GOLD RIVER, Calif. – Barry University's rowing team repeated as NCAA Division II national champions, winning both the Varsity 4 and Varsity 8 Grand Finals on Sunday at Sacramento State Aquatic Center.
The No. 1-ranked Buccaneers claimed their second straight national championship in dominant fashion. It was also the second straight year the Bucs swept both crew titles on the 2,000-meter course on Lake Natoma in Gold River.
"We all feel amazing for this year's accomplishment," Barry head coach Boban Rankovic said. "What's amazing about it is, going back to when the girls all arrived in the fall and at our first practice, with all the work they put in, they trusted in the process we put ahead of them."
In the Varsity 4 Grand Final, Barry won with a time of 7:36.208, defeating Central Oklahoma and Western Washington, who finished in 7:41.915 and 7:45.745, respectively. The Bucs jumped out in front early and led almost wire-to-wire to take the Fours title.
It was the Varsity 4 boat's second straight national title. Barry collected eight points for winning the Fours.
The Bucs won the Varsity 8 Grand Final, defeating Central Oklahoma, Western Washington and Humboldt State with a time of 6:44.184. Their opponents finished with respective times of 6:47.115, 6:49.267 and 6:57.036. Alhough Barry trailed Central Oklahoma at the 500-meter mark, by the halfway point the Bucs had moved in front before pulling away over the last 1,000 meters for roughly a three-second victory.
"You could see how excited everyone was when the Eight crossed the finish line," Rankovic said. "It was exhilarating. It was very rewarding."
It was also the Varsity 8 boat's second consecutive national title. The Bucs earned 12 points for winning the Eights race to give Barry a total of 20. Central Oklahoma was second with 15 points, after placing second in the Fours and third in the Eights. Western Washington, second in the Eights and third in the Fours, was third with 10 points. Mercyhurst earned five points to place fourth, although neither boat made the Grand Finals.
"Every team we raced, whether it was a scrimmage or any other regatta, they were coming at us," Rankovic said. "Everybody wanted a piece of us. We had a target on our back. We did a great job keeping focused on ourselves and nobody else. It really pushed us to get better."
Barry has now won 16 NCAA Division II national championships, including nine since 2010. Barry's 16 titles ranks second overall in the Sunshine State Conference. Florida Southern has 29, while Tampa and Rollins are tied with 15.
Rowing joins women's soccer (1992 & 1993) and men's golf (2013 & 2014) as repeat champions.
"We have five seniors who will be greatly missed," Rankovic said. "Their contributions to the program were vast. For the seniors, winning the national championship in their last race, that's how they wanted to finish their college careers. It's a dream come true."
NCAA Championships Video Highlights
RESULTS:
Varsity 4
Varsity 8
Varsity 8
Varsity 4
