April 28, 2007

GOLD RIVER, Calif. - Three of the four Western Washington University women's rowing entries advanced to grand finals Sunday at the 33-school Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships being held at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma.

In Saturday's heats, the Vikings had top three finishes in getting their varsity eight, second varsity eight and novice four shells to the grand finals. The varsity four placed fourth in its heat and was third in a petite final later that day.

Western, ranked No.1 nationally in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division II Poll, placed second in the qualifying heat for the varsity eight, third in the second varsity eight and first in the novice four.

"Overall it went very good," said Western coach John Fuchs. "The varsity four would have made it to a grand final if they'd been in a different heat. They didn't have the best time, but it was definitely good enough to get in the finals."

"The eight has a pretty good chance (to medal - top three finish), if they row a great race. But the novice four, with the time they put up, they could to be in the thick of it (for first place)."

The Vikings' varsity eight rowed the 2,000-meter course in 6:51.0, being runner-up to Gonzaga (6:45.3). San Diego State was third (6:56.6), followed by UC Santa Barbara (6:59.6), Puget Sound (7:00.0) and Santa Clara (7:02.3).

"The eight did well, that Gonzaga crew is pretty speedy this year," Fuchs said. "It's tough racing down here. They thought they could have had a better race, but we treated it like a heat so that they could get to the grand final. We have some things to work on for tomorrow,"

Seated in the Vikings' shell were coxswain Kristy Theodorson (So., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Jr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Lindsay Mann-King (Sr., Colville), No.6 Meghan Woodman (So., Redmond), No.5 Amelia Whitcomb (Jr., Spokane/Ferris), No.4 Samantha Marikis (Jr., Republic), No.3 Metta Gilbert (Jr., Helena MT), No.2 Audrey Coon (So., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central) and bow Lila Scaife (Jr., Zillah/Big Bend CC).

In Sunday's grand final at 11:50 a.m., Western faces five Division I schools - defending champion and host Sacramento State, UC Davis, Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount and San Diego State.

The Vikings' novice four won its heat in a time of 7:56.5, far ahead of second-place Portland (8:23.5). Behind those two boats were Colorado (8:24.2), Orange Coast (8:40.8) and Willamette (9:14.8).

"They've been practicing with the varsity four everyday, so they're used to being with someone who is doing a pretty good job," said Fuchs. "They're not that much off the varsity four. To have the fastest time out of all those crews is pretty exciting."

In Western's shell were coxswain Sarah Degenhart (Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River/Clark CC), stroke Alisha Pedron (Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.3 Brittany Taylor (Fr., Olympia), No.2 Mary Simmons (Jr., Bellingham/Whitman College) and bow Miranda Steward (Fr., Kenmore/Inglemoor)

The Vikings face Sacramento State, San Diego, Portland, Humboldt State and Sonoma State in Sunday's grand final at 8:20 a.m. Western's second varsity eight had a 7:15.7 clocking behind Gonzaga (6:56.4) and San Diego State (7:02.1). San Diego was fourth (7:22.8), followed by St. Mary's (7:29.1), Humboldt State (7:35.2) and Chapman (8:21.8).

In that boat were coxswain Alexandria Skrivanich (So., Gig Harbor/Bellarmine Prep), stroke Julia Munger (So., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.7 Sarah Fletcher (Jr., Port Townsend/Sequim), No.6 Erin Bean (So., Lynnwood/Meadowdale), No.5 Madeleine Eckmann (Fr., Winthrop/Liberty Bell), No.4 Casey Nestor (Fr., Henderson, NV/Coronado), No.3 Heather Kelly (Fr./Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage), No.2 Alexa Skilling (Jr., Kirkland/Forest Ridge) and bow Shawnti Rockwell (So., Vashon).

The Vikings' grand final Sunday is at 9:40 a.m. against Gonzaga, San Diego State, UC Davis, Sacramento State and Puget Sound.

Seated in Western's varsity four were coxswain Robin Fitzpatrick (Jr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), stroke Jordan Tobler (Jr., Langley/South Whidbey), No.3 Gina Auriemma (So., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.2 Katie Saelens (Jr., Clinton/South Whidbey) and bow Hilary Gastwirth (So., Issaquah/Liberty).

WIRA Championships - Lake Natoma - Gold River, Calif.

Results:

Novice 4 - Heat 1 - 1. Western Washington 7:56.5, 2. Portland 8:23.5, 3. Colorado 8:24.2, 4. Orange Coast 8:40.8, 5. Willamette 9:14.8

Varsity 8 - Heat 1 - 1. Gonzaga 6:45.3, 2. Western Washington 6:51.0, San Diego State 6:56.6, UC Santa Barbara 6:59.6, Puget Sound 7:00.0, Santa Clara 7:02.3

Varsity 4 - Heat 1 - 1. San Diego 7:38.9, 2. St. Mary's 7:44.3, 3. Portland 8:00.2, 4. Western Washington 8:04.1, 5. Mills 8:50.9, 6. Portland State 9:15.6

Varsity 4 - Petite Final - 1. Portland State 8:05.1, 2. Evergreen State 8:09.0, 3. Western Washington 8:10.1, 4. Loyola Marymount 8:25.1, 5. Pacific Lutheran 8:30.5, 6. Colorado 8:41.1

2nd Varsity 8 - Heat 1 - 1. Gonzaga 6:56.4, 2. San Diego State 7:02.1, 3. Western Washington 7:15.7, 4. San Diego 7:22.8, 5. St. Mary's 7:29.1, 6. Humboldt State 7:35.2, 7. Chapman 8:21.8

WWU Lineups:

Varsity 8 - coxswain Kristy Theodorson (So., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Jr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Lindsay Mann-King (Sr., Colville), No.6 Meghan Woodman (So., Redmond), No.5 Amelia Whitcomb (Jr., Spokane/Ferris), No.4 Samantha Marikis (Jr., Republic), No.3 Metta Gilbert (Jr., Helena MT), No.2 Audrey Coon (So., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central), bow Lila Scaife (Jr., Zillah/Big Bend CC)

2nd Varsity 8 - coxswain Alexandria Skrivanich (So., Gig Harbor/Bellarmine Prep), stroke Julia Munger (So., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.7 Sarah Fletcher (Jr., Port Townsend/Sequim), No.6 Erin Bean (So., Lynnwood/Meadowdale), No.5 Madeleine Eckmann (Fr., Winthrop/Liberty Bell), No.4 Casey Nestor (Fr., Henderson, NV/Coronado), No.3 Heather Kelly (Fr./Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage), No.2 Alexa Skilling (Jr., Kirkland/Forest Ridge), bow Shawnti Rockwell (So., Vashon)

Varsity 4 - coxswain Robin Fitzpatrick (Jr., Mukilteo/Kamiak), stroke Jordan Tobler (Jr., Langley/South Whidbey), No.3 Gina Auriemma (So., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.2 Katie Saelens (Jr., Clinton/South Whidbey), bow Hilary Gastwirth (So., Issaquah/Liberty)

Novice 4 - coxswain Sarah Degenhart (Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River/Clark CC), stroke Alisha Pedron (Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.3 Brittany Taylor (Fr., Olympia), No.2 Mary Simmons (Jr., Bellingham/Whitman College), bow Miranda Steward (Fr., Kenmore/Inglemoor)