DIVISION 1 ROWING
As we move into the latter part of the season, it is becoming crunch time for teams chasing an At-Large bid for the NCAA's. With five different rowing leagues being represented in this week's top ten (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Ivy and Pac 12) and 11 more At-Large spots, schools are looking to be ranked in the top 16 or will need to win their conference championship to make the NCAA's. Let's take a look at this past weekend's action, and give some hints on what to watch this coming weekend.

Washington #1 vs. Cal #3
The Washington Huskies hosted the Cal Bears on the Montlake Cut where the Bears pulled off the win to retain the Simpson Cup in another classic battle between these two rivals. Washington won the 2V8 in dominant fashion by double-digits, but the V4 was a tight one with the Huskies winning by 1.7 seconds. The V4 event could play a big role in who wins the Pac 12 Championship and even the NCAA's.

Longhorn Invite - Texas #4, UVA #10, USC #11, Iowa #13, Indiana #16, Oregon State #18, Oklahoma #20, Notre Dame
Texas played host for the Longhorn Invite where seven of the schools racing were ranked in the top 20, which will provide results the NCAA selection committee we'll be discussing come selection time. The Saturday morning races were pushed up to Friday with weather concerns, and the second round of races wrapped up on Saturday morning. The Friday racing kicked off with the V8, with Texas winning the top spot with Indiana beating out USC and Notre Dame for the second spot as USC was less than two-seconds from the Hoosiers. In the other V8 race, Iowa took the top spot with a length over UVA who bested Oregon State by 3/4 of a length and Oklahoma fourth.

In Saturday's races (which were set and seeded based on team points, and not on advancement directly from heats to finals by event), Texas won over Iowa by a little open water. UVA was third one length back, and Indiana another 5 seconds back for fourth.

In the other V8 race, USC and Oregon State put on quite a show with the Trojans edging out the Beavers by a half a seat in a great "Photofinish." Notre Dame and Oklahoma rounded out the field respectively.

Texas WV8+

In the 2V8, Texas won easily, with Indiana finishing three seconds ahead of USC. In the other 2V heat, it was UVA taking the top spot, while Oklahoma took second to advance with Oregon State finishing 3-seconds off the Sooners.

In Saturday's 2V8 finals, it was UVA winning over Texas by 3-seconds with Indiana and Iowa open water back in third and fourth. In the other 2V8 final, another "Photofinish" was needed as Oklahoma nudged out the victory by a foot over USC. Notre Dame was a half a length off the pace with Oregon State rounding out the field.

In the final NCAA event, Texas won the V4 over UVA by one length while Iowa was just another 2-seats back. In the other V4 final, it was Oklahoma winning by a length over Oregon State and then open water to USC followed by Notre Dame.

Princeton #7, Wisconsin #12, Rutgers #14, Columbia
The Princeton V8 continues to stay undefeated with a 3-second win over Wisconsin, with Rutgers just under a length back off the Badgers followed by Columbia open water back for fourth. The 2V8 was also won by Princeton by a touch of open water over Wisconsin. The Lions of Columbia finished a half a length off the Badgers with Rutgers open water back in fourth. The V4 event was won by the Scarlet Knights with the Badgers two second back of Rutgers but open water over Princeton followed by Columbia.

Princeton Varsity 8+

Yale #8, Harvard-Radcliffe #15, Northeastern
Yale traveled up to the Charles River to take on Harvard-Radcliffe and Northeastern on a windy morning on which racing was moved to a 6am start time. The Elis won the V8 over Harvard-Radcliffe by 6.8 seconds with Northeastern finishing third. In the 2V8 race, the Black and White took the race by 3 seconds over Yale, with the Huskies open water back. The V4 finishing order was the same as the V8 with Yale, Harvard-Radcliffe and Northeastern going one, two, three.

Lake Wheeler Invite - Duke #17, Central Florida, Clemson, Georgetown, Miami, Michigan State, Navy, North Carolina, Temple
Duke and North Carolina co-hosted the inaugural Lake Wheeler Invite where seven other schools were invited to the two-day event. The event produced some great racing and was won by the Blue Devils across the five scoring events. The heats were three-boat races with the winners advancing to the A-Final, second place crews to the B-Final, and third place crews to the C-Final.

Navy, Duke, and MSU racing at Lake Wheeler

For the V8 event, the heat winners were Duke, Michigan State and Navy who met up in the A-Final where Navy took the top spot 2.5 seconds over Michigan State, and Duke another 2.3 seconds back for third. The B-Final was won by Clemson in a good race with Central Florida with a 1.6 seconds difference, and Georgetown 3/4 of a length off Central Florida. In the C-Final, it was Temple winning over Miami by less than a seat with UNC about a length back.

In the 2V8, it was a Duke and Michigan State battle for the lead, with the Blue Devils beating out the Spartans by 1/2 length and Central Florida third in the A-Final. In the battle for 4th, 5th and 6th, it was Clemson beating Temple by 2/3 of a length and Navy another 3 seconds back on the Owls. In the C-Final, it went UNC, Miami and Georgetown with about a half a length of open water between the crews.

Syracuse #19, Cornell, Dartmouth
Cornell hosted Syracuse and Dartmouth in Ithaca where Syracuse showed good speed in the V8 by winning by 16 seconds over Dartmouth and another 5 seconds to Cornell. In the 2V8, it was Syracuse again winning by another double-digit margin, with Cornell finishing second and the Big Green finishing third. However, in the V4, it was Dartmouth taking the top spot with Syracuse 9 seconds back and Cornell in third.

Gonzaga vs. Washington State
Racing on the Snake River on Sunday due to more weather concerns, Washington State took all three NCAA events with the V8 being the tightest race with a 2.4 second margin. The 2V8 was won by the Cougars by a touch of open water and the V4 won comfortably over the Bulldogs.

Holy Cross, MIT, Bates (D3)
Patriot League members MIT and Holy Cross met on Lake Quinsigamond along with 2018 NCAA D3 Champions Bates College. The Bobcats looked like they are poised to make another run for an NCAA title by winning the V8 and the 2V8 by double-digit margins while MIT finished ahead of Holy Cross in both events. The Crusaders however broke a rigger in the 2V8 event about 500 meters into the race. For the V4 event, Bates won by 8 seconds over Holy Cross while MIT did not field a V4 crew.

Fairfield vs. Iona
Two members of the MAAC faced-off at the Orchard Beach Lagoon, and in challenging conditions it was Fairfield who had the upper-hand. The Stags won the V8 by 13 seconds over Iona and Fairfield 2V8 who was racing in the V8 event was 1.5 seconds off Iona. In the 2V8, it was Fairfield's 3V8 who was victorious over Iona's 2V8. Fairfield completed the sweep with an 11 second margin over the Gaels.

My Fast Five
Here are my top five in each of the NCAA events for the D1 schools. The results so far this season has several tight results and crews picking up speed, which made it challenging to sort out the top five. Looking back at last year, in the final version of My Fast Five, four of the five schools made the Grand Finals at the NCAAs.

NEXT WEEK'S RACES TO WATCH
-Washington at Windermere Cup
-Cal vs. Stanford
-Ohio State vs. Texas
-Michigan vs. Louisville
-Princeton vs. Syracuse
-Brown vs. Cornell
-Eastern Sprints

DIVISION 2 ROWING

WIRA - Central Oklahoma #1, UC San Diego #3, Western Washington #4, Seattle Pacific #5, Humboldt #6
At Lake Natoma, five of the top six school were meeting up at the WIRA's, which will play a big role on the At-Large bids for the D2 rowing schools. For the V8 final, which was a mixture of D2, D3 and Club programs, the crews put on a great show with the margin from first to fifth being 4.3 seconds.

UCO leading the way at WIRA

Central Oklahoma took the top spot over UC San Diego by 6 seats. Then it was UC Santa Barbara, Western Washington and Seattle Pacific finishing within a few seats of each other for third, fourth and fifth. Humboldt finished sixth by overlapping the fifth place crew, keeping the finishing order true to the rankings. For the V4 event, Central Oklahoma dominated the event by 9 seconds. UC San Diego and Western Washington finished 1.1 seconds apart for second and third respectfully. Seattle Pacific took fourth and Humboldt State finished fifth.

FIT #2, Barry #7, Embry-Riddle, Nova Southeastern, Rollins, Tampa
Battling at the Sunshine State Conference Championships, it was FIT taking the top spot by winning the V8 and the V4 to take home conference title. In the V8, FIT cleared the field by an 11-second margin over long time rival Barry. Finishing in third was Embry-Riddle finishing 3/4 of a length off second. Nova Southeastern, Tampa and Rollins rounded out the field. In the V4, it was a much tougher race as FIT won over Nova Southeastern, at just a half a length back. One second back from Nova Southeastern was Rollins for third and another second back to Barry for fourth.

NEXT WEEK'S RACES TO WATCH
-Central Oklahoma vs. Tulsa
-Western Washington, Seattle Pacific at Windermere Cup

DIVISION 3 ROWING

NCAA Automatic Qualifier Race - NEWMAC Championships - WPI #1, Smith #5, Wellesley #6, Mt Holyoke #15, Clark, Coast Guard, Simmons
Racing in a firm crosswind, top-ranked WPI took home the gold in the V8 with just about length lead at the finish line over Wellesley, who finished second ahead of higher ranked Smith by a little open water. Mt. Holyoke took fourth with Clark and Simmons overlapping at the finish. It the 2V8, it was a two-boat race between WPI and Wellesley, with the home team WPI nudging out Wellesley, who came within a seat of pulling off the victory. It was Smith for third and Coast Guard fourth. This is WPI first NEWMAC Championship in their program's history.

NCAA Automatic Qualifier Race - Washington College, Franklin & Marshall, Johnson & Wales, Stockton, Adrian, St Mary's, Bryn Mawr, Catholic, North Park, Ohio Wesleyan, Cabrini
Washington College is returning to the NCAA's after winning the 7th straight conference title by winning both the V8 and 2V8. In a spread-out finish, Washington College won over Franklin & Marshall with Johnson & Wales finishing in third. In the 2V8 event, Washington College took home the gold with Stockton winner the silver and Johnson & Wales taking the bronze.

Bates #2 vs. Colby #14
Bates came off a successful Saturday of racing (see the DI story), and raced strong again, beating out Colby to retain the Presidents Cup, winning both the V8 and 2V8.

Ithaca #3 vs. Hamilton #7
Racing on the historic Erie Canal in Rome, NY, Ithaca defeated Hamilton by two lengths in a very strong tailwind. Ithaca's 2V8 raced against Marist 2V8 and raced close for a good portion of the race before finishing a half a length of open.

WIRA - Pacific Lutheran #10 vs. Puget Sound #T-11
Even though both schools were racing in a mixed D2, D3, and Club event, somehow they found each other in the V8 B Final, creating a two-boat race and leaving the rest of the crews open water behind. In the end, it was PLU stretching to a length and a half victory to win the Petite Final. In the 2V8 event, both schools made it to the A Final and PLU took fourth beating Puget Sound by one length who finished sixth.

RIT #13 vs. St Lawrence
Cancelled due to high winds.

NEXT WEEK'S RACES TO WATCH
-New England Rowing Championships - NCAA AQ
-Liberty League Championships - NCAA AQ
-Windermere Cup

LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING

WIRA - Stanford #1
Racing at the multi-level event, Stanford took the top spot in the V8 against open weight teams, winning by 5 seconds over San Diego and San Diego State. They also took home the gold in the double event beating out Loyola Marymount and UC Davis. In the V4 event, they finished sixth in a race that was won by San Diego State followed by San Diego and Loyola Marymount.

BU lights racing Beanpot

Muri Cup/ Beanpot - BU #3, Harvard-Radcliffe #4, MIT #7
Boston U won the V8 race in what seemed to be trying conditions with BU winning in 8:46. Radcliffe was second and MIT third in a fairly strung out race. However in the V4, the final margin was 0.7 seconds with BU taking it by a half a seat in a slugfest.

NEXT WEEK'S RACES TO WATCH
Eastern Sprints - Princeton #2, BU #3, Harvard-Radcliffe #4, Wisconsin #5, Georgetown #6