May 6, 2002

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - Eight Gonzaga University rowers earned All-Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) honors after Gonzaga's varsity women captured the WIRA championship and the Gonzaga varsity men finished third. Both varsity crews will now travel to Princeton, New Jersey, to compete in the Avaya Championships at Lake Mercer. Gonzaga's varsity women finished third at last year's Avaya Championships.

Gonzaga placed three women on the All-WIRA first team and one person on the second team. Earning first team honors for a second-consecutive year was Nicole Lustig followed by Maria Bokulich and Cynthia Savoca on the first team. Coxswain Courtney Serpa was named a second-team All-WIRA selection afer guiding the junior varsity women's eight to a WIRA Championship.

Gonzaga's men placed three rowers on the All-WIRA first team after finishing third in the WIRA Grand Final. Dave Johnson, Nat Hopper and Mark Voorhees all earned first-team honors while Mike Cipriano earned second team All-WIRA recognition as the men's junior varsity eight won their Grand Final race at WIRA's.

Gonzaga women's head coach Glenn Putyrae was also recognized for his team's performance being named the 2002 WIRA Coach of the Year. Putyrae won his third consecutive WCC Coach of the Year honor on Friday when the Zags won their sixth straight WCC Championship.

2002 ALL-WIRA FIRST TEAM
WOMEN
Nicole Lustig     -  GonzagaMaria Bokulich       -  GonzagaCynthia Savoca           -  GonzagaStephanie Brow      -  Sacramento StateAdelle Reimer       -  Sacramento StateVeronica Karpinski  -  Sacramento StateKim Cupini      -  San DiegoKim Harding     -  San DiegoBrianna Leissoo     -  San Diego
Glenn Putyrae           -  Gonzaga (Coach of the Year)

MEN
Stuart Blair        -  Orange CoastGints Salaks        -  Orange CoastBrian Scheele       -  Orange CoastBrett Johnson       -  UC DavisScott McCauley      -  UC DavisAdam Donovan        -  UC DavisNat Hopper       -  GonzagaDave Johnson       -  GonzagaMark Voorhees     -  Gonzaga

2002 ALL-WIRA SECOND TEAM
WOMEN
Anna Goodsell       -  Pacific LutheranTrisha Sawatzky         -  Seattle PacificEmily Ahn       -  UC Santa BarbaraCourtney Serpa           -  GonzagaBecka Beltz     -  San Diego StateSarah McKenzie          -  Sacramento StateAlison Greene       -  UC Santa BarbaraAna Hunt        -  Humboldt StateEmily Stirr     -  Puget Sound

MEN
Grahaam Willoughby  -  Sacramento StateJake Whittler       -  San Diego StateMike Cipriano     -  GonzagaZack Zoller     -  UC DavisMilan Rousset       -  Orange CoastDustin Bingham      -  UC Santa BarbaraTomy Hartnet        -  Long Beach StateMarty Schultz-Ackerson  -  California