STANFORD, Calif. – The Cardinal made its mark on rowing's biggest stage during the 2023 season, earning its first team national championship since 2009 to cement its status as the top women's rowing program in the country.
Breakthrough Performance
Highlighted by victories from its varsity eight and second varsity eight crews, Stanford captured its second NCAA championship in school history and first since 2009 with a dominant performance on Sunday afternoon.
The Cardinal, which had produced back-to-back runner-up finishes to Texas over the last two seasons, totaled 129 points and finally broke through to claim the hardware at Cooper River Park, which was also the site of Stanford's first NCAA crown 14 years ago.
Sunday's victories in the varsity eight and second varsity eight increase Stanford's all-time program total to four individual national champions. The Cardinal's previous titles came from the varsity eight in 2009 and second varsity eight in 2011.
One of 13 active Stanford head coaches with at least one national title, head coach Derek Byrnes has guided the Cardinal to three national championships. His two previous crowns came at the helm of the lightweight rowing program in 2015-16.
Back-to-Back Pac-12 Champions
No. 4 Stanford captured its second consecutive conference title Sunday, winning the 2023 Pac-12 Women's Rowing Championships held on Dexter Lake.
Stanford won the title by three-and-a-half points points, a point greater than its two-and-a-half-point victory over Washington in 2022. Washington finished in second place, while California earned a bronze-medal finish. Stanford stormed the race course and made its presence known early in the regatta. The Cardinal's novice eight made a move late in the race to overtake Washington and California's boats, earning the program's first win of the day. The third varsity eight continued with a decisive victory over California, earning the team's first 3.5 points of the day and a conference title. The Cardinal's varsity four took an insurmountable lead from the start of the race and did not relent to take the title in open water over the Huskies and Golden Bears. With the win, Stanford took a two-point lead in the team standings. Stanford's second varsity eight earned its fourth consecutive runner-up finish, falling just short of topping Washington. Heading into the final race, the Cardinal were tied with the Huskies in the points race.
CRCA Coach and Staff of the Year
After leading the Cardinal to its first team national championship since 2009, Stanford women's rowing head coach Derek Byrnes has been named the Division I National Coach of the Year, announced by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) on Thursday. Additionally, Byrnes' coaching staff of Alben Family Associate Head Women's Rowing Coach Molly Hamrick and assistant coaches Sarah Dougherty and Megan Biging were collectively named the CRCA's Division I Staff of the Year.
The 2023 season was Byrnes' best since coming to The Farm, leading the Cardinal to a national title while also earning the program's second consecutive Pac-12 Championship and his second consecutive Pac-12 Coach of the Year honor.
Swept Again
For the second year in a row, Stanford women's rowing swept the end-of-year awards from the Pac-12, announced Friday. Azja Czajkowski earned her second consecutive Pac-12 Athlete of the Year honor, Célia Dupré was named the Pac-12 Women's Rowing Newcomer of the Year, and head coach Derek Byrnes was selected as the Pac-12's Coach of the Year. Annabelle Bachmann, Lettie Cabot, Katelin Gildersleeve and Rachel Miller earned All-Pac-12 accolades for their strong performances this season.
Czajkowski is the Cardinal's first-ever two-time Athlete of the Year winner, continuing the legacy of previous winners Ruth Narode (2017), Anna Dawson (2014), Elle Logan (2011), Erika Roddy (2009) and Jessi Reel (2008).
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Stanford senior Annabelle Bachmann was named Pac-12 Women's Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the 2023 Pac-12 Championship regatta. Bachmann is the Cardinal's seventh Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year and third straight honor, following Nicole Pofcher (2022), Grace McGinley (2021), Naomi Cornman (2015), Ali Fauci (2014), Mariele Higgins (2012), and Erika Roddy (2011). The Ingelheim, Germany native is a Human Biology major with a specialization in Microbes and Immunity and carries a cumulative 3.977 GPA.
Five Pocock Racing Shells First Team All-Americans
For the sixth consecutive season, five Cardinal women's rowers have been named 2023 Pocock Racing Shells All-America Athletes, the College Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) announced Wednesday. Rowers Luise Bachmann, Lettie Cabot, Azja Czajkowski, Célia Dupré, and Rachel Miller each earned first-team All-America honors. Stanford had five awardees on the first team for just the second time in program history (most recently in 2021). With this announcement, Czajkowski became a two-time All-America honoree, leaving the Cardinal as one of its most decorated athletes in program history. Bachmann, Cabot, Dupré, and Miller were each honored for the first time.