April 2, 2005

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Competing against two other nationally ranked teams, the Western Washington University women's crew made a statement as both the varsity eight and varsity four shells dominated the Division II races Saturday at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Invitational Regatta held on Vancouver Lake.

The Vikings' varsity eight, ranked No.2 nationally in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Preseason Poll, won its race by five boat lengths, completing the 2,000-meter course in 7:31.90. No.3-rated Humboldt State was second in 7:49.59, and UC San Diego, tied for No.5 nationally, was third in 7:50.12.

Seated in Western's winning boat were coxswain Krissy Whaley (Woodinville), stroke Julia Gamache (Jr., Seattle/Blanchet), No.7 Staci Reynolds (Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.6 Lindsay Mann-King (So., Colville), No.5 Kailyn McGrath (Jr., Fillmore, CA/Villanova Prep), No.4 Metta Gilbert (Fr., Helena, MT), No.3 Gail Lumsden (Sr., Everett/Mariner), No.2 Amelia Whitcomb (Fr., Spokane/Ferris) and bow Stephanie Parker (So., Marysville, WA/Marysville-Pilchuck).

Western raced two shells in the varsity four race and they finished 1-2 with the first entry timed in 8:37.00 and the second entry clocked in 8:50.41. Humboldt State's A boat was third in 8:51.43, and its B boat was fourth in 8:56.71, followed by UC San Diego in 9:03.23.

Making up the Vikings' varsity four "A" boat were coxswain Elisabeth Johnson (Jr., Seattle/Franklin), stroke Courtney Moeller (Sr., Renton/Liberty), No.3 Samantha Marikis (Fr., Republic), No.2 Katrina Anderson (Jr., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage) and bow Jordan Tobler (Fr., Langley/South Whidbey).

In the second varsity four were coxswain Coree Naslund (Jr., University/Curtis), stroke Katie Fadden (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.3 Alyssa Thornley (Fr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), No.2 Tanya Kaufman (Fr., San Anselmo, CA/Sir Francis Drake) and bow Quinn Sanford (Sr., Olympia/Capital/Cottey JC NV).

"We just made a positive statement that we're the best," said Western rowing coordinator and women's coach John Fuchs. "We're not trying to be cocky as it's very early in the season, but it's a good way to start things out.

"Both wins were by significant margins, and with the fours it showed that we have a little more depth this season, being able to take first and second."

Later in the day, Western's varsity eight lost by just .40 to NCAA Division I Gonzaga after leading at the midway point. Gonzaga was clocked in 7:30.10 and the Vikings in 7:30.50, with Puget Sound third at 7:32.11 in the six-boat race.

"The race we had with Gonzaga was very impressive," Fuchs said. "We weren't training for that, we were training for the morning races, but we wanted to go out and see what they had. So that was a very positive experience."

The Vikings were third in the second novice eight and fourth in the second varsity eight races. The second varsity eight reached the final by finishing third in its heat.

In the men's competition, Western was third in the novice eight, fourth in the varsity eight and fifth in the junior varsity eight races.

"We're making improvement," said Viking men's coach Marty Sauvage. "I thought we rowed better than last week. We still have a fair way to go, but we're going to keep training hard and improving."

Western makes its only home appearance of the season on Sat., Apr. 9 (9 a.m.), meeting Gonzaga in a dual meet on Lake Samish.

Results:

Women

DII V8 - 1. Western Washington 7:31.90, 2. Humboldt State 7:49.59, 3. UC San Diego 7:50.12

DII V4 - 1. Western Washington-A 8:37.00, 2. WWU-B 8:50.41, 3. Humboldt State-A 8:51.43, 4. HSU-B 8:56.71, 5. UC San Diego 9:03.23.

V8 - 1. Gonzaga 7:30.10, 2. Western Washington 7:30.50, 3. Puget Sound 7:32.11, 4. Humboldt State 7:50.16, 5. Lewis & Clark 7:50.77, 6. UC San Diego 7:53.18

2nd N8 - 1. Long Beach State 7:48.09, 2. Humboldt State 8:00.07, 3. Western Washington 8:12.25, 4. Puget Sound 8:26.81, 5. Lewis & Clark 8:27.17, 6. Pacific Lutheran 8:32.07

Heat 1 - 2nd V8 - 1. Gonzaga 7:28.40, 2. Puget Sound 7:32.73, 3. Western Washington 7:34.71, 4. Lewis & Clark 7:42.53, 5. UC San Diego 7:55.80

Final - 2nd V8 - 1. Gonzaga-A 7:58.14, 2. Gonzaga-B 8:02.75, 3. Puget Sound 8:08.95, 4. Western Washington 8:20.13, 5. Humboldt State 8:33.30, 6. Orange Coast 8:46.27

Men

V8 - 1. Oregon State 6:37.90, 2. Puget Sound 6:38.46, 3. Lewis & Clark 6:47.63, 4. Western Washington 6:53.54, 5. Humboldt State 6:58.88

JV8 - 1. Gonzaga 6:30.41, 2. Puget Sound 6:45.30, 3. Lewis & Clark 6:52.80, 4. Pacific Lutheran 7:05.21, 5. Western Washington University 7:06.85

N8 - 1. Oregon State 7:15.90, 2. Puget Sound 7:19.41, 3. Western Washington 7:25.09, 4. Lewis & Clark 7:39.57, 5. Humboldt State 7:45.19

Lineups:

Women

Varsity 8 - coxswain Krissy Whaley (Woodinville), stroke Julia Gamache (Jr., Seattle/Blanchet), No.7 Staci Reynolds (Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.6 Lindsay Mann-King (So., Colville), No.5 Kailyn McGrath (Jr., Fillmore, CA/Villanova Prep), No.4 Metta Gilbert (Fr., Helena, MT), No.3 Gail Lumsden (Sr., Everett/Mariner), No.2 Amelia Whitcomb (Fr., Spokane/Ferris), bow Stephanie Parker (So., Marysville, WA/Marysville-Pilchuck)

Varsity 4 - coxswain Elisabeth Johnson (Jr., Seattle/Franklin), stroke Courtney Moeller (Sr., Renton/Liberty), No.3 Samantha Marikis (Fr., Republic), No.2 Katrina Anderson (Jr., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage), bow Jordan Tobler (Fr., Langley/South Whidbey)

2nd Varsity 4 - coxswain Coree Naslund (Jr., University/Curtis), stroke Katie Fadden (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.3 Alyssa Thornley (Fr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), No.2 Tanya Kaufman (Fr., San Anselmo, CA/Sir Francis Drake), bow Quinn Sanford (Sr., Olympia/Capital/Cottey JC NV)

2nd Varsity 8 - coxswain Coree Naslund (Jr., University Place/Curtis), stroke Katie Fadden (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.7 Samantha Marikis (Fr., Republic), No.6 Courtney Moeller (Sr., Renton/Liberty), No.5 Jordon Tobler (Fr., Langley/South Whidbey), No.4 Katrina Anderson (Jr., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage), No.3 Alyssa Thornley (Fr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), No.2 Tanya Kaufman (Fr., San Anselmo, CA/Sir Francis Drake), bow Quinn Sanford (Sr., Olympia/Capital/Cottey JC NV)

2nd Novice 8 - coxswain Robin Fitzpatrick (Fr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), stroke Michelle Gilluly (Fr., Issaquah/Bellevue CC), No.7 Mary Burchard (Fr., Okanogan), No.6 Elise Santini (Fr., Oregon City), No.5 Sarah Yerkan (Fr., Silverdale/Central Kitsap/Olympic CC), No.4 Sarah Fletcher (Fr., Port Townsend/Sequim), No.3 Katie Saelens (Fr., Clinton/South Whidbey/Edmonds CC), No.2 Megan Marquett (So., Shelton/South Puget Sound CC), bow Anika Ahmed (Fr., Bothell)

Men

Men's Varsity 8 - Coxswain Austin Jenkins (Sr., Vancouver/Hudson's Bay), stroke Blake Herrington (Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Phil DuBois (Sr., Olympia/Capital), No.6 Jack Marolich (Fr., Sammamish/Eastlake), No.5 Chris deVos (Fr., Seattle/Roosevelt), No.4 Erik Kalstad (Fr., Bothell), No.3 David Hancock (Fr., Shoreline/Shorewood), No.2 stroke Andy Foltz (Jr., Sumner) and bow Eric Weishaar (Fr., Federal Way)

Men's Junior Varsity 8 - Coxswain Brittany Poirson (So., Oberlin, OH/Elyria Catholic), stroke Nate Pedersen (Jr., Peaks Island, ME/Portland), No.7 Kevin Cumming (So., Woodinville), No.6 Chris Ippolito (Fr., Fall City/Mount Si), No.5 Jonathan McLain (Jr., Quincy/Big Bend CC), No.4 Paul Hoover (Fr., Tacoma/Decatur), No.3 Jason Merrifield (Fr., Lynnwood/Meadowdale), No.2 bow Jarrod Eckhout (Fr., Fall City, WA/Colorado Timberline Academy), bow Stephen Carlson (Sr., Suquamish/North Kitsap/Olympic CC)

Men's Novice 8 - Coxswain Amber Jacobs (Fr., Port Orchard/South Kitsap), stroke Blake Herrington (Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Chris deVos (Fr., Seattle/Roosevelt), No.6 Jack Marolich (Fr., Sammamish/Eastlake), No.5 David Hancock (Fr., Shoreline/Shorewood), No.4 Erik Kalstad (Fr., Bothell), No.3 Jonathan McLain (Jr., Quincy/Big Bend CC), No.2 Chris Ippolito (Fr., Fall City/Mount Si), bow Eric Weishaar (Fr., Federal Way)