May 30, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University won its third straight NCAA Division II Women's Rowing National Championship on Sunday, becoming the first school in any division to accomplish that feat in NCAA rowing history.

While she was extremely happy, the title was almost anti-climactic for team captain Lindsay Mann-King, the Vikings' only senior, a three-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-American, and No.7 seat in the varsity eight.

"This is something we expected of ourselves," said Mann-King, a 2002 graduate of Colville High School who was making her fourth straight national appearance, all in the varsity eight.

"It was really wonderful, but it was our expectation. So, it was a little less climactic. That's not to sound cocky, but we had prepared for this moment all year. We definitely accomplished our goal and that was really awesome ... It was emotional for me because it was my last race."

Mann-King, who transferred from Seattle University in 2004, has had different experiences in all three national triumphs.

"The first one (2005 national title) was really emotional because we'd never done it before," she recalled. "And last year we were a sprinting crew, so that race was really different because we were behind for much of it.

"This year we had worked on being consistent through the whole body of the race ... From the beginning, we felt we were going to be the winning team and from the 1,000-meter mark on in it was like we had this one."

Western has employed different training techniques during Mann-King's four-year career.

"Over the last three years, we've really become an endurance crew," she explained. "In the past we've had really strong people, but we weren't training the same.

This year, we went back to that aerobic base, biking and running. We gained even more strength, but as a crew we weighed 100 pounds less. We were moving through the water quicker because we were lighter, but our erg scores were better and we were moving the boat faster and were more aerobically fit."

Mann-King says discipline also has played a role in the Vikings' success.

"Our team has a dry policy," she said. "We don't drink at all because we feel that is really important to our lifestyles as is eating really well and hydrating. I really feel those little things get us a long way. Living in a college town and abstaining from alcohol is a little tough, but once you accomplish something like this it makes it all worthwhile."

Mann-King could just as easily been a member of four national championship teams. As a freshman, she was in a boat that was leading and on its way to a national title with just 600 meters to go. But disaster struck as a Viking rower caught a crab, her oar getting stuck in the water on the recovery portion of the streak, and the opportunity was lost as Western had to stop dead in the water before continuing.

"That first year at nationals when we caught a crab, I felt it was definitely our race and we just had a fluke," Mann-King said. "But we were really nervous and really tense, and that's a prime situation to catch a crab. You have to be relaxed if you expect to win."

That was certainly the case Sunday.

"We were really calm and confident." Mann-King said. "We'd had great practices all week ... We'd had a good season and held our own against Division I programs like Washington and Gonzaga. Having tried to keep up with those boats makes a race like this easier ... It wasn't any more challenging than other races we've had this season."

Mann-King says she will have fond memories of her rowing career at Western.

"What really sticks out most in my mind are the practices on Lake Samish because it's so beautiful there. The competition and traveling are fun, but that's really where we do the work ... Over the long haul it's just rowing everyday with the same people that becomes so special."