118th Class Day Regatta Marks Traditional Start Of Season

March 19, 2019

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SEATTLE – Washington's men's and women's rowing teams have already begun their competitive seasons, having both won races March 2 at Lake Las Vegas, but the traditional beginning of the UW's spring rowing season comes this Saturday, March 23, with the 118th Class Day Regatta.

Racing on the Montlake Cut begins at 10:00 a.m. PT.

The Class Day Regatta began in 1901 and was created by the Seattle and UW community before rowing was even a varsity sport at Washington. UW women's rowing participated in Class Day as early as 1907, and started competing regularly at Class Day starting in 1976 and every year since.

Class boats are made up of the top eight within each of their respective classes. Class Day promotes unity within and encouraging rowers to identify with and take pride in their class and also drives inter-class competition and sets the tone for the season.

"Hiram Conibear wanted to have Class Day be similar to how Oxford and Cambridge colleges rowed against each other. Our version was to do it by class." UW men's coach Michael Callahan explained. "It's usually been the historic beginning of our season and it's still the program's nod to tradition. The whole weekend is a celebration of Washington Rowing and the history and traditions that shape who we are."

"Conibear championed that first women's class day race in 1907, in an era where sportswomen were a rarity," UW women's coach Yasmin Farooq added. "They embraced the opportunity, despite having to race the mile long distance in dresses!

"There have been some pretty epic Class Day races since, including the blistering start and :07 win by last year's senior class," Farooq continued. "From that boat, Brooke Mooney, Brooke Pierson, and Jess Thoennes are now at the US National Team training center, and Chiara Ondoli is training for the Italian National Team.

George M. Varnell Men's Eight
The recent trend in The George M. Varnell Trophy has been for a class to win two years in a row, as junior and seniors – and that trend could continue this season as the juniors (Class of 2019) won the race last year.

That streak started with the Class of 2013, which won the race in 2012 and 2013. The Classes of 2015 and 2017 followed with back-to-back victories in their junior and senior years. Last year, the juniors won the race.

"I'm always rooting for the seniors," Callahan said. "We want to be about development, not just about recruiting, so you always want to the senior class to be the best class. This particular group has served the program well and are an example of class unity and developing over four years as oarsmen"

The seniors have come out the victor 39 times in the Class Day history, and have won three of the last seven after losing seven straight from 2006-2012. The seniors have dominated in stretches, winning four straight twice (1961-1964, 1986-1989) and seven straight from 1999-2005.

The juniors have had recent success, winning six of the last nine including three straight from 2010-2012. The junior class has won a total of 26 times.

The sophomore class has 18 victories, their most successful stretch coming in the 1930s and early 1940s, when the sophomores won three of four from 1932-1935 and three straight from 1939-1941. They have only won four times in the last 51 years, their last win coming in 1998.

The freshman class has won just seven times in Class Day history, but won the first-ever Class Day Regatta in 1901. The last victory for the freshman class came in 2009, ending a stretch from 2006-2009 when the freshman won three of four. Prior to 2006, the freshman hadn't won since 1947.

Men's Class Day victories by class:
Seniors – 39
Juniors – 26
Sophomores – 18
Freshman – 7
Note: Many years do not have results available, the above totals reflect only recorded results.

Seattle Times Women's Eight
As with the men's race, the recent trend in the Seattle Times Women's Eight has been for a class to win as juniors, then again as seniors, which was the case last year when the Class of 2018 won for the second year in a row (as juniors in 2017 and as seniors in 2018).

That means that a new class will raise the Seattle Times Trophy this Saturday.

That 2018 victory made it three times in a row (over six years) that the women's race was won by the same group two years in a row (the Classes of 2014, 2016 and 2018 all won twice in a row).

"The senior class is small this year but will be augmented with some high-profile alums— which could make the race extra interesting," Farooq explained. "Meanwhile, the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen are very tight-knit classes—and spirit and class pride go a long way in the Montlake Cut when your parents are cheering you on from the cruise boat. I think the fans are going to get a great effort—and show—from all four lanes."

A win for the 2019 senior class, would be the 21st victory for the seniors in Class Day history. The seniors and juniors have dominated over the years, with the sophomores and freshman combining to win only four times since 1980. The most successful stretch for the seniors came in the 1980s, when the seniors won eight of nine between 1981-1989.

The junior class has controlled Class Day in recent years, winning four of seven from 2012 through 2018. The juniors have a total of 16 wins in Class Day history.

The sophomores have won just five times and haven't earned a victory since 2003. They also recorded victories in 1999, 1991, 1976 and 1917.

The freshman class has had only four victories, their most recent in 1990, which was their first win since 1909.

Women's Class Day victories by class:
Seniors – 20
Juniors – 16
Sophomores – 5
Freshman – 4
Note: Many years do not have results available; the above totals reflect only recorded results.

Class Day Race Schedule
Fans are encouraged to watch from the Montlake Cut and at the finish line at the west end of the Cut.

10:00 a.m.: Race 1: Women's Varsity / Novice Challenge
10:15 a.m.: Race 2: Men's Varsity / Freshmen Challenge
10:30 a.m.: Race 3: The Seattle Times Women's Eight
10:45 a.m.: Race 4: George M. Varnell Men's Eight

Follow The Action
Washington will provide a live stream of the races via the Washington Rowing YouTube Page and via Facebook Live. You can also get live results on HereNow.com and follow along on the program's Twitter (@UW_Rowing) and Instagram (@washingtonrowing) feeds.

Additional Class Day Weekend Information
The Class Day Regatta will be accompanied by a weekend full of festivities, highlighted by the Washington Rowing Banquet on Friday, March 22, featuring a preview of the season with head coaches Michael Callahan and Yaz Farooq. The weekend also includes the Class Day "Cruise With Croissants," and the Class Day Awards and Barbecue.

Additionally on Saturday morning prior to the main event, the annual Alumnae Race Saturday morning starts at 8 a.m. and the men's Class of 1969 will hold a 50th reunion.

Over the course of the weekend, team captains will be announced as will the Piggott Award (given to the most inspirational men's and women's teams members), and the Schaller Award (given to the male and female student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA).

Up Next
The UW men and women will host the Husky Open next Saturday, March 30, on Montlake Cut.

About Washington Rowing
Rowing at University of Washington was established in 1901 with support from the local business community. In 1903, Washington entered its first intercollegiate race and defeated California, starting their storied "Cal Dual" rivalry. From this beginning, UW crews became the champions in the nation, winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics in 1936 as described in the New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat. UW has continued its tradition of winning championships and Olympic medals, and today is one of the best university rowing programs in the world. With its state-of-the-art training facility located on the UW campus right on the shores of Lake Washington, surrounded by mountains and in close proximity to the iconic Montlake Cut, Washington Rowing attracts the best men and women student-athletes from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. More information at GoHuskies.com, WashingtonRowing.com and @UW_Rowing.

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118th Class Day Regatta Marks Traditional Start Of Season

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