Gonzaga University
Saint Mary's
Bulldog Rowers Sweep Saint Mary's
4/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Crew
April 18, 2004
MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. - Gonzaga University's women's crew team got its final tuneup prior to the West Coast Conference and Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) championships in two weeks by sweeping Saint Mary's College on Sunday at Silver Lake.
A chilly morning saw the three-race program conclude with Gonzaga's varsity eight easily defeating the Gales in 6:47.45 to 7:22.53. With Sunday's victory, the Bulldogs top boat swept both races this weekend following a Saturday win over UC Davis. Gonzaga's second varsity eight was second on Sunday in 6:59.51 and the Bulldogs third varsity eight was third in 7:16.14 as all three Bulldog boats beat Saint Mary's. Gonzaga's second varsity eight got back on track on Sunday after having lost to the third varsity on Saturday.
The Gonzaga women's varsity eight consisted of coxswain Courtney Serpa, stroke Maria Bokulich, Carolyn Schepper, Kari Durgan, Jessica Kocarnik, Kristi Aamodt, Karen O'Hagan, Nicole Aadland-Lewis and bow Heather Jewell. The GU women's second varsity eight was comprised of coxswain Melissa Hayes, stroke Mariah Smith-Miloff, Bridget Troy, Teresa Archuleta, Jessica Nestor, Jenni Cooper, Maria Fussell, Joni Goodman and box Sarah Allison. Gonzaga's third varsity eight was coxswain Erin Palmiter, stroke Jessica Michaels, Hilda Morones, Brittany Price, Courtney Cline, Kristin Reed, Ann Parker, Brianna Morin and bow Alison Cushman.
The varsity four saw the Gonzaga boat of coxswain Erin Palmiter, stroke Brianna Morin, Hilda Morones, Brittany Price and Alison Cushman defeat SMC 7:48.46-7:51.37.
The junior varsity four saw the Gonzaga "B" boat post an upset in 7:49.04 over the Gonzaga "A" which finished in 8:07.14 and the Gaels in 8:12.16. The "B" boat consisted of coxswain Kris Lund, stroke Liz Sambach, Katie Hall, Jessica Uphoff and Darcy Wagner, while the "A" boat was comprised of coxswain Melissa Refuerzo, stroke Jessica Michaels, Courtney Cline, Reed and Ann Parker.
Head coach Glenn Putyrae was pleased with the efforts of his team, which will now be idle until April 30 when the Bulldogs go for an eighth straight WCC title and then compete in the WIRA May 1-2. The Bulldogs had been scheduled to compete at the Washington State University Invitational next Saturday but will skip that race.
"We have two weeks to work on getting faster," Putyrae said. "The week off will be good for us. I think it was great that we got a WCC school to race us on our course. Saint Mary's is getting their program up to speed. It was a good day for us."
Putyrae juggled the lineup in his varsity eight, with Sunday's race just the third time the crew had rowed together after altering the lineup earlier in the week in preparation for the two weekend races.
Gonzaga-Saint Mary's DualSilver Lake - Medical Lake, Wash.
All races 2,000 meters
Varsity Four - 1, Gonzaga 7:48.46. 2, Saint Mary's 7:51.37.
Junior Varsity Four - 1, Gonzaga-B 7:49.04. 2, Gonzaga-A 8:07.19. 3, Saint Mary's 8:12.16.
Varsity Eight - 1, Gonzaga-A 6:47.45. 2, Gonzaga-B 6:59.51. 3, Gonzaga-C 7:16.14. 4, Saint Mary's 7:22.53.
