May 2, 2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Gonzaga University women's rowing program continued to dominate the West Coast Conference as it won its 11th WCC Championship in 12 years Friday by sweeping all three races. The Bulldogs claimed the championship easily winning all three races by open water and by an average of 11 seconds.

Gonzaga took first amassing 30 points, while the University of San Diego placed second with 24 total points. Loyola Marymount University placed third after finishing with 15 and Saint Mary's College earned fourth place with 13 points. Santa Clara finished fifth with eight total points.

The Bulldogs posted a first place finish in the I-Eight (Varsity 8+) for the second time in the last three years with a time of 6:44.0 in the I-Eight (Varsity 8+), finishing ahead of second-place San Diego by five seconds. The Toreros, who had finished the I-Eight race in fifth place last season, recorded a time of 6:49.1. Saint Mary's took third in a time of 6:54.7. Loyola Marymount placed fourth with a 7:00.7 mark, while Santa Clara followed with a time of 7:01.3.

The Varsity 8+ boat consisted of Joan Aubry, Kelly Steinhaus, Whitney Engle, Katie Atkins, Hanna McClintock, Cory Nelson, Kelsey Koenig, Liz Moore, Julie Smetana.

In the II-Eight (Second Varsity 8+), the Zags finished first for the ninth-straight season with a time of 6:56.7, nearly 11 seconds ahead of San Diego who placed second with a finish of 7:07.4. Loyola Marymount placed third with a time of 7:08.7, while Santa Clara (7:20.6) and Saint Mary's (7:26.8), finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Gonzaga's Second Varsity 8+ boat was comprised of Sarah Rotar, Kari Sulenes, Chelsie Eddings, Whitney Patrick, Jana Holcombe, Teagan Towhey, Stephanie Murphy, Sami Koppinger, Sierra Tittle.

The Zag I-Four (Varsity 4+) set the tone for the day earning Gonzaga's first victory, and their sixth in the last seven years, in a time of 7:40.0. San Diego again came in second almost 16 seconds later with a time of 7:56.0. Loyola Marymount placed third with a time of 8:06.5, followed by Saint Mary's in fourth with a finish of 8:27.9 and Santa Clara in fifth closing out the course in 8:40.9.

The Bulldogs Varsity 4+ boat consisted of Emily Wilson, Katherine Krueger, Alissa Stempson, Sam Cekovic, Lana Bowie.

The Zags saw their 11th WCC Championship rewarded with four All-Conference selections in Koenig, McClintock and Steinhaus and Aubry. Aubry was also tabbed as the Coxswain of the Year and first-year head coach Melissa Flint was named the Coach of the Year.

San Diego had two athletes earn All-WCC honors in Jacquelyn Harris and Allison Matthews. Rounding out the All-WCC team was Loyola Marymount's Jill Austin, Saint Mary's Johanna Timmer and Santa Clara's Laila Correa.

Gonzaga will now compete in the WIRA Championships on Saturday and Sunday at Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif.


Final Standings
Gonzaga - 30
San Diego -24
Loyola Marymount -15
Saint Mary's - 13
Santa Clara - 8

I-Eight Race
1. Gonzaga, 6:44.0, 15 points
2. San Diego, 6:49.1, 12 points
3. Saint Mary's, 6:54.7, 9 points
4. Loyola Marymount, 7:00.7, 6 points
5. Santa Clara, 7:01.3, 3 points

II-Eight Race
1. Gonzaga, 6:56.7, 10 points
2. San Diego, 7:07.4, 8 points
3. Loyola Marymount, 7:08.7, 6 points
4. Santa Clara, 7:20.6, 4 points
5. Saint Mary's. 7:26.8,  2 points

I-Four Race
1. Gonzaga, 7:40.0, 5 points
2. San Diego, 7:56.0, 4 points
3. Loyola Marymount, 8:06.5, 3 points
4. Saint Mary's, 8:27.9, 2 points
5. Santa Clara, 8:40.9, 1 point

2008 WCC All-Conference Women's Rowing Team
Gonzaga: Joan Aubry, Kelsey Koenig, Hanna McClintock, Kelly Steinhaus
Loyola Marymount: Jill Austin
Saint Mary's: Johanna Timmer
San Diego: Jacquelyn Harris, Allison Matthews
Santa Clara: Laila Correa

Coxswain of the Year: Joan Aubry, Gonzaga
Coach of the Year: Melissa Flint, Gonzaga