SAN MATEO, Calif. – The Gonzaga women's rowing varsity eight boat picked up the WCC Crew of the Month honors for the first time this season and the first monthly honor since April 2019.

"I am proud of the way our 1v showed up in the early third of the season and took advantage of every opportunity they were given," head coach Andrew Derrick said. "We still have lots more work to do and speed to find but very much appreciate the recognition for their early work from our peers in the conference."

The Bulldogs had a successful month of March by sweeping Seattle University at the PLU Invite and defeating Big 10's Minnesota in a scrimmage. They finished out the month with a second place finish at the San Diego Crew Classic.

GONZAGA VARSITY 8:
Coxswain: Sailor Hawes
Stroke: Cassidy Parr
7: Grace Dojan
6: Megan Chalfant
5: Hannah Cooney
4: Katie Sierhuis
3: Camille Ruhlin-Hicks
2: Stephanie Westlund
Bow: Olivia Feistner

The following are the GU Varsity Eight results for the month of March:

PLU Invite (March 5)
In the Varsity 8+ race, the Zags finished first with a time of 6:43.5, ahead of Seattle University, who finished in 7:14.1.
In the second heat of the Varsity Eight race, Gonzaga had a Second Varsity Eight compete and place first with a time of 7:14.1, besting Seattle University, 7:30.7.

Scrimmage vs. Minnesota (March 9)
In the Varsity Eight Race, the Zags finished first with a time of 6:50.45. The boat finished ahead of Minnesota's 1V8 boat by three seconds.

San Diego Crew Classic (March 26-27)
1^st Day: The Varsity Eight boat finished second behind only Stanford with the time of 06:58.78, which was only three seconds behind Stanford.
2^nd Day: The Varsity Eight boat finished in second place out of seven boats in their final with a time of 06:50.269, being only behind Stanford and being ahead of Oklahoma. The boat also finished nearly 13 seconds ahead of conference opponent San Diego.