SPOKANE, Wash. – The Gonzaga men's rowing team heads to Folsom, Calif., April 27-28 for the WIRA Championships on Lake Natoma. The Bulldogs return to the regatta for the first time since 2013.
 
"I am looking forward to this event because the competition will be fierce," head men's rowing coach Dan Gehn said. "There are a lot of good crews this year which are all around the same speed. We will have our hands full, and it will be a good barometer for Western Sprints."
 
ABOUT THE REGATTA:  
- The annual WIRA Championships is held at Lake Natoma in Folsom, Calif., and features boats from 41 different men's and women's programs.
- Gonzaga has entered the regatta as a guest crew; it will provide an opportunity for the Bulldogs to be on a six-lane course and get a tune-up race for the Western Sprints. The Western Sprints is on the same course on Lake Natoma on May 18.
- The Bulldogs will race in two pre-set heats: the varsity eight and second varsity eight. Both the varsity eight and second varsity eight will take place on Saturday with either the petite or grand finale on Sunday.
- Gonzaga's varsity eight faces Washington State, Orange Coast College, UC Irvine, San Diego and UC Berkeley Lightweight in the first race of the day at 8:00 a.m.
- The Bulldogs' second varsity eight will face UC Davis Crew, Orange Coast College, Washington State and San Diego State in the first heat at 9:10 a.m.
 
EVENT HISTORY:
- The Bulldogs are making their 13th appearance in the WIRA Championships, and their first since the 2013 season. Gonzaga's varsity eight boat has captured gold in its last two appearances. In 2013, the Bulldogs finished four seconds ahead of the closest boat, clocking a time of 6:08.5 for the win. In 2012, the Gonzaga varsity eight posted a winning time of 5:57.6, nearly eight second ahead of the next closest boat.
- Gonzaga's varsity eight boat has four golds and four silvers in 12 appearances while the Bulldogs' second varsity eight claims three golds and three silvers. GU's novice four, which has appeared in two WIRA Championships, has one gold and one silver.
 
SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 27
8:00 a.m. - Varsity 8
9:10 a.m. - 2nd Varsity 8
 
Sunday, April 28
8:00 - Varsity 8 Petite Final
8:10 - Varsity 8 Grand Final
9:30 - 2nd Varsity 8 Final
 
LINEUPS
Varsity 8
Cox: Ben Foos
Mark Jankovic
Colin Drangsholt
Richard Zukowski
Ian Melder
Anthony Adamek
Charley Nordin
Coe Carter
John Lomond
 
Second Varsity 8
Cox: Scott Stewart
Benjamin Kropelnicki
Zach Weber
Johnathon Kneeland
Kyle Jangard
Colby Cadman
Jack Snider
Dillon Yanick
Samuel Dernis