In less than a week, six Division II rowing programs from across the country will line up on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey, for the 2025 NCAA Division II Women’s Rowing Championship. As always, the stakes are high, with the national title awarded to the team with the strongest combined performance across two events: the Varsity 8+ and the Varsity 4+.
The team points trophy is awarded based on their combined finishes. With fierce competition expected in both events, the championship promises to be tight, technical, and hard-fought.
This year, the teams that will attend are Cal Poly Humboldt, Central Oklahoma, Embry-Riddle (Florida), Jefferson, Seattle Pacific, and Western Washington.
Four of these programs, Cal Poly Humboldt, Seattle Pacific, Central Oklahoma, and Western Washington, hail from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), making 2025 the third consecutive season in which the GNAC has fielded four of the six championship teams.
Western Washington
A powerhouse in Division II rowing, WWU remains the most decorated program in the history of the championship, with nine national titles. In 2024, they added another trophy to their collection, reclaiming the top spot after several seasons of rebuilding. The Vikings enter the 2025 regatta as the top seed in the Varsity 8+. Their 4+ is seeded 4th, which may raise some questions about depth, but if both boats can perform under pressure, WWU could be in a position to secure their 10th national title. At GNACs, they took first in the 8+ and third in the 4+, placing second overall as a team, just one point shy of first.
Cal Poly Humboldt
A rising contender and now a proven threat, Cal Poly Humboldt captured its first-ever GNAC Championship in 2025, edging out WWU by a single point. That victory marked a major step forward for the program and set the tone heading into NCAAs. Cal Poly enters the regatta ranked with momentum on their side and a powerful 4+ crew, seeded 1st, that has shown the ability to close tight margins. If they can hold their own in the 8+, seeded 2nd, and capitalize on their strength in the 4+, the team could be in the hunt for the overall title.
Central Oklahoma
Central Oklahoma has been a staple in the national regatta and finished third in last year’s team standings. This year, they return ranked 5th overall, with their 8+ seeded 5th and their 4+ seeded 3rd. While the 8+ will need to find a way to climb the ranks during the weekend, their 4+ is positioned to do damage. A strong showing in both boats could push them back onto the podium, though they’ll need to bring their best on the day to upset higher-seeded rivals.
Embry-Riddle (Florida)
Embry-Riddle has become a consistent presence in the Division II scene over the past few years. Though they didn’t medal in 2024, they return with a renewed sense of urgency and the ability to surprise if their boats can click at the right time. With boats seeded in strong positions, the 8+ seeded 3rd and the 4+ seeded second, Embry-Riddle will look for both podium finishes, and may be in the running for the team points.
Prediction:
In the 8, Western Washington will take the win, but will be bested in the 4, with Cal Poly Humboldt victorious in this event. Cal Poly is the strongest contender for the team points trophy.
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