Oct. 25, 2008
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head men's rowing coach Dan Gehn was cautiously pleased after his men's varsity 8+ captured the Head of the Spokane against Washington State University Saturday at Upriver Dam on the Spokane River.
The Bulldogs captured the featured race in 15:58 over the 5,000-meter course while WSU finished in 17:12. The early races were rowed in a moderate headwind which died down as the morning progressed. The Head of the Spokane is run in flights with placing determined by time in each flight, unlike the spring regattas which are true head-to-head racing.
"It seems we have relatively good speed for this time of year," Gehn said. "And it was speed into a headwind."
His varsity 8+ boat of coxswain Sean Finerty, Matt White, Greg Malman, Pat Swihart, Andrew Krug, Brendan McCarthy, Mike Anderson, Connor Wege and Julian Stephanski that won Saturday may not be the same boat you see at the end of the fall season, but Gehn was pleased with the effort.
"I'm pleased with the way we raced - all boats," Gehn said. "I think we're about where we want to be. This is a strong group based on what is back and what came up from the freshman boat. We have a strong varsity and junior varsity."
But Gehn said the Bulldogs will continue to work to get better.
"We'll continue to test all lineups. There are no set boats," Gehn said.
Alumni Weekend and Fall Family Weekend will continue with Class Day Races at the Boathouse on the Spokane River near Upriver Dam Sunday at 10 a.m.
Head of the Spokane Results
Upriver Dam - 5,000 meters
Gonzaga vs. Washington State
Flight 1
Women's Varsity 8+ - WSU 17:31, GU 18:13, WSU2 18:15, GU2 18:45.
Women's Novice 8+ - GU 19:55, WSU 21:45.
Other Boats - GU Men's Alumni 8+ 9:20.57.
Flight 2 Men's Varsity 8+ - GU 15:58, WSU 17:12.
Men's Novice 8+ - GU "A" 17:31, GU "B" 17:34, WSU "A" 17:41, WSU "B" 20:38.
Flight 3
Palouse Mix 8+ 10:19.33, Coeur d'Alene Women's 8+ 10:20.02, Adkins Single 10:21.14, Coeur d'Alene Mix Pair 10:22.01, Drake Single 10:22.41.
Flight 4
Women's Varsity 8+ - WSU3 19:03, GU3 19:06.
Women's Novice 8+ - WSU2 21:26, GU2 21:53
Other Boats - GU Women's Alumni 8+ 18:47.
Flight 5 Men's Varsity 8+ - GU2 16:21, WSU2 17:20.
Men's Varsity 4 - GU "C" 18:06, WSU "B" 18:37, GU "A" 18:41, GU "B" 18:46, WSU "A" 18:53.
Men's Novice 8+ - GU "C" 16:39, WSU "C" 18:40.
Other Boats - Coeur d'Alene Pair 21:00, Coeur d'Alene Women's Novice 8+ 22:48, Coeur d'Alene Men's 4+ 23:27.
