SEATTLE, Wash. --- The fall rowing season came to a close for the Portland Pilots on Sunday morning as they competed at the 39th Annual Head of the Lake in Seattle, where they put three boats on the water. A trio of eights took the course for the Pilots, and they battled a loaded field and a persistent head wind.
 
Portland's varsity eight, with Miranda Reyes in the coxswain seat and Jacquelyn Bass rowing stroke, was the first Pilot boat to race, competing against Oregon, Seattle Pacific, Lewis & Clark, Puget Sound, and two boats from Washington. The Pilots navigated through the three-mile course, which started on Lake Union, crossed Portage Bay, went through the Montlake Cut and finished in Union Bay of Lake Washington.
 
Portland posted a time of 17:55.276, which was behind only the two Husky boats and a crew from Seattle Pacific.
 
Next up for the Pilots was their second eight, and they finished with a time of 19:13.132. Emma Papenhausen was the coxswain for Portland, while Amanda Hernandez Michalski was the stroke, and Washington's crew placed on top of the field. British Columbia was second, and the Pilots claimed third place.
 
The final boat on the water was the third eight, which had Emily Davis as the coxswain and Lauren Yee at stroke. Portland's time of 20:58.819 was behind only a crew from Washington State.
 
"I think we were a little taken by the head wind and staying long in the conditions," said Portland head coach Pasha Spencer. "We will look for more racing opportunities so we can adjust and be adaptable to keep our speed in changing conditions."
 
This was Portland's third and final event of the fall, and the Pilots won't officially compete again until March, when they return to the water for the Sacramento State Invite and the PLU Invite.
 
Head of the Lake Results – Seattle, Wash.
Championship Women's 8+ Sponsored by Pocock Racing Shells
1. Washington 'A', 16:21.922
2, Washington 'B, 16:37.292
3. Seattle Pacific, 17:53.399
4. Portland, 17:55.276
5. Puget Sound, 18:05.890
6. Lewis & Clark, 20:02.593
7. Oregon, 20:24.884
 
Second Eight
1. Washington 'A', 17:25.520
2. British Columbia, 17:59.132
3. Portland, 19:13.132
4. Puget Sound, 20:40.225
Washington 'B', Scratch
 
Third Eight
1. Washington State, 20:01.931
2. Portland, 20:58.819
3. Seattle Pacific 'A', 21:49.946
4. Puget Sound, 22:43.389
Washington 'A, Scratch
Washington 'B', Scratch
Seattle Pacific 'B', Scratch
 
Portland Line-ups
Varsity Eight: Miranda Reyes (coxswain), Jacquelyn Bass, Acacia Welsford, Megan Del Pozzi, Lauren Formigli, Veronica Nicacio, Desi Petrova, Catherine Watson, Lauren Jesse
 
Second Eight: Emma Papenhausen (coxswain), Amanda Hernandez Michalski, Karen Gonzalez, Reeca Bardon, Lillyanne Landers, Megan Medalia, Brianne Zbylicki, Audrey Shellum-Gonzalez, Avery Romano 
 
Third Eight: Emily Davis (coxswain), Lauren Yee, Sydney Gardner, Alondra Quiroga-Bernal, Katie Bayford, Katelyn Barney, Claire Deamer, Meredith Marcinko, Maddie Olson