By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's rowing team continues to gain respect in national polls. The NCAA Division III Women’s Rowing Committee ranked Willamette second in the Pacific Region. The Bearcats are also ranked #9 in the latest cMax Poll and 10th in the CRCA/USRowing Poll for NCAA Division III. The women's lightweight varsity 8+ is tied for #15 in the USrowing Poll.

The Bearcats are ranked #2 in the WV8+ and #2 in the team rankings in the Pacific Region, behind the University of Puget Sound. WU competes against UPS in the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC). Mills College is ranked #3 in both categories.

In the cMax Ratings, which ranks WV8+ boats based solely on season best times, Willamette is ranked #9 in Division III. The Bearcats are 35.4 seconds behind #1 Williams College (Mass.). Willamette is just .3 seconds behind Simmons College.

In the CRCA poll, which ranks just the WV8+, the Bearcats earned 89 points for a #10 ranking. Williams College is ranked #1 with 180 points. Puget Sound is currently ranked #5 with 147 points.

The women's lightweight varisty 8+ is tied for #15 in the nation in the USRowing poll. The poll is not broke down by division. The Bearcats are tied with Michigan State University. The University of Wisconsin leads the poll with 140 points. Willamette and MSU each have 20 points.

Willamette will compete in the WIRA Championship in Racho Cordova, Calif. beginning April 30.