Women of Troy claim top spot in polls


By
 in ,

Following a historic weekend at the San Diego Classic in which it brought home three trophies, the USC women’s rowing team earned a unanimous No. 1 ranking in the latest Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/US Rowing Coaches Top 25 poll. It is the first time that USC has claimed the top spot in the rankings since 2007.

Back on top · Members of the USC women’s rowing team pose with the Trojan Marching Band after their dominant performance at the 40th San Diego Classic, which earned the team its first No. 1 ranking since 2007. - Courtesy of USC Sports Information

Back on top · Members of the USC women’s rowing team pose with the Trojan Marching Band after their dominant performance at the 40th San Diego Classic, which earned the team its first No. 1 ranking since 2007. – Courtesy of USC Sports Information

In the season-opening race, the Women of Troy were dominant. USC claimed grand-final victories in three different varsity divisions and won the coveted Jessop-Whittier Cup for the third consecutive year.

USC’s second varsity eight won the second Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy in school history, while the team’s varsity four boat took home the Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup to cap the momentous day.

Virginia, which was ranked No. 1 entering the weekend, dropped to No. 3, while Cal remained at No. 2. USC leapfrogged three other schools after sitting at the No. 6 spot prior to the weekend’s races. Ohio State and Princeton round out the top five at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Three other Pac-12 schools cracked the top 10, with Washington, UCLA and Stanford ranking six through eight, respectively.

Last season, USC finished at No. 6 in the CRCA/US Rowing Coaches poll, with Virginia finishing the season as the top school.

The Women of Troy will be back in action at the Lack Natoma Invitational in Gold River, Calif., on April 20.