Cal's 67 points in the team standings edged Virginia (63), Brown (49), Ohio State (42), Princeton (39), Harvard (39), Yale (38), Michigan (35), Washington (31), Michigan State (27), USC (25) and Wisconsin (13). Virginia placed first in both the varsity four and second varsity eight grand finals, but its fourth-place finish in the varsity eight (three spots behind Cal) allowed the Bears to pass them up for the team title. Cal, which placed second in the second varsity eight grand final and fourth in the varsity four grand final, entered the championships ranked first in the nation after winning its second-straight Pacific-10 Conference championships two weeks ago at Lake Natoma. Virginia entered the regatta ranked seventh in the nation.

In the Div. II category, Western Washington captured its first national title, easily placing first in both the varsity four and varsity eight grand finals. Western Washington finished as the runner-ups in both 2002 and 2003, before winning the crown today. The Vikings (20 points) finished ahead of Mercyhurst (12 points), Nova Southeastern (11 points) and Florida Tech (seven points). Since Div. II began running a separate championship in 2002, Western Washington's eight-point margin of victory was the largest over that four-year span. This year's runner-up, Mercyhurst won the national title last season by one point over Humboldt State.

Ithaca won the Div. III national championship yesterday for the second-straight year, finishing ahead of Smith, Trinity, Puget Sound, Williams and Colby.

Cal, which was making its eighth appearance in the nine-year history of the NCAA Rowing Championships, scored 36 points in the varsity eight competition, 22 points in the second varsity eight competition and nine points in the varsity four for its total of 67 points. The Bears' winning time of 6:20.74 in the varsity eight grand final was the fastest time of any race during the three-day regatta.

Virginia, which is one of four crews to advance to the NCAA Championships all nine years, matched its best finish at the regatta (the Cavaliers were also runner-ups in 1999). Brown, which has won four national titles (including last year's championship), has now finished at least third in the team standings at all nine NCAA Rowing Championship events.

In the Div. I varsity eight grand final, Cal's time of 6:20.74 was faster than Princeton (6:22.80), Harvard (6:23.86), Virginia (6:24.22), Yale (6:25.89) and Ohio State (6:26.96). In the varsity eight petite final, Brown won with a time of 6:24.65, followed by Tennessee, Michigan, USC, Stanford and Washington, respectively.

In the Div. I varsity four grand final, Virginia raced to a 2,000-meter winning time of 7:18.42, followed by Brown (7:20.08), Washington (7:20.15), Cal (7:22.49), Wisconsin (7:23.53) and USC (7:25.26). In the varsity four petite final, Michigan won with a time of 7:25.4, followed by Michigan State, Yale, Ohio State, Princeton and Harvard, respectively.

Virginia also captured the second varsity eight grand final championship with a time of 6:34.19. Behind Virginia were Cal (6:36.48), Brown (6:38.98), Ohio State (6:40.60), Michigan State (6:40.69) and Michigan (6:47.39). In the second varsity eight petite final, Washington posted a first-place time of 6:38.24, followed by Yale, Harvard, USC, Princeton and Wisconsin, respectively.

In the Div. II varsity eight grand final, Western Washington's 2000-meter time of 6:48.72 was faster than second-place Nova Southeastern (6:55.91), Mercyhurst (6:59.92) and Barry (7:07.35). The Vikings won the varsity four grand final with a time of 7:46.82, more than 20 seconds faster than second-place Mercyhurst (8:07.78) and Florida Tech (8:09.34). Mercyhurst earned national runner-up honors by finishing second in the varsity four grand final and third in the varsity eight grand final.

In the Div. II varsity eight petite final, UC San Diego (7:02.24) beat Florida Tech (7:05.68). Both Barry and UC San Diego were at-large selections and did not score points towards the team championship.