Varsity Crews Advance To WIRA Grand Final

May 4, 2002

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - Gonzaga University will have five crews competing for rowing championships on Sunday afternoon as the Bulldogs placed five boats in Grand Final races at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) championships at Lake Natoma. Gonzaga's men's and women's varsity and junior varsity boats will compete for WIRA titles along with a women's novice four.

Gonzaga's varsity men outraced UC Davis for the second time in less than a month as GU pulled away over the last 500 meters to defeat UC Davis by nearly two seconds. Gonzaga covered the 2,000 meter course in 6:09.2 with UC Davis right behind at 6:11.0. Puget Sound crossed the line third followed by Long Beach State, Santa Clara and Pacific Lutheran. The Bulldogs will be seeded number one in the Grand Final with Orange Coast College seeded number two after OCC won the other men's varsity eight heat in 6:12.2. Gonzaga's varsity eight consisted of coxswain Mara Oblak, Mark Voorhees, Mike Baisch, Brad Hughes, Jeff Kiely, Dave Johnson, Justin Toenes, Nat Hopper and Nathan Wilson.

Gonzaga's varsity women defeated San Diego for the second time in two days as GU won its heat in 6:58.5. San Diego finished second in the heat 13 seconds behind at 7:11.2 while WCC member Santa Clara was third. UC Irvine and Humboldt State rounded out Gonzaga's opening heat. Gonzaga will be seeded number one in Sunday's Grand Final with defending WIRA champion Sacramento State seeded second and Loyola Marymount third. Sacramento State won its heat in 6:58.7 while Loyola Marymount won its heat in 6:59.0. Last year Gonzaga finished second in the WIRA Varsity 8 Grand Final behind Sacramento State. Gonzaga's varsity eight consisted of coxswain Courtney Haase, Nicole Lustig, Molly Gulsvig, Cynthia Savoca, Breah Neimiec, Jennie Gilpin, Maria Bokulich, Bridget Troy and Christine McKeown.

Gonzaga's junior varsity women also defeated San Diego and Santa Clara for the second time in two days as the JV 8 covered the course in 7:14.6. They were followed by Orange Coast College at 7:17.8 with Santa Clara and San Diego finished third and fourth. UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego wrapped up the field. Gonzaga will be seeded number two in the Grand Final as San Diego State won the other women's JV eight with a time of 7:13.2. Gonzaga's junior varsity eight consisted of coxswain Courtney Serpa, Alexis Skipitis, Renee Holl, Kristi Aamodt, Jessica Nestor, Jenifer Gehlsen, Karen O'Hagan, Kaylin Rostron and Carolyn Schepper.

Gonzaga's women's novice four will be seeded second in Sunday's Grand Final after GU won its opening heat with a time of 7:50.3. San Diego State finished second in Gonzaga's heat with a time of 7:55.0. Sacramento State, Seattle University and University of the Pacific rounded out the Bulldogs heat. Seattle Pacific posted the best women's novice four time at 7:49.9 and will be seeded first while Loyola Marymount won the final heat at 8:01.3. Gonzaga's novice four consisted of coxswain Melissa Hayes, Cassy Cerny, Sarah Valenti, Bethany Mulhall and Andrea Genord.

Gonzaga's junior varsity men advanced to Sunday's Grand Final based on only six boats entering the regatta in that classification. GU will be seeded first followed by UC Davis, Sacramento State, Orange Coast College, San Diego State and Santa Clara.

Gonzaga also entered boats in three other categories with the Bulldogs men's pair finishing fourth in their heat with a time of 8:01.5. Saint Mary's won the men's pair heat with a time of 7:33.3. Gonzaga's men's pair will advance to the Petite Final.

Gonzaga's men's varsity four finished third in its heat just missing the Grand Final. San Diego State won the heat with a 6:57.9 with Willamette in second and Gonzaga third at 7:12.7. The Bulldogs will compete in the Petite Final.

Gonzaga's women's varsity four will also compete in the Petite Final after finishing fifth in their heat race with a time of 8:22.9. Seattle Pacific won the heat at 8:03.1 while Portland finished second.

WIRA Championships May 4, 2002 Lake Natoma, CA

MEN'S VARSITY 8


Heat 11.  Orange Coast    -  6:12.2Heat 21.  Gonzaga     -  6:09.22.  UC Davis        -  6:11.03.  Puget Sound     -  6:16.84.  Long Beach State    -  6:19.15.  Santa Clara     -  6:22.86.  Pacific Lutheran    -  6:37.4

WOMEN'S VARSITY 8


Heat 11.  Gonzaga     -  6:58.52.  San Diego       -  7:11.23.  Santa Clara     -  7:14.94.  UC Irvine       -  7:19.15.  Humboldt State  -  7:58.5Heat 21.  Loyola Marymount    -  6:59.0Heat 31.  Sacramento State    -  6:58.7

WOMEN'S JUNIOR VARSITY 8


Heat 11.  San Diego State -  7:13.2
Heat 21.  Gonzaga     -  7:14.62.  Orange Coast    -  7:17.83.  Santa Clara     -  7:25.04.  San Diego       -  7:30.85.  UC Santa Barbara    -  7:39.36.  UC San Diego    -  7:52.9

WOMEN'S NOVICE 4


Heat 11.  Gonzaga     -  7:50.32.  San Diego State -  7:55.03.  Sacramento State    -  8:07.94.  Seattle University  -  8:30.65.  U. of the Pacific   -  9:33.5Heat 21.  Loyola Marymount    -  8:01.3Heat 31.  Seattle Pacific -  7:49.9

MEN'S PAIR


Heat 21.  Saint Mary's    -  7:33.32.  Loyola Marymount    -  7:42.43.  UC Irvine       -  7:43.34.  Gonzaga     -  8:01.1

MEN'S VARSITY 4


Heat 11.  San Diego State -  6:57.92.  Willamette      -  7:05.13.  Gonzaga     -  7:12.74.  Lewis and Clark     -  7:16.35.  Loyola Marymount    -  7:20.56.  Seattle University  -  7:38.27.  Evergreen State -  7:50.0

WOMEN'S VARSITY 4


Heat 21.  Seattle Pacific -  8:03.12.  Portland        -  8:06.23.  Saint Mary's    -  8:22.43.  Puget Sound     -  8:22.45.  Gonzaga     -  8:22.96.  UC San Diego    -  8:23.37.  Colorado        -  9:00.8

Upcoming Events

Results

Completed Event: Women's Crew versus WIRA Championships on May 1, 2011 , , 2nd; 6:33.4

Completed Event: Women's Crew versus WIRA Championships on April 30, 2011 , , 1stl 7:23.3

Completed Event: Women's Crew versus West Coast Conference Championship on April 29, 2011 , , 2nd; 6:58.5

Completed Event: Women's Crew at Western Washington Dual on April 16, 2011 , , 1st; 6:37.7

Completed Event: Women's Crew at Dale England Cup (Boston, Michigan State, Indiana) on April 2, 2011 , , 2nd; 6:51.3.

Completed Event: Women's Crew at Dale England Cup (Boston, Michigan State, Indiana) on April 1, 2011 , , 2nd; 6:50.6

Completed Event: Women's Crew versus Washington State Dual on March 26, 2011 , , 2nd (7:18.58)

Completed Event: Women's Crew versus Oregon State Dual on March 20, 2011 , , 2nd; 7:51.94