May 2, 2004

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - The Western Washington University women's varsity eight won a petite final for the second straight year, and the men's varsity four placed second in its grand final to highlight Viking performances Sunday at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships held on Lake Natoma.

Western also was fifth in both the men's novice four grand final and women's second varsity eight petite final.

The Vikings men's varsity four was runner-up to host Sacramento State in its grand final, rowing the 2,000-meter course in 6:47.8. The Hornets' winning time was 6:43.2. San Diego was a distant third (6:57.9), followed by Willamette (7:01.2), Long Beach State (7:01.4) and Humboldt State (7:01.7).

"It was basically a two-boat race between Sacramento State and ourselves," said Western men's coach Marty Sauvage. "We led early, then Sacramento State made a big push right before the halfway point and got themselves out in front. We tried to battle back in the third 500 and just weren't able to do it. In the last 500, it was pretty much a stalemate."

Seated in the Vikings' shell were coxswain Kelly McComb (Sr., Bainbridge Island), stroke Joshua Griesse (Jr., Pleasant Hill, OR), No.3 Case Sweerus (So., Gig Harbor), No.2 Jonathan Fox (Jr., Shoreline/Shorewood) and bow Phil DuBois (Jr., Olympia/Capital).

In the women's varsity eight petite final, Western edged Santa Clara by just over a second with a winning time of 7:02.8. Santa Clara had a 7:03.9 clocking, followed by San Diego State (7:06.9), San Diego (7:08.2), Humboldt State (7:08.9) and UC Irvine (7:20.9).

"It was probably their best run of the year," said Western rowing coordinator and women's coach John Fuchs. "They didn't get much of a lead, but they hung on to it. It was pretty impressive."

The lineup for the Vikings' varsity eight, ranked No.1 nationally all season long in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing NCAA II Poll, was coxswain Emily Davis (Sr., Carnation/Mount Si), stroke Julia Gamache (So., Seattle/Blanchet), No.7 Brittany Kruger (Sr., Longview/Mark Morris), No.6 Kailyn McGrath (Jr., Fillmore, CA/Villanova Prep), No.5 Gail Lumsden (Jr., Everett/Mariner), No.4 Lindsay Mann-King (Fr., Colville/Seattle U.), No.3 Stephanie Parker (Fr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck/Seattle Pacific), No.2 Liz Fayram (Fr., Bellingham) and bow Laurel Kaminski (Sr., Bellevue/Newport).

Western was fifth in the men's novice four grand final (7:07.5), which was won by Lewis & Clark in 6:54.2. Long Beach State was second (6:56.3) and Seattle Pacific third (7:00.6).

"The novice four was a little bit overmatched today," Sauvage said. "They were up against crews that had been working together longer and were a little bigger. But they gave a great effort and have nothing to be disappointed about."

Seated in that boat were coxswain Alexandra Hailey (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), stroke Aaron Novy (Fr., Richland), No.3 Will Bufford (Jr., Port Angeles/Peninsula CC), No.2 Gavin Owens (Fr. Vancouver/Columbia River) and bow Nathan Pedersen (So., Peaks Island, ME/Portland/Gateway CC).

The Vikings also were fifth in the women's second varsity eight petite final (7:26.6). Puget Sound was victorious in 7:05.1, followed by San Diego (7:15.1) and UC San Diego (7:24.4).

"They just didn't get it going, Fuchs said. "They moved quite a bit in the last 500, but they didn't really have it together during the first half of the race."

In Western's shell were coxswain Krissy Whaley (Jr., Woodinville), stroke Sarah Rule (Jr., Mercer Island/UConn), No.7 Katrina Anderson (So., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage), No.6 Patricia Cittadini (Sr., Bellevue/Newport), No.5 Lindsay Jennings (Sr., Seattle/Garfield), No.4 Jenn McGrath (So., Enumclaw), No.3 Andrea Hoyt (Fr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly), No.2 Courtney Moeller (Jr., Renton/Liberty) and bow Sarah Forney (So., Monroe).

Western's next competition is the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships on May 15. A part of that will be the women's NCAA II West Regional.

WESTERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ROWING ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS Rancho Cordova, Calif. (Lake Natoma)

RESULTS:

Women

Sunday's Finals

V8 Petite - 1. Western Washington 7:02.8, 2. Santa Clara 7:03.9, 3. San Diego State 7:06.9, 4. San Diego 7:08.2, 5. Humboldt State 7:08.9, 6. UC Irvine 7:20.9

2ndV8 Petite - 1. Puget Sound 7:05.1, 2. San Diego 7:15.1, 3. UC San Diego 7:24.4, 4. UC Irvine 7:25.9, 5. Western Washington 7:26.6, 6. Willamette 7:39.5

Men

Sunday's Finals

V4 Grand - 1. Sacramento State 6:43.2, 2. Western Washington 6:47.8, 3. San Diego 6:57.9, 4. Willamette 7:01.2, 5. Long Beach State 7:01.4, 6. Humboldt State 7:01.7

N4 Grand - 1. Lewis & Clark 6:54.2, 2. Long Beach State 6:56.3, 3. Seattle Pacific 7:00.6, 4. San Diego 7:06.2, 5. Western Washington 7:07.5, 6. Puget Sound 7:19.7

WESTERN LINEUPS:

WOMEN

Varsity 8 - coxswain Emily Davis (Sr., Carnation/Mount Si), stroke Julia Gamache (So., Seattle/Blanchet), No.7 Brittany Kruger (Sr., Longview/Mark Morris), No.6 Kailyn McGrath (Jr., Fillmore, CA/Villanova Prep), No.5 Gail Lumsden (Jr., Everett/Mariner), No.4 Lindsay Mann-King (Fr., Colville/Seattle U.), No.3 Stephanie Parker (Fr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck/Seattle Pacific), No.2 Liz Fayram (Fr., Bellingham), bow Laurel Kaminski (Sr., Bellevue/Newport).

Second Varsity 8 - coxswain Krissy Whaley (Jr., Woodinville), stroke Sarah Rule (Jr., Mercer Island/UConn), No.7 Katrina Anderson (So., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage), No.6 Patricia Cittadini (Sr., Bellevue/Newport), No.5 Lindsay Jennings (Sr., Seattle/Garfield), No.4 Jenn McGrath (So., Enumclaw), No.3 Andrea Hoyt (Fr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly), No.2 Courtney Moeller (Jr., Renton/Liberty), bow Sarah Forney (So., Monroe).

MEN

Varsity 4 - coxswain Kelly McComb (Sr., Bainbridge Island), stroke Joshua Griesse (Jr., Pleasant Hill, OR), No.3 Case Sweerus (So., Gig Harbor), No.2 Jonathan Fox (Jr., Shoreline/Shorewood), bow Phil DuBois (Jr., Olympia/Capital).

Novice 4 - coxswain Alexandra Hailey (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), stroke Aaron Novy (Fr., Richland), No.3 Will Bufford (Jr., Port Angeles/Peninsula CC), No.2 Gavin Owens (Fr. Vancouver/Columbia River), bow Nathan Pedersen (So., Peaks Island, ME/Portland/Gateway CC).