WCC and WIRA Championships On Horizon For Zags
4/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Crew
April 28, 2010
WCC Championship Schedule in PDF Format 
WIRA Championship Schedule in PDF Format
SPOKANE, Wash. -
ON TAP: The Gonzaga University women's rowing team heads to Lake Natoma in Sacrament, Calif., this weekend for both the West Coast Conference Championships and the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships. The Zags are looking to capture their 13th West Coast Conference title in 14 years and looking to repeat their history making performance at the 2009 WIRA's where they won gold in all four events and claimed the WIRA Efficiency Trophy.
WHEN ARE THE WCC'S…WHEN ARE THE WIRA'S? The West Coast Conference Championships are set for Friday, April 30. The Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships will begin Saturday, May 1 and conclude Sunday, May 2.
LAST YEAR AT THE WCC CHAMPIONSHIPS: The Gonzaga University women's rowing program continued to dominate the West Coast Conference Championships, winning it for the 12th time in 13 years in 2009. The Zags, who swept all three races in the previous three championships, had to win two races and place second in another to earn enough points to claim the victory over the University of San Diego. The Bulldogs finished with 29 points, while the second place Toreros accumulated 25.
LAST YEAR AT THE WIRA CHAMPIONSHIPS: The Gonzaga University women's rowing team had one of its most successful weekends in school history at the 2009 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships as it earned gold in all four events it participated in. The Zags won gold in the Varsity 8+, Junior Varsity 8+, Novice 8+ and Varsity 4+ to also claim the WIRA Efficiency Trophy. The sweep was the first time in school history the Bulldogs earned gold in all races they participated in. GU has now won the Varsity 8+ and Novice 8+ four times in the last five years and the Junior Varsity 8+ for the third time in five years.
HEAD COACH Melissa Flint ON THE UPCOMING CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND: "This is what we've been working for all year. We are all very excited to defend our West Coast Conference title and will fight hard on the race course to keep all four trophies we took last year at the WIRA's. This is a great group of athletes and this is their last chance to show what they're made of and ultimately how fast they are. We're looking forward to a competitive weekend with some great racing."
WEST COAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE: There will be three races at the West Coast Conference Championships. The event will start off with the Varsity 4+ race at 9:20 a.m. The Junior Varsity 8+ will then race at 9:40 a.m. The marquee Varsity 8+ race will close the event at 10 a.m.
***Full schedule, with line assignments are attached in PDF format.
WESTERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ROWING ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE: The Gonzaga University women's rowing team will race five boats at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships.
• The Varsity 8+ will start the racing off on Saturday at 10:20 a.m. in the first of two heats for the Varsity 8+. The Zags, in lane one, is joined by Sacramento State University, San Diego State University, Saint Mary's College and Santa Clara University.
• The Novice 8+ boat is the second to race on Saturday, hitting the water at 11:40 a.m. The Bulldogs, also racing in the first of two Novice 8+ heats, will face off against UC Davis, Orange Coast College, Long Beach State University and the University of Colorado.
• The third race Gonzaga will partake in is the women's pair. The Zags, racing at 2:40 p.m. on Saturday and in the first of two heats, will race Chapman University, the University of Portland, Seattle University, Saint Mary's College and the University of the Pacific.
• The fourth boat for Gonzaga is the Varsity 4+. The Zag Varsity 4+ will race on Sunday, in a final only race, at 8:10 a.m. The Bulldogs will face Sacramento State, the University of San Diego, UC Davis, San Diego State, Loyola Marymount University and Santa Clara.
• Also a final only race is the Junior Varsity 8+. The Bulldogs JV 8+ will take the water at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday and faces Sacramento State, San Diego, San Diego State, UC Davis, Loyola Marymount and the University of Puget Sound. ***Full schedule, with line assignments are attached in PDF format.
GONZAGA LINEUPS:
Varsity 8+: Emily Wilson, Chelsea Quilling, Alissa Stempson, Liz Moore, Teddi McGuire, Elise Perkins, Sam Cekovic, Chelsie Eddings, Sami Koppinger.
Junior Varsity 8+: Natalie Wolfrom, Lauren Miller, Alexa Bostwick, Paula Welly, Hannah Winters, Therese Yrani, Rachel Schlosser, Sophie Bluhm, Lana Bowie.
Novice 8+: Katie Gandolfo, Christy Mentele, Christine Powers, Grace Ditzler, Tayler Drake, Abby Barr, Taylor Thompson, Rachel Wright, Sarah Milburn.
Varsity 4+: Nicky Talkington, Maryssa Thompson, Jamie Hemenway, Olivia Miller, Courtney Norris.
Pair: Lizzie Braicks, Kat Storwick.
