Portland Pilots Rowing has been projected to finish seventh in the 2026 West Coast Conference (WCC) Rowing Preseason Coaches Poll. Two team members, Rachel Hester and Jo Patton, have been named to the 2026 All-WCC Preseason Team for the first time.
Hester and Patton competed with the first varsity eight throughout the 2025 season. The crew achieved victories at both the Puget Sound Invite and Portland Invite. Additionally, the varsity eight was recognized twice as WCC Crew of the Week.
In this year’s preseason poll, Oregon State Beavers are favored to win the conference title, collecting 81 points and nine first-place votes. Gonzaga Bulldogs received one first-place vote and earned a total of 70 points, followed by Washington State Cougars with 68 points. Sacramento State Hornets accumulated 55 points in their debut season in the conference, while San Diego Toreros garnered 48 points.
Saint Mary’s Gaels were ranked just above Portland in sixth place with 43 points. Following Portland’s seventh place at 32 points are Creighton Bluejays (26), Santa Clara Broncos (15), and Seattle U Redhawks (12).
Last season, Portland Rowing recorded key wins at both the Puget Sound Invite and Portland Invite. All four boats competing for Portland reached grand finals at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships. At the WCC Championships, their second varsity four advanced to a grand final under a new championship format, while their second varsity eight won its first-ever petite final at these championships.
The full list of athletes selected for the All-WCC Preseason Team includes representatives from several schools across the conference such as Oregon State, Gonzaga, Sacramento State, San Diego, Saint Mary’s, Creighton, Santa Clara, Seattle U, and Washington State alongside Hester and Patton from Portland.
Fans can purchase tickets for upcoming home events through PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or via the Portland Pilots App. For information on group packages or fan experiences email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.
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For updates on University of Portland athletics programs visit PortlandPilots.com, or follow team accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
