'd be quitting?" she said.
Before the ink was even dry on Byrnes contract, Norder came asking for a training plan. She was eager to get to work. Norder, despite eight surgeries, never has strayed from the determination she conveyed at that first meeting. Even with Norder undergoing heart surgery this year, Byrnes learned his lesson. He never doubted her desire to come back.
Click here for the full story.
In a sport as physically demanding as rowing, Devin Norder is the portrait of resilience.
— Stanford Athletics (@GoStanford) May 17, 2019
This is her story: https://t.co/XKpsxwzClq#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/1wL7bIzDpo
Four Named To US Selection Camp
USRowing announced its selections for the Women's National Team Camps this summer, with Stanford earning four roster spots.
Senior Chase Shepley, sophomores Kaitlyn Kynast and Miranda Nykolyn and freshman coxswain Caroline Ricksen were all invited to compete at the Women's Open Under 23 Selection Camp held in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Shepley, Knast and Ricksen were selected to row at the Sweep Camp while Nykolyn will row at the Sculling Camp.
Stanford assistant coach Kelsie Chaudoin is one of five coaches for the Sweep Selection Camp while Cardinal women's lightweight rowing head coach Kate Bertko will lead the sculling side of the camp.
At the camps, the coaches will select U23 women's eight, four, quadruple sculls and four with coxswain that will race at the 2019 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in July and a pair to race at USRowing's Under 23 World Championship Trials in early July.
Huge congrats to Chase Shepley, Kaitlyn Knast, Miranda Nykolyn and Caroline Ricksen on their selection to the Women's National Team Selection Camp ??#GoStanford https://t.co/BYE3DQ0I92
— Stanford Women's Rowing (@StanfordRowing) April 12, 2019