Watch Valley rower, champion team, on local TV

Mount Si grad Katie Woolsey and the rest of her national champion Western Washington University women's rowing team can be seen on local television as part of a special highlight show.

The 2009 NCAA Championships Spring Highlight Show airs 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4 on KIRO 7.

The program includes footage of the national championship rowing races held May 31 at Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on the Cooper River .

Western’s accomplishment was the first time that a team in any NCAA rowing division has won five straight titles since the NCAA began a rowing championship in 1997.

The Vikings’ eight, which completed a perfect season with 10 wins in 10 races, won its 2,000-meter grand final in a time of 6:52.60, over a boat length ahead of second-place Mercyhurst PA (6:57.22).

Western, coached by John Fuchs , was second in the fours grand final, edging third-place Mercyhurst by just two seats on the last two strokes. Nova Southeastern FL won that race in 7:53.64. The Vikings were clocked in 7:57.34 and Mercyhurst in 7:57.70.

Western took the team title with 18 points, followed by Mercyhurst 13, Nova Southeastern 11 and Philadelphia 3.

The Vikings entered the championship regatta ranked No.2 nationally in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II Poll, with Mercyhurst No.1.

Western has not lost to a non-Division I school in varsity eight competition since 2004.

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