The Portland Pilots women’s rowing team competed at the Dexter Lake Invite hosted by Oregon State on March 28. The event featured five races with teams from Oregon State, Gonzaga, Santa Clara, and Seattle University.
This competition provided an opportunity for the Pilots to measure their performance against other regional programs. Such events are important for developing teamwork and gaining experience in a competitive setting.
In the varsity eight race, Portland finished fourth with a time of 7:24.23. Leahbelle Paladino served as coxswain and Julia Kiplinger was stroke for this boat, which finished just under two seconds behind Santa Clara but ahead of Seattle University. The second varsity eight placed third in its race with a time of 7:25.30; Natalie Petty coxed while Averie Zealley stroked that lineup.
The third varsity eight also took third place, finishing in 7:52.94 under coxswain Helena Tran and stroke Sofia Meyer. In four-person events, the varsity four (coxswained by Bella Valenzuela) posted a time of 8:18.70 while the second varsity four (coxswained by Reegan Gardiner) recorded an 8:08.83 finish.
According to official results released after the event, Oregon State led most categories with strong finishes across all boats. Full lineups for each Portland entry were detailed following the regatta.
Looking ahead, the Pilots will host their next race at Vancouver Lake in Vancouver, Washington on Saturday, April 11.
