April 28, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University is sending four shells - the women's varsity eight, women's junior varsity eight, men's varsity four and men's novice four - to compete in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships on Saturday and Sunday on Lake Natoma near Sacramento, Calif.

Also making the trip is the women's varsity four, which takes on UC San Diego and Humboldt State in a NCAA Division II West Region confrontation that will impact the regional rankings.

All four of Western's WIRA entries have qualifying heats Saturday.

The men's novice four rows at 8:30 a.m. against Sonoma State, Willamette, Orange Coast, and UC Davis. At 10:30 a.m., the men's varsity four meets Pacific Lutheran and Long Beach State. At 1 p.m. the women's junior varsity eight tangles with San Diego State, Loyola Marymount, UC Irvine and Pacific Lutheran, and at 1:50 p.m., the women's varsity eight faces Gonzaga, UC Davis, UC Irvine, St. Mary's and Pacific Lutheran.

Third finals are scheduled for later Saturday along with some petite finals. Grand finals are Sunday with the remainder of the petite finals.

Western's women's varsity eight has been ranked No.1 nationally all season long in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing NCAA II Poll. Last year, the Vikings' varsity eight shell won the petite final after placing third in its qualifying heat.

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).

Junior 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).

Varsity 4 - coxswain Krissy Whaley (Jr., Woodinville), stroke Sarah Rule (Jr., Mercer Island/UConn), No.3 Katrina Anderson (So., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage), No.2 Jenn McGrath (So., Enumclaw), 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).