V8+V8+
Stockton Photo
Women's Lightweight Rowing

Year in Review: Lightweight Rowing

The Cardinal medaled in the varsity eight at the IRA Championships

STANFORD, Calif. – The 2025-26 campaign represented another strong year for the lightweight rowing program in the third season under the leadership of Lizzy Houston.

A season’s worth of improving performances reached its zenith at the IRA National Championships in Gold River, California, with Stanford finishing fourth as a team and earning the bronze medal in the varsity eight. The fourth-place team finish for the Cardinal is its best since 2024 and its third in the top four of the Commissioner’s Cup standings since its championship in 2019 – the last of five in a row.

The Cardinal’s varsity eight was one of three teams to pull in front across the first 500 meters, as Stanford led fourth-place Boston University by nearly three seconds for a medalist position. Stanford maintained its position throughout the race, and it posted the best split among the top three teams to close over the final 500 meters to clinch the bronze medal. The Cardinal’s medal in the varsity eight marked its 16th over the last 17 IRA Championships and its fourth bronze since 2008. The double sculls finished in fifth place and the varsity four placed sixth overall.

In its final action ahead of the IRA Championships, Stanford posted a bronze medal finish at Eastern Sprints, hosted on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts on May 3. The Cardinal eight finished in a time of 6:30.221 to claim the bronze medal by 3.6 seconds over Boston University. The Cardinal also topped the Terriers at home on April 25, winning the varsity eight by 8.5 seconds.

Stanford also saw strong performances at the Big Ten Invite at Tennessee, where it competed against openweight programs, and at home against Princeton, led by a victory from the double sculls.

Brooke Ruszkiewicz led the Cardinal on the water, earning a nod to the CRCA/Pocock All-American team. Also a finalist for CRCA National Rower of the Year, Ruszkiewicz became Stanford’s first All-American since 2024, with the honor the first of her career. Ruszkiewicz rowed in all eight races with the varsity eight, helping to lead the Cardinal to its strong placement at IRAs.

Stanford’s varsity eight boat at IRAs included Marrisa Chow, Campbell McClellan, Mia Padovano, Lauren Koester, Grace Padula, Maddie Wu, Elle Rosenfeld and Juliet Bohn, in addition to the All-American Ruszkiewicz. Kate Metteauer, Francesca Krywosa, Helen Pruitt-Kennett, Claire Steiner and Sophia Ramaraju ended the season with the varsity four, while Zadie Diniz and Maddy Dodge rowed with the varsity two.

Stanford had 10 players lauded as CRCA Scholar-Athletes at the conclusion of the season.