May 3, 2008

GOLD RIVER, Calif. - Led by its nationally No.1-ranked varsity eight, all three Western Washington University women's shells are competing in grand finals Sunday at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta being held at Lake Natoma.

"We accomplished our goal today of advancing every shell to the grand finals, but we didn't just come here to do that," said Western coach John Fuchs following Saturday's qualifying heats held in perfect weather conditions.

Competing in the Division I Open event, Western's varsity eight, which tops the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division II Poll, won its heat with a time of 6:42.0 over the 2,000-meter course. UC Davis was second (6:45.2) in the five-boat race and host Sacramento State was third (6:51.2).

Defending champion Gonzaga was victorious in the other heat (6:41.9) with San Diego second (6:46.4) and San Diego State third (6:47.8).

The top three boats in each heat are in Sunday's grand final, which begins at 11:50 a.m.

"The varsity eight has a legitimate chance to win," Fuchs said. "We know that UC Davis will come back strong as will Gonzaga. It's going to be a real gut buster. The field is as fast as its ever been."

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' novice four placed second in its heat with an 8:13.9 clocking, well behind UC Davis (7:57.5). Taking the other two heats in the six-boat races were Sonoma State (8:08.0) and San Diego State (8:11.9)

Western's boat consists of coxswain Katie Sauerbrey (Fr., Brush Prairie/Hockinson/Clark CC), stroke Molly Blue (Fr., Snohomish), No.3 Jacqueline Ford (Fr., Redmond), No.2 Jennifer Smith (Sr., Port Angeles/Peninsula) and bow Jocylin Palmer (So., Belfast, ME/Belfast/Evergreen State).

The Vikings' second varsity eight finished third in its heat (7:17.4), trailing UC Davis (7:03.8) and Sacramento State (7:12.7). Gonzaga was the other heat winner (7:05.0) with San Diego State second (7:14.5) and Loyola Marymount third (7:15.0).

In Western's shell are 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 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), No.3 Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.2 Siri Carlson (Fr., Tacoma/Franklin Pierce) and bow Miranda Steward (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor).

"Both the novice four and second varsity eight have a good chance to medal and that's their goal," said Fuchs.

The grand finals for the novice four and second varsity eight are at 8:20 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively.

Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships (Gold River, Calif. - Lake Natoma)

Saturday's Heat Results

N4 (Heat 1) - 1. UC Davis 7:57.5, 2. Western Washington 8:13.9, 3. Humboldt State 8:26.9, 4. 4. San Diego 8:36.2, 5. Saint Mary's 8:43.4, 6. Chapman 9:01.0

N4 (Heat 2) - 1. Sonoma State 8:08.0, 2. Evergreen State 8:15.4, 3. Lewis & Clark 8:15.8, 4. UC San Diego 8:38.2, 5. Portland 8:41.4, 6. Mills 9:38.9

N4 (Heat 3) - 1. San Diego State 8:11.9, 2. Colorado 8:16.5, 3. Loyola Marymount 8:19.8, 4. Long Beach State 8:28.9, 5. Arizona State 8:29.7, 6. UC Irvine 8:33.3

V8 (Heat 1) - 1, Western Washington 6:42.0, 2. UC Davis 6:45.2, 3. Sacramento State 6:51.2, 4. Puget Sound 6:52.1, 5. Loyola Marymount 7:03.8

V8 (Heat 2) - 1. Gonzaga 6:41.9, 2. San Diego 6:46.4, 3. San Diego State 6:47.8, 4. St. Mary's 6:54.7, 5. Santa Clara 7:03.7, 6. UC Irvine 7:15.8

2V8 (Heat 2) - 1. Gonzaga 7:05.0, 2. San Diego State 7:14.5, 3. Loyola Marymount 7:15.0, 4. San Diego 7:16.2, 5. St. Mary's 7:30.7, 6. Humboldt State 7:46.6, 7. Pacific Lutheran 8:00.6

2V8 (Heat 3) - 1. UC Davis 7:03.8, 2. Sacramento State 7:12.7, 3. Western Washington 7:17.4, 4. Puget Sound 7:28.2, 5. Santa Clara 7:37.1, 6. UC San Diego 7:44.7, 7. UC Santa Barbara 8:10.6

Sunday's Races

N4 - Western Washington, Humboldt State, Sonoma State, Evergreen State, San Diego State, Colorado

V8 - Western Washington, UC Davis, Sacramento State, Gonzaga, San Diego, San Diego State

2V8 - Gonzaga, San Diego State, Loyola Marymount, UC Davis, Sacramento State, Western Washington

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 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), No.3 Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.2 Siri Carlson (Fr., Tacoma/Franklin Pierce), 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).

Novice 4 - coxswain Katie Sauerbrey (Fr., Brush Prairie/Hockinson/Clark CC), stroke Molly Blue (Fr., Snohomish), No.3 Jacqueline Ford (Fr., Redmond), No.2 Jennifer Smith (Sr., Port Angeles/Peninsula), bow Jocylin Palmer (So., Belfast, ME/Belfast/Evergreen State).