May 28, 2006

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - Western Washington University successfully defended its national title Sunday, completing a sweep of all four of its races, at the fifth annual NCAA II Women's Rowing National Championships on Mercer Lake.

For the second straight year, the nationally No.1-ranked Vikings won both the four and eight grand finals Sunday in claiming the national title. On Friday, they were victorious in both qualifying heats for the second consecutive year.

"Last year was such a big deal for the program in general to win that first one," said Western coach John Fuchs. "But this year, we were never trying to repeat. It was more about accomplishing a goal and going through the proper steps to do it. And they did that.

"So, it's not quite as emotional, but I think that it's more rewarding this year."

Western's four began the day with a two boat-length victory, navigating the 2,000-meter course in 8:24.16. South Region champion Barry FL was second in 8:30.46 and UC San Diego third in 8:35.13.

Needing a win over Barry to claim the team title, the Vikings' eight prevailed by a third of a boat length over the runner-up Buccaneers, never leading until the final 200 meters. Western's winning time was 7:17.60, just 1.08 seconds in front of Barry (7:18.68). Nova Southeastern was third (7:25.44) and Florida Tech fourth (7:32.34).

"It's amazing ... it's an amazing accomplishment by these rowers," Fuchs said. "It could have gone either way. Barry had such a good program this year, especially the eight, and we knew that it was going to very, very close, and it was. It was a great performance by both boats. We wanted to perform our best and we did that. It was flawless, flawless racing by both crews."

"It's really a great thing for the seniors, who have been with the program for four years. What they've watched this program go through to progress to this point is amazing. We won last year too, but to take two national championships in their careers is quite an accomplishment. That rarely happens."

Western finished with a perfect score of 20 points to 15 for Barry. Nova Southeastern followed with 6, UC San Diego 4 and Florida Tech 3.

"It came down to the eight," said Fuchs. "They (Barry) had us early by seven seats, but we kept plugging away and eventually pulled even with around 200 meters to go. Up till then, we were down the whole way."

Seated in Western's eight, ranked No.1 all season long in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II Poll, were coxswain Elisabeth Johnson (Sr., Seattle/Franklin), stroke Staci Reynolds (So., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Julia Gamache (Sr., Seattle/Blanchet), No.6 Jordan Tobler (So., Langley/South Whidbey), No.5 Lindsay Mann-King (Jr., Colville), No.4 Rebecca Willms (Sr., Waterville/Wenatchee Valley CC/Montana), No.3 Metta Gilbert (So., Helena, MT), No.2 Samantha Marikis (So., Republic) and bow Amelia Whitcomb (So., Spokane/Ferris).

"We were even with Barry about 250 meters in when we settled into our cadence," Fuchs said in describing the eight final. "Then Barry started to push and did that to the point it had about seven seats on us. But our girls were patient. They knew that if they stayed within striking distance at the end that they would be able to have a great finish. And that's exactly what they did.

"To stay cool and calm under that kind of pressure was just absolutely fabulous. They'd been training for this as soon as we got here. We knew that was what was going to happen. So, I was pretty lucky in predicting their (Barry) race plan, but the girls were even better at working it through."

The lineup for the Vikings' four was coxswain Coree Naslund (Sr., University Place/Curtis), stroke Hilary Gastwirth (Fr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.3 Katie Saelens (So., Clinton/South Whidbey/Edmonds CC), No.2 Katrina Anderson (Sr., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage) and bow Kirsten Mathers (Fr., Camano Island/Stanwood).

"They got off the line and slowly dug into the field and just kind of inched their way ahead on each stroke," said Fuchs about the four final. "The other crews would make a push every now and then and try to get back with them, but they were patient and steady and kept pushing down the course. With 500 meters to go, they had some open water, and then they opened that up a little more by the time that they got to the finish line. It was just a good, steady, solid race."

Western qualified for nationals by winning the West Region title for the third straight year and for the fourth time in the event's five-year history.

Last year's national title was the school's first as a NCAA member. The Vikings placed third at nationals in 2004 and second in both 2002 and 2003.

It was the fourth national appearance for Gamache and Anderson, and the third for Mann-King. Making their second trips were Gilbert, Johnson, Marikis, Tobler, Reynolds and Whitcomb. Last year, Gamache, Gilbert, Mann-King, Reynolds and Whitcomb were in the eight; and Johnson, Marikis and Tobler were in the four.

Anderson was an alternate last year after being in the four in 2004 and the eight in 2003.

Last week Gamache and Mann-King were named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-Americans, Gamache for the third time and Mann-King for the second.

This is actually the sixth consecutive trip to nationals for Western. The Vikings competed in the NCAA championship for all divisions in 2001.

The national title is just the third overall for Western, the softball team winning the NAIA crown in 1998.

Results:

NCAA Division II National Championship Sunday's Grand Finals

Varsity Eight 1. Western Washington 7:17.60, 2. Barry 7:18.68, 3. Nova Southeastern 7:25.44, 4. Florida Tech 7:32.34

Varsity Four 1. Western Washington 8:24.16, 2. Barry 8:30.46, 3. UC San Diego 8:35.13

WWU Lineups:

Varsity 8 - coxswain Elisabeth Johnson (Sr., Seattle/Franklin), stroke Staci Reynolds (So., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Julia Gamache (Sr., Seattle/Blanchet), No.6 Jordan Tobler (So., Langley/South Whidbey), No.5 Lindsay Mann-King (Jr., Colville), No.4 Rebecca Willms (Sr., Waterville/Wenatchee Valley CC/Montana), No.3 Metta Gilbert (So., Helena, MT), No.2 Samantha Marikis (So., Republic), bow Amelia Whitcomb (So., Spokane/Ferris)

Varsity 4 - coxswain Coree Naslund (Sr., University Place/Curtis), stroke Hilary Gastwirth (Fr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.3 Katie Saelens (So., Clinton/South Whidbey/Edmonds CC), No.2 Katrina Anderson (Sr., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage), bow Kirsten Mathers (Fr., Camano Island/Stanwood)

Alternates - Lila Scaife (So., Zillah/Big Bend CC), Meghan Woodman (Fr., Redmond)