Men's Crew Heads To WIRA Championships
4/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Crew
April 27, 2006
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University men's crew program heads to Lake Natoma just outside of Sacramento, Calif., to compete in this weekend's WIRA Championships. The Bulldogs Varsity 8+ has placed fourth the last two seasons and is looking to improve upon that standing this season.
The Bulldogs Varsity 8+ was seeded seventh in the WIRA draw and will be racing in the last of three heat races. Also racing in Gonzaga's heat will be UC Davis, Loyola Marymount, UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State and Santa Clara. The top two boats from each heat race advance to Sunday's Grand Final.
Gonzaga will also enter two Freshmen/Novice 8+ boats that have both been seeded first in their respective races. Gonzaga's top Novice 8+ will race against UC Davis, UC Irvine, Colorado and Washington State on Saturday. The top three boats advance to Sunday's Grand Final.
The second Novice 8+ boat will compete only on Sunday morning racing in the Grand Final. Other entrants in the Grand Final are UC San Diego, Orange Coast College, UC Davis and UC Irvine.
The Bulldogs Varsity 8+ has only one senior in stroke Connor Barry and a second team All-WIRA selection from last season in Matthew Wernette, but head coach Dan Gehn is confident his young squad is ready for the championship.
"I love Championship time because in really tends to bring out the best in crews," stated Gehn. "It will be tough racing but well earned for the champion. The Varsity 8 is seeded 7 so they have know where they have to go and the Novice boats enjoy 1 seeds but understand what it will take to win those races."
This season will also mark a change for the Bulldogs in how the West Coast Conference champion is decided. The WCC does not sponsor men's rowing as a championship sport, but the WCC schools that support men's rowing have help a non-sponsored championship race since 2002. Gonzaga has won the previous four meetings. This season the WCC Cup champion will be awarded to the WCC school with the best finish in the WIRA Varsity 8+ event.
WIRA Championships (April 29-30) Line-Ups
Varsity 8+: Coxswain Meghan Quinn, stroke Connor Barry, David Hinshaw, Scott McCoy, Derek Clemmensen, Matthew Wernette, Warren North, Drew Smith and bow Sean Haase.
Novice 8+ "A": Coxswain Amanda Brown, stroke Greg Malman, Brendan McCarthy, Andre' Gallant, Pat Swihart, Ryan Roller, Brian Franceschi, Andrew Langfield and bow Jeff Haguewood.
Novice 8+ "B": Coxswain Elliot Kraber, stroke Sean Moran, Patrick Moran, Mike Anderson, Alex Moore, Nick McCarty, Matt Berry, Darrin Wright and box Mike Gonia.
