SAN BRUNO, Calif. - The Gonzaga University women's rowing team was picked to finish second at the West Coast Conference Championship in a preseason poll of the WCC's seven head coaches. Gonzaga received three first place votes; in a vote that did not allow coaches to vote for their own team.

The University of San Diego was selected as the favorite to win the WCC Championship after receiving four first place votes in the poll.

Gonzaga finished second at the WCC Championship a season ago and is looking to regain its stature atop the WCC after having won 12 of the last 15 championships. After spending the last four years as the head coach at Georgetown University, the Bulldogs returned Glenn Putyrae as the Zag women's rowing head coach. Putyrae was the Bulldogs coach from 1999 to 2007 and led GU to seven championship titles in his eight years.

Gonzaga senior Teddi McGuire and classmate Paula Welly were each named to the preseason All-Conference team.

The 2012 WCC Rowing Championship will take place on May 12 at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif.

The complete 2012 West Coast Conference Women's Rowing preseason poll and all-conference team follows.

2012 WEST COAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
Team (First Place Votes) Points
1. University of San Diego (4) 34
2. Gonzaga University (3) 32
3. Saint Maryʼs College 28
4. Loyola Marymount University 21
5. Creighton University 20
6. Santa Clara University 15
7. University of Portland 10

2012 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE TEAM
Player School Yr.
Rachel Donohoe Santa Clara So.
Michelle Geesman San Diego Sr.
Stephanie Jegat San Diego Sr.
Christine Koehler Creighton Sr.
Teddi McGuire Gonzaga Sr.
Hannah Patrick San Diego Sr.
Kat Regan Loyola Marymount Sr.
Chelsea Serrano Saint Maryʼs Sr.
Mia Tarte Portland So.
Paula Welly Gonzaga Sr.