SEATTLE – The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association announced its preseason poll on Wednesday morning, with Seattle Pacific selected in fourth place entering the 2026 season.
The Falcons are picked to finish fourth in this year's CRCA Preseason Poll. Embry-Riddle (FL) received five first place votes and owns the top spot in the poll. Great Northwest Athletic Conference members Cal Poly Humboldt and Western Washington are second and third, while the University of Central Oklahoma was slotted one spot behind the Falcons in fifth.
"Just about every rowing team out there is working through the challenges of winter training right now—it's dark, it's cold, it's a lot of time on the erg," head coach
Kenzie Waltar said. "But here at SPU, the team is embracing this hard work with joy, humility, and confidence. Finishing fourth last year was a step in the right direction, but it also left the team hungry for more. I am so proud of the training we've been putting in, and we are looking forward to seeing our competitors bring out their best this racing season."
The Falcons return to the water after a solid 2025 season. SPU qualified for NCAA Nationals for the fourth consecutive time last season. The Varsity 8+ took fourth in the grand final, while the Varsity 4+ won the petite final. The results led to a fourth-place finish for the Falcons at NCAA Nationals last season.
Eight seniors return to the team for the 2026 season.
Brittan Dalberg,
Bella Lisenby,
Gem Gatmaytan, and
Aleksia Haugen bring significant experience to the Falcons this season.
Mia Vittori,
Emmerson Spencer,
Grace Combs, and
Faith Akutagawa make up the junior class for the Falcons.
Solanes Capps-Mace,
Elizabeth Chapman, and
Sasha Kolobovnikov lead seven sophomores into their second season with the Falcons.
Miriam Dykstra,
Kaitlin Hollebeek, and
Lexi Shrock are three of seven newcomers hoping to make an impact for the Falcons this season.
The Falcons get their season started on March 7th at the American Lake Sprints in Lakewood, Wash., hosted by Pacific Lutheran University.
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