April 16, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The nationally No.1-ranked Western Washington University women's rowing team is looking for a fourth straight title Saturday at the eighth annual Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Championships being held on Vancouver Lake near Vancouver, Wash.

Western is ranked No.1 nationally in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division II Poll, receiving all six first-place votes.

The Vikings have entries in 10 races. They are the varsity eight, varsity four, second varsity four, second varsity eight, third varsity eight, novice eight, novice four, second novice eight, second novice four and lightweight four.

Seated in Western's varsity eight are coxswain Kristy Theodorson (Jr., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Sr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Metta Gilbert (Sr., Helena, MT), No.6 Meghan Woodman (Jr., Redmond), No.5 Gina Auriemma (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.4 Samantha Marikis (Sr., Republic), No.3 Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris), No.2 Audrey Coon (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central) and bow Madeleine Eckmann (So., Winthrop/Liberty Bell).

The Vikings have won the last three DII national titles. Their varsity eight and varsity four boats are unbeaten against DII or below competition since the 2004 national championships.

WWU Lineups:

2nd Varsity 8 - coxswain Samantha Oberholzer (Fr., Bellevue), stroke Katie Tipton (Fr., Snohomish), No.7 Casey Mapes (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), No.6 Julia Munger (Jr., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.5 Heather Kelly (So., Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage), No.4 Siri Carlson (Fr., Tacoma/Franklin Pierce), No.3 Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.2 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), bow Miranda Steward (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor).

Varsity 8 - coxswain Kristy Theodorson (Jr., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Sr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Metta Gilbert (Sr., Helena, MT), No.6 Meghan Woodman (Jr., Redmond), No.5 Gina Auriemma (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.4 Samantha Marikis (Sr., Republic), No.3 Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris), No.2 Audrey Coon (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central), bow Madeleine Eckmann (So., Winthrop/Liberty Bell).

2nd Novice 4 - coxswain Daniella Armstrong (Fr., Eastsound/Orcas Island), stroke Elise Kiem (Fr., Redmond), No.3 Sarah Seitz (Fr., Olympia/Avanti), No.2 Tamara Langowski (Fr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck/Everett CC), bow Rachel Morrissey (Jr., Black Diamond/Enumclaw/Green River CC).

2nd Varsity 4 - coxswain Samantha Oberholzer (Fr., Bellevue), stroke Julia Munger (Jr., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.3 Heather Kelly (So., Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage), Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), bow Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty).

Novice 4 - coxswain Katie Sauerbrey (Fr., Brush Prairie/Hockinson/Clark CC), stroke Katie Tipton (Fr., Snohomish), No.3 Casey Mapes (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), No.2 Siri Carlson (Fr., Tacoma/Franklin Pierce), bow Jacqueline Ford (Fr., Redmond).

2nd Novice 8 - coxswain Kelsey McFarland (Fr., Tacoma/Fife), stroke Anna Grindol (So., Port Angeles/South Puget Sound CC), No.7 Kylen Boddie (Fr., Port Orchard/South Kitsap), No.6 Katrina Ozols (Fr., Kodiak, AK), No.5 Britney Bachmann (Fr., Everett/Cascade), No.4 Katie Ashe (Fr., Eastonville), No.3 Sara Malone (Fr., Mount Vernon), No.2 Angela D'Ellia (Fr., Redmond), bow Rebecca Burroughs (Jr., Shoreline/Shorewood).

Lightweight 4 - coxswain Samantha Oberholzer (Fr., Bellevue), stroke Audrey Coon (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central), No.3 Miranda Steward (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor), No.2 Julia Munger (Jr., Palmer, AK/Colony), bow Rebecca Burroughs (Jr., Shoreline/Shorewood).

3rd Varsity 8 - coxswain Kelsey McFarland (Fr., Tacoma/Fife), stroke Meredith Emery (So., Rio Rancho, NM), No.7 Jacqueline Ford (Fr., Redmond), No.6 Sarah Polster (Jr., Littleton, CO), No.5 Rexanne Greenstreet (Fr., Edmonds/Spring Ridge Academy AZ), No.4 Katie Ashe (Fr., Eastonville), No.3 Jocylin Palmer (So., Belfast, ME/Belfast/Evergreen State), No.2 Jessi Stipe (Fr., Deming/Mount Baker/Whatcom CC), bow Molly Blue (Fr., Snohomish).

Varsity 4 - coxswain Kristy Theodorson (Jr., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Sr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.3 Metta Gilbert (Sr., Helena, MT), No.2 Samantha Marikis (Sr., Republic), bow Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris).

Novice 8 - coxswain Katie Sauerbrey (Fr., Brush Prairie/Hockinson/Clark CC), stroke Katie Tipton (Fr., Snohomish), No.7 Casey Mapes (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), No.6 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), No.5 Jacqueline Ford (Fr., Redmond), No.4 Siri Carlson (Fr., Tacoma/Franklin Pierce), No.3 Jocylin Palmer (So., Belfast, ME/Belfast/Evergreen State), No.2 Jennifer Smith (Sr., Port Angeles/Peninsula), bow Molly Blue (Fr., Snohomish).