Affiliations and Organizations

Seattle Pacific University Crew is a member of two primary organizations that drive the regular season competitive schedule: the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC), and the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA). The NCRC is comprised of seven NCAA Division II and Division III member institutions within the northwest region. These include Humboldt State University, Lewis & Clark College, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, Western Washington University, and Willamette University. The Conference Championship is held in late April at either Lake Stevens or Lake Vancouver and is the precursor to advancing to the WIRA Championships.

The Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) is a western regional organization with membership comprised of approximately 28 rowing programs at all division levels, and representing colleges and universities in five western states. For ease of reference WIRA includes almost all non Pac-10 institutions with rowing programs in the west. The WIRA Championships are in late April or early May and are held at Lake Natoma near Sacramento, California. Seattle Pacific entries at this championship are limited based primarily on the crews most likely to advance to a national level championship.

Likewise, the SPU crew race schedule progresses towards well established, national level championships. Decisions as to which championship varies mostly by gender but also largely by the race category since each championship does not sponsor every single race category. For men's rowing the championships include the Dad Vail Rowing Association (DVRA) Championship in Philadelphia and the National Invitational Rowing Championship (NIRC) typically held in Worcester, MA. Participation at these is based on progressive time standards and results at the respective regional level championships or through selection by the various championship committees. Pairs, lightweight fours and novice fours for example, are offered at the DVRA, while men's varsity fours aim for the National Invitational Rowing Championship.

As of 1996, women’s rowing (openweight class, 8-person and 4-person categories only) has been adopted by the NCAA. Seattle Pacific University is affiliated at the Division II level along with 15 other institutions who offer varsity rowing across the U.S. Division II institutions must advance a team comprised of a women’s varsity 8 and varsity 4, or get selected as an at-large eight. One team from each of three regions as well as three at-large crews are selected by committee. The combined NCAA women’s rowing championships are held at the end of each May with the venue rotating between the three regions. Lake Melton in Oakridge, TN; Cooper River in Camden, NJ, and the Lake Natoma Course in Rancho Cordova, CA are becoming the preferred courses.