rowing
Wazzu keeps rowing in one place: 7 stories so far. The section currently leads with “2006 rowing team honored with Hall of Fame video and speech”, “Cougs keep rolling on the Spokane River this season”, and “Rowers take the Spokane for one last fall tune-up”. It is a fine thing when the program takes a moment to pull a team out of the past and say, "You mattered." The 2006 rowing team got that treatment this week with a Hall of Fame video and a speech, and good for them. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every rowing story on Wazzu, newest first.
2006 rowing team honored with Hall of Fame video and speech
It is a fine thing when the program takes a moment to pull a team out of the past and say, "You mattered." The 2006 rowing team got that treatment this week with a Hall of Fame video and a speech, and good for them. Rowing does not always get the loudest cheers in Pullman, but that team put in the work on the Snake River when the water was cold and the mornings were early. You do not win a Hall of Fame nod by accident. You earn it in the dark. We have been writing a lot about these Hall of Fame honors lately. If you missed it, go back and read about the 1996 volleyball team getting its flowers. Different sport, same feeling. That is the thing about Cougar athletics. The wins are not always national headlines, but the effort is real and the memory sticks. The 2006 rowers deserve their moment in the spotlight. The video and the speech matter because they do not just honor a scoreboard. They honor the grind. The hours. The teammates who pulled together when the boat was dragging. That is Pullman. That is Wazzu. Go Cougs.
Cougs keep rolling on the Spokane River this season
You don't need a calendar to know it's spring on the Spokane River. The Cougs are back on the water, and the rhythm feels right. Rowing is one of those sports that doesn't shout for attention, but the results speak for themselves. Washington State's crew has been putting in the work, and this season is shaping up like they mean to make some noise before the last shell is racked. If you've been following along, you already know the defense has been setting the tone elsewhere. Trent Bray's squad brought the heat in Corvallis, and that kind of edge travels well. The crew team might not share a practice field with the football program, but the same competitive streak runs through Pullman right now. It's a good time to be a Coug who likes watching athletes earn it. For deeper coverage, check out "Bray's defense brings the heat, and a little revenge, to Corvallis." It's a good read on how that side of the ball is finding its teeth. For now, the river is the thing. No hype needed. Just oars hitting the water and a program that keeps showing up. That's the Coug way. Go Cougs.
Rowers take the Spokane for one last fall tune-up
The Spokane River is getting one last look from the WSU rowing team before the fall wraps up. That's the kind of tune-up you want, cold water, honest current, no excuses. These women have been putting in the miles, and this final push on the Spokane is where the pieces come together before winter training takes over. Fall racing is different. It's longer. It's harder to read from the bank. But it's where you find out what you're made of, and the Cougs have been showing up all season. If you missed the Snake River test earlier this fall, go back and read "Rowers hit the Snake for the first test of the season." It sets the table for where this crew started and how they've built. This isn't about a trophy. It's about the work. It's about eight seats moving as one on a river that runs through Coug country. Pullman might be landlocked, but we've got the Spokane and the Snake, and this team makes the most of every stroke. Go Cougs.
Jane LaRiviere on Gonzaga Week and what's next for WSU rowing
Jane LaRiviere doesn't sugarcoat Gonzaga Week. She knows what it means for WSU rowing, and she's not shy about saying this is the kind of test that tells you what you're made of. The Cougs have been putting in the work on the Snake River, and now they get to see if that translates against a program that doesn't take days off. LaRiviere is the kind of coach who will tell you the scoreboard matters, but she'll also tell you the process matters more. That's a good thing, because Gonzaga doesn't roll over. What comes next for WSU rowing is the part that should get Cougs paying attention. This isn't a one-week blip. LaRiviere is building something that lasts, and the depth she's talking about suggests the program is past the point of hoping for a good race. They expect to be in it. If you're looking for more on what's ahead for Cougar sports, our piece on Korey Schroeder behind the mic for Boise State and Fresno State gives you a different look at what game week prep sounds like from the booth. Two sports, same kind of focus. For now, the oars are in the water and Gonzaga is on the schedule. That's enough. Go Cougs.
Cougs set the tone early with a solid Head of the Snake opener
The Head of the Snake opener isn't just a nice way to start a tournament. It's a statement. Cougs came out and set the tone early, which is exactly what you want when the matches stretch across multiple days and the margins get thin. You don't win these regionals in one afternoon. You win them by stacking good days, and starting with that kind of punch makes everyone else in the bracket take notice. It's the kind of start that carries weight. When you're grinding through day three and day four, that early momentum is what keeps the energy up. We've already seen the payoff in the singles wins and the three straight victories that followed. This group isn't just showing up. They're competing with purpose. And it's worth noting the other big news out of Pullman right now. The football team is making a change at quarterback, turning to Owen Eshelman after six games. Different sport, same idea: sometimes you need a spark to reset the tone. The tennis team found theirs on the court. The Cougs on the gridiron are hoping Eshelman provides that same jolt. For now, the racquets are doing the talking. A solid opener sets the table. The rest of the tournament is about keeping that foot on the gas. If they keep playing like this, the deep runs will take care of themselves. Go Cougs.
Rowers hit the Snake for the first test of the season
The Snake River doesn't care about your fall fitness test. It's cold, it moves, and it will tell you exactly where you stand before you're halfway through. That's why the Cougs went there for the first real outing of the season. No pool miles, no erg screens. Just eight shells pointed at the water and a chance to see what this crew is made of before the calendar flips. The opener was a solid one. They set the tone early, which is exactly what you want in a head race, where the clock is the only opponent and the course doesn't give anything back. It's not about winning a sprint. It's about rhythm, about finding that long, patient push and holding it when your lungs start asking questions. From what we saw, they answered. If you missed the fall schedule drop, go back and check out "Rowing crew sets its fall schedule, and you know where to find them." That'll tell you where to point the truck for the next one. And while you're at it, the soccer team was busy too, finding its groove against Fresno State. Good weekend for Cougs in motion. But this one was about the water. First test of the season is in the books, and it looks like they came out the other side with something to build on. The Snake doesn't lie. Neither did this crew. Go Cougs.
Rowing crew sets its fall schedule, and you know where to find them
The rowing team dropped its fall schedule, and if you know Pullman, you know where to find them. The Snake's Mouth. The water is cold, the mornings are early, and the coxswains are loud enough to wake the Palouse. That's the point. Fall rowing is about getting the new oarsmen and women into the rhythm before the real work starts in the spring. It is not glamorous. It is grit, and that is exactly how Cougs row. This is not the part of the athletic calendar that makes the highlights. No one is stuffing a stadium. But the crew team is out there grinding before most of us have finished our first cup of coffee. That matters. Pullman is a town that respects the work, and this team does the work. If you want to stay close to the action on campus this fall, you should also check out "Bohler's Back in Business: Pac-12 Volleyball Slate Drops for the Cougs." Different sport. Same commitment to showing up. The volleyball schedule is out, the rowing schedule is set, and both teams are getting after it. Find the rowers on the water. Find the volleyball team in Bohler. Find a reason to be proud. Go Cougs.