Wawawai Landing, Wash. - The Gonzaga University women's rowing novice squad had an extremely successful end to its fall, defeating Washington State University at the Head of the Snake Friday afternoon at Wawawai Landing on the Snake River. It was the third time this season the Bulldog novice defeated the Cougars.

"It was a great privilege to be able to follow the racing with WSU Novice Coach McGrath and see our hard work this fall in action," explained Zag Novice coach Drew Cowens after the race.

Racing approximately 4.5-kilometers in a head style race, the Gonzaga Novice 8+ A started 45 seconds after Washington State's A boat but passed them prior to hitting the finish line and closed out the course in 14:12. The Cougars finished with a time of 15:00.

In the second flight, the Gonzaga Novice 8+ B made up a 28-second gap to pass the Washington State Novice 8+ B. The Bulldogs had a time of 14:58, which was also faster than the Cougar Novice 8+ A boat. The WSU Novice 8+ B crossed the finish line in 15:31. The WSU Lightweight finished third at 16:03.

"The Novice A rowed a great race, up to the standard they established last weekend, but the real progress today came out of our Novice 8+ B," stated Cowens." With a near perfect course by coxswain Kaitlin Wulf and an aggressively rowed race by the whole crew, I am incredibly pleased that the whole team has committed to making themselves faster.

"Although we have had a lot of fun and success this fall, the novice squad knows that we must continue to gain speed and technical proficiency so that the team as a whole can regain the West Coast Conference Title."

The novice fall season may be over, but the Bulldog Varsity crew is still in action. Gonzaga heads to Portland Ore., this weekend to partake in the Portland LO/OP and the Portland Fall Classic. The Portland LO/OP is set for Saturday, while the Portland Fall Classic is set for Sunday.

Head of the Snake Results - Wawawai Landing on Snake River - Oct. 28, 2011
(Despite some stiff winds to start the afternoon, conditions were near perfect at Wawawai Landing by race time)

1. Gonzaga A 14:12, 2. Washington State A 15:00

1. Gonzaga B 14:58, 2. Washington State B 15:31, 3. Washington State Lightweight 16:03

LINEUPS:

Novice 8+ A: Jennifer Hill, Tamryn Aalvik, Casey Burt, Ashley Jorgensen, Erin Russell, Monica Clark, Mari Schramm, Jamee Mason, Mary Haffner.

Novice 8+ B: Kaitlin Wulf, Erin Magee, Natalie Potts, Madison Hagen, Kelly Strader, Madeleine Patton, Sam Olsen, Kelsey McGinnis, Hilary Syvertson.