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STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford women’s rowing will open the 2016 spring season this weekend, as the Cardinal hosts the Pac-12 Challenge at Redwood Shores.

Stanford opens the year ranked No. 9 in the preseason College Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/US Rowing Preseason Top 20 poll.

The Cardinal will welcome California, UCLA and Duke to the Redwood Shores course, located about 12 miles from the Stanford campus.

The two-day event begins at 9 a.m. PT on Saturday (March 26) as Stanford and second-ranked California will square off. The two rowing powers will clash in the second varsity four in the first race down the course on Saturday. Stanford and Cal will meet in the varsity eight at 9:20 a.m. PT, followed by the second varsity eight at 9:40 a.m. PT, and the varsity four at 10:10 a.m. PT.  

The Pac-12 rivals traditionally meet at the end of the season in the Big Row also at Redwood Shores (April 30 this year).

The unique schedule means the Cardinal will open and close its dual season against the Golden Bears for the first time in the history of the programs.

“I can’t think of anyone better to start against,” said Stanford head women’s rowing coach Yasmin Farooq, in her 10th season at the helm of the Cardinal program. “Cal is coming off a second place NCAA finish and big win at the Head of the Charles in the Varsity 8 in October. It will be nice to get a gauge at the start of the season against what is traditionally one of the best teams in the country.”

Stanford will return to the water in the afternoon, where the Cardinal will square off against Duke (receiving votes in the CRCA/USRowing Coaches Poll).

The Cardinal and Blue Devils will first meet in the varsity eight at 3:20 p.m. PT, followed by the second varsity eight at 3:40 p.m. PT, and the varsity four race at 4:10 p.m. PT.

Stanford’s 2016 squad is led by eight seniors – Meredith Fischer, Emily Grundman, Simone Jacobs, Ellie Parker, Kay Rusher, Hope Sheils, McKayla Taaffe, and Katie Toothman – that will help guide the Cardinal this spring. Parker and Toothman are coming off All-American seasons for the Cardinal in 2015.  

“It seems like yesterday our senior class was freshmen,” Farooq said. “They are a very motivated group and have made a ton of progress throughout their careers here.

“It’s been very competitive for lineups this year,” Farooq added. “Our women are holding each other to a very high standard on the erg and on the water in practice. We are excited for this weekend.”

Coverage of the team at the Pac-12 Challenge will be available on the team’s twitter account @stanfordrowing and on www.gostanford.com following the conclusion of each day’s racing. LIVE results will be available on Twitter by following @Pac12Challenge.