Women's Rowing Kicks Off Fall Season with Tight Racing on the Snake River

Saturday, October 10

Pullman, WA

4:00 PM

Gonzaga University

Head of the Snake

Women's Rowing Kicks Off Fall Season with Tight Racing on the Snake River

10/10/2026 4:28:00 PM | Women's Rowing

PULLMAN, Wash. – Gonzaga women's rowing opened its fall racing season Saturday morning on the Snake River, facing Washington State in challenging conditions that tested the Bulldogs' adaptability and resilience.

Originally scheduled to compete in pairs and fours, the Bulldogs adjusted their racing plans due to changing weather conditions and safety considerations. The regatta ultimately featured eights and fours, with Gonzaga fielding three eights and two fours against Washington State's two eights and three fours.

Both programs competed on a 5,000-meter course around Granite Point on the Snake River in traditional head race format. Despite unpredictable wind gusts and unfamiliar lineups, the Zags demonstrated consistency and determination throughout the morning.

Gonzaga's top eight highlighted the morning with a second-place finish in the women's collegiate 8+, crossing the finish line in 18:53.90. The Bulldogs finished just 16.80 seconds behind Washington State's winning boat, which posted a time of 18:37.10. Gonzaga's second eight finished fourth overall in 19:09.20, just 6.30 seconds behind Washington State's second entry, while the Bulldogs' third eight rounded out the field in 19:57.70.

In the women's collegiate 4+, Gonzaga's top-finishing boat placed third overall with a time of 22:04.40, finishing just 0.80 seconds ahead of Washington State's third four. The Bulldogs' other four finished fifth in 22:25.70. Washington State claimed the top two spots in the event with times of 21:36.80 and 21:49.60.

"The team showed real resilience this morning," Head Coach Mark Voorhees said. "We had a feeling conditions would be unpredictable, and the team did a bang-up job racing in line-ups that we hadn't practiced. We are looking forward to putting all our work from this fall together when we face WSU on our home course next week for the Head of the Spokane."

Sophomore coxswain Kate Barnhart guided Gonzaga's fastest boat of the regatta, leading the Bulldogs' first eight to its runner-up finish despite the challenging conditions.

"I'm impressed with consistency throughout the gusts and circumstances, and it was so awesome!" Barnhart said. "I'm proud of the resilience that I saw reflected throughout the whole team."

Saturday's racing provided an early opportunity for Gonzaga to test its depth and adaptability, with athletes competing in lineups they had not previously practiced together. The experience offered valuable preparation as the Bulldogs continue their fall racing schedule.

UP NEXT

Gonzaga returns home next week to face Washington State at the Head of the Spokane.