photo by Steven Glickman

Gonzaga Notes

Western Sprints
May 12, 2018 | Lake Natoma | 10:10 am PST
Gold River, Calif. | ROW2K

ABOUT THE REGATTA:
- The Zags have raced in the Western Sprints every year since 2014. The event was known previously as the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship, which Gonzaga won four times between 2002 and 2013.
- Competing against the Zags this year are Oklahoma City, San Diego, Santa Clara, and UC San Diego.
- The Bulldogs' best time in the varsity eight at the Western Sprints was in 2014, at a time of 6:02.2, finishing in first place. The low times continued in 2014 with the program's fastest time in the second varsity eight at 6:16.9, finishing in second. The second varsity eight won in 2015.
- The third varsity eight boat had its best time in 2016, with a time of 6:33.0, taking second.
- Since 2004, Gonzaga has advanced to the IRA Championships a total of 11 times. The last as a team being in 2014, when the Zags took first with a time of 6:07.2 in the Western Sprints.
- This spring in the Western Sprints Challenge, the Zags' varsity eight picked up a win over UCSD, and the second varsity eight and third varsity eight beat USD.
- The GU top crew defeated USD and UCSD at the San Diego Crew Classic and were three seconds behind Santa Clara at the Husky Open.
- The varsity eight CMAX rankings are close, with SCU at 34, UCSD at 39, GU at 43, and USD at 45.
- The Zags took fifth in the Head of the American on Lake Natoma in the fall, beating USD by five spots.

LAST RACE:
- On April 28 on Dexter Lake in Eugene, Ore., the No. 18 Oregon State Beavers were able to take all four races against the Zags in their yearly dual.
- The varsity eight finished at 6:02.19, less than nine seconds behind the Beavers. The second varsity eight came home at 6:10.38, seven second behind OSU. The third varsity eight finished at 6:15.05, less than two seconds off the pace of the Beavers. The novice eight lost by 20 seconds.

EVENT HISTORY:
- Last season the second varsity eight and third varsity eight took third, both notching their second-fast mark of the season.
- The last time Gonzaga swept the varsity eight and the second varsity eight was in 2009, when the Western Sprints were known as the WIRA Championships.
- GU advanced to the IRA Championships through the WIRA Championships nine times, including every year from 2004-2013 except 2010.
- The Zags were WIRA Champions in the varsity eight in 2013, 2012, 2009, and 2006. In addition, the Zags' top crew finished runner-up in 2011, 2008, 2007, and 2003.
- The second varsity eight crew took home victories at the WIRA Championships in 2009, 2007, and 2002, with second-place finishes in 2012, 2010, and 2006.
- The fastest time the varsity eight has recorded in the event came in the 2012 victory at 5:57.6, a comfortable eight seconds better than San Diego.
- The top second varsity eight time was the runner-up finish in 2006 at 6:06.0, four seconds behind Orange Coast College but six seconds ahead of UC San Diego.

"The team has worked extremely hard the last couple of weeks to pick up as much speed as possible," Gonzaga head coach Dan Gehn said. "The weather looks to be hot and windy which will throw in an added wrinkle to an already tight field."

Schedule
3rd Varsity 8 - 10:10 am
2nd Varsity 8 - 10:20 am
Varsity 8 - 10:30 am

GONZAGA LINEUPS

Varsity 8
Scott Stewart
Eric Engel
Zach Weber
Connor Nash
Ian Melder
Matt Peterson
Johnathon Kneeland
Anthony Adamek
John Lomond

2nd Varsity 8
Ben Foos
Thomas Jamrozik
Kale Reichersamer
Jack MacDonnell
Kyle Jangard
Brandon Fairhurst
Colin Drangsholt
Dominic Hutt
Mark Jankovic

3rd Varsity 8
Max Baker
Richard Zukowski
Sean Tveter
Coe Carter
William Terry
Shane Jacoby
Jack Snider
Colby Cadman
Max Sombrowski