GOLD RIVER, Calif. – Lewis & Clark College rowing closed the 2026 spring season at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships on April 25-26 at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center. The River Otters' women's novice four captured a bronze medal in the grand final, and the men's varsity pair won its petite final on Saturday.
 
THE BASICS
 
Saturday Heats
8:00 a.m.: Men's Varsity 8+ (Heat 1), 5th, 7:01.839
8:40 a.m.: Women's Varsity 8+ D2/3/C (Heat 2), 6th, 7:29.997
10:40 a.m.: Women's Varsity 4+ D2/3/C (Heat 2), 4th, 8:51.935
11:20 a.m.: Men's Pair (Heat 2), 4th, 7:57.573
11:50 a.m.: Women's Double (Heat 1), 3rd, 9:15.137
1:20 p.m.: Men's Novice 4+ (Heat 2), 6th, 8:06.227
1:40 p.m.: Women's Novice 4+ (Heat 1), 4th, 8:30.379
 
Saturday Finals
3:10 p.m.: Men's Pair Petite Final, 1st, 8:15.519
3:40 p.m.: Men's Novice 4+ Third Final, 4th, 8:58.748
 
Sunday Finals
8:00 a.m.: Men's Varsity 8+ Third Final, 2nd, 6:53.008
8:40 a.m.: Women's Varsity 8+ D2/3/C Petite Final, 4th, 7:14.187
10:30 a.m.: Women's Varsity 4+ D2/3/C Petite Final, 6th, 8:29.214
11:40 a.m.: Women's Pair Grand Final, 5th, 9:07.601
12:00 p.m.: Women's Double Grand Final, 6th, 9:26.646
12:20 p.m.: Women's Novice 4+ Grand Final, 3rd, 8:13.083
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The WIRA Championships featured programs from across the western United States, including Division I crews from Gonzaga University, the University of Oregon and the University of California, Los Angeles, along with Division II and III programs such as Western Washington University, Cal Poly Humboldt, the University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University and Seattle Pacific University.
 
The women's novice four posted Lewis & Clark's top finish of the regatta. First-year coxswain Fay Seirafi guided first-year Molly Petrowitz at stroke, junior Tori Westgate in three, first-year Daniella Bulafu in two and sophomore McKinley Garrett in bow to third place in 8:13.083 to earn bronze in the grand final. The River Otters moved through the field during the middle 1,000 meters and created open water in the third 500 meters.
 
The novice four reached the grand final through a successful petition. After placing fourth in its heat in 8:30.379, two seconds outside the automatic qualifying standard, Lewis & Clark posted a faster time than the winner of Heat 2 (8:57.208) and earned entry under the stacked heat rule.
 
The men's varsity pair of senior Eliot Woods and junior Lewis Grimes won the petite final on Saturday in 8:15.519, finishing 6.76 seconds ahead of UC Santa Barbara. Woods raced through illness during the morning heat, where the crew placed fourth in 7:57.573 and missed grand final qualification by 1.4 seconds. With Grimes at stroke and Woods at bow, the River Otters led from the start and controlled the race throughout the 2,000-meter course.
 
The men's varsity eight closed Sunday morning with a second-place finish in the third final in 6:53.008. Senior coxswain Sophie Homolka steered Woods at stroke, Grimes in seven, first-year Edison Medlock in six, first-year Lukas Perttula in five, senior Tommy Rotelli in four, first-year Uly Smucker in three, first-year Eugene Ahoudji in two and sophomore Daniel Macha in bow. Sacramento State Rowing Club won the race in 6:39.539. Seattle University finished third in 6:53.423, four-tenths of a second behind Lewis & Clark.
 
The W-Squad varsity eight advanced to the petite final after a sixth-place finish in its heat. Senior coxswain Ella Radvany guided senior Sadie Meredith-Andrews at stroke, senior Carson Cook in seven, senior Sydney Case in six, senior Lyndsay Morris in five, senior Emma Wind in four, Petrowitz in three, sophomore Clare Kimmel in two and senior Zoe Mitchell in bow. Lewis & Clark placed fourth in the petite final in 7:14.187, just 0.165 seconds behind Orange Coast College for third. Less than three seconds separated first through fifth. UC Irvine won the race in 7:12.318.
 
The W-Squad varsity four reached Sunday's petite final after improving from recent appearances in the third final. Junior coxswain Morgan Anderson directed sophomore Sunny Greenblum at stroke, senior Jocelyn Brandon in three, sophomore Amber Hayes in two and sophomore Carmen Aaronson in bow. The River Otters finished sixth in the petite final in 8:29.214 after defeating Sacramento State Rowing Club and Seattle University in the heat.
 
The W-Squad pair of Meredith-Andrews and Morris placed fifth in the women's pair grand final in 9:07.601, less than two seconds behind UC Santa Barbara for fourth. The W-Squad double of Cook and Case finished sixth in the women's double grand final in 9:26.646.
 
The men's novice four featured junior Frasier Shanker coxing Perttula at stroke, Medlock in three, Ahoudji in two and Smucker in bow. The crew placed sixth in the heat in 8:06.227 and fourth in the third final in 8:58.748.
 
WHO'S NEXT
 
Lewis & Clark expects to return 13 W-Squad members and 10 men's team members for the 2027 spring season. The River Otters concluded the 2026 campaign at WIRA.