The spring 2026 rowing season is underway! Check back here for updates on each of our team’s exciting regatta experiences.
Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s School, Middletown, DE – March 28, 2026
W-L Crew braved a chilly but sunny day at the picturesque St. Andrew’s School for our first official regatta of the 2026 season. Ten boats raced and delivered a strong showing—especially impressive given the athletes’ shortened preparation time this year. Congratulations to the Girls 4 for winning their race, and to all three Varsity Boys boats, each of which placed second (with the Boys 2V missing first by just half a second). Our Girls Novice B also earned a top-three finish in their race. Kudos to all who competed and to the family members and friends who made the long drive to feed the team and cheer us on. Go Generals!
Ted Phoenix Regatta, Sandy Run Regional Park, Fairfax Station, VA – April 12, 2026
The Ted Phoenix Regatta delivered everything we could have hoped for—brilliant sunshine, great racing conditions, and an outstanding showing from W-L Crew.
The girls set the tone for the day with dominant performances: the 4x, 1V8, and 3V8 all powered their way to first-place finishes, while the Novice 8 battled hard to secure a second-place finish. The girls’ 2V8 competed in the 1V8 race, finishing an impressive third.
On the boys’ side, the 1V8 and 2V8 came out strong, winning their early heats and going on to claim third in highly competitive finals. The 3V8 and 4V8 each earned second-place finishes in their races, and the Novice 8 rounded out the day with a solid fourth-place effort.
TBC Bustle Regatta, Washington, D.C. – April 18, 2026
The team rowed down to Georgetown on April 18 for the TBC Bustle Regatta where they were met by beautiful racing conditions.
On the girls’ side, the competition proved tough. All of the girls’ entries finished fourth, and their performances showed resilience and steady progress against elite fields.
On the boys’ side, both the 1V8 and 3V8 powered their way to second-place finishes, while the 2V8 secured third. The novice boys also had an impressive showing, with both entries advancing to finals. In the final races, Novice A captured fourth place, and Novice B secured a seventh-place finish, capping off a strong day of development and racing experience.
“I am proud of the effort of all of our boats,” said Coach Kara. “It was especially exciting to see how we had improved relative to competition that we saw earlier this year, even boats that we raced just last weekend.”
Charlie Butt Regatta, Washington, D.C. – April 25, 2026
Despite windy conditions, W-L Crew turned in a strong performance at the Charlie Butt Regatta, with numerous first-, second-, and third-place medals. We saw first-place finishes from the Boys 1V8 and 2V8, as well as the Girls 2V8. The Girls 1V8 and Novice 8, and the Boys 3V8, all took second, while the Boys 4V8 and Freshman 4x took third. The Girls 3V8 and Boys Novice 8 finished fourth, capping off a hard-fought day on the water.
“Congrats to our athletes who raced well in tough conditions,” said Coach Kara. “This was the last regatta of the season where all 10 of our boats raced together, so it warmed my heart to see all of our boats traveling home from TBC as one big armada. We practice together, we race together, and we win together.”
The racing was followed by our team’s annual family and alumni picnic at Columbia Island Marina where we celebrated our wonderful crew community.
Virginia State Rowing Championship – Day 1, Fairfax Station, VA – May 2, 2026
W-L Crew opened the State Championships with an impressive Day 1 showing and two podium finishes. The Boys 3V8 and Girls N8 each earned bronze medals in their finals, while the Girls 3V8 and Boys 4V8 powered to strong 4th-place finishes. The Boys N8 also placed 4th in a competitive heat. One of the closest races of the day came from the Boys Freshman 4x, who crossed the line just 0.6 seconds behind the winner to place second. With only two entries in the event, medals were not awarded—but their performance was clearly medal-worthy.
Beyond the results, the day highlighted the depth and promise of our program. Our younger athletes represented W-L Crew with determination on the water and teamwork on land, cheering on teammates and stepping up for rigging and trailer duties. The coaches were proud of the results and excited for what this rising group of rowers means for the future of the team.