May 4, 2008

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - The Gonzaga University women's rowing team had a extremely successful end to the 2008 WIRA Championships on Sunday as the Bulldogs won gold in two events and silver in two other events. The Bulldogs won the Varsity 8+ and Second Varsity 8+ race for the third time in four years. Placing second and earning a silver medal was the Varsity 4+ and Novice 8+ boats.

The Varsity 8+ won its race in a time of 6:57.6, squeaking out a victory over Western Washington University who crossed the finish line a second later in 6:58.7. Placing third and earning the bronze medal was UC Davis with a time of 7:00.6.

The Varsity 8+ boat consisted of Joan Aubry, Kelly Steinhaus, Whitney Engle, Katie Atkins, Hanna McClintock, Cory Nelson, Kelsey Koenig, Liz Moore, and Julie Smetana. Along with winning the WIRA Championships, the Zag Varsity 8+ also captured the West Coast Conference Championship on Friday.

Gonzaga and UC Davis battled hard for the Second Varsity 8+ victory, with the Bulldogs also edging out a one-second win over the Aggies with a finish of 7:00.2. UC Davis earned the silver in a time of 7:01.8. Rounding out the top 3 and earning the bronze medal was Sacramento State University who had a finish of 7:09.8.

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

San Diego State University broke a two-year winning streak for the Gonzaga Novice 8+ earning gold with a time of 7:11.8. The Bulldogs followed seven seconds later at 7:18.9 to claim the silver medal. Placing third was UC Davis with a finish of 7:21.0.

The Novice 8+ boat was Rachel Cregg, Therese Yrani, Alexa Bostwick, Andrea Ness, Madison Feddersen, Megan Morris, Hannah Winters, Courtney Norris, and Rachel Schlosser.

Also earning a silver medal at the WIRA Championships was the Varsity 4+ who had a time of 7:45.4, 10 seconds behind first place finisher Sacramento State. The Hornets crossed the finish line in 7:35.7 to claim the top prize. UC Santa Barbara came in third at 7:51.0.

The Varsity 4+ boat members were Emily Wilson, Katherine Krueger, Alissa Stempson, Sam Cekovic, and Lana Bowie.

WIRA Championships
Lake Natoma - 2,000 meters

Varsity 8+
1. Gonzaga, 6:57.6
2. Western Washington, 6:58.7
3. UC Davis, 7:00.6
4. San Diego State, 7:03.6
5. San Diego, 7:05.0
6. Sacramento State, 7:11.8

Second Varsity 8+
1. Gonzaga, 7:00.2
2. UC Davis, 7:01.8
3. Sacrament State, 7:09.8
4. Loyola Marymount, 7:13.5
5. Western Washington, 7:16.2
6. San Diego State, 7:22.2

Novice 8+
1. San Diego State, 7:11.8
2. Gonzaga, 7:18.9
3. UC Davis, 7:21.0
4. Willamette, 7:27.7
5. Sacramento State, 7:29.0
6. Orange Coast, 7:29.0

Varsity 4+
1. Sacramento State, 7:35.7
2. Gonzaga, 7:45.4
3. UC Santa Barbara, 7:51.0
4. Saint Mary's, 7:51.0
5. Long Beach State, 7:58.7
6. San Diego, 8:10