April 18, 2008

Full Charles River Challenge Schedule with Eastern times

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University women's rowing team will compete in its first competition in nearly a month when it travels to Boston, Mass., for the Charles River Challenge this Saturday and Sunday. The regatta, hosted by Boston University, will be held at the DeWolfe Boathouse. The Bulldogs will race a Varsity 8, Junior Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ boat.

"We are anxious to get back on the race course after such good results against Oregon State University a month ago," stated head coach Melissa Flint. "Cancelling races in unfortunate, but I don't think the athletes are letting it affect them. We are ready to go."

The Varsity 8+ will begin the racing on Saturday at 6:12 a.m. against both host Boston and Brown University. Brown is currently ranked 11th in the latest Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing Top-20, while Boston is receiving votes, just like the Bulldogs.

The Junior Varsity 8+ hits the waters against both Boston and Brown at 6:48 a.m., with the Varsity 4+ following at 7:24 a.m. against the same two institutions.

All three Zags boats will face Northeastern University and Syracuse University in their afternoon races.

The Varsity 8+ will race the Huskies, who are ranked 19th currently and the Orange at 3:25 p.m. The Junior Varsity 8+ is set to start the Bulldog afternoon racing at 2:25 p.m. and the Varsity 4+ will close out the day racing at 3:55 p.m.

"We are all really excited to race numerous teams that are receiving votes in the polls," explained Flint. "I think we are competitive with this caliber of teams and it is nice to get an opportunity to race so many of them at once."

Gonzaga will close out the weekend racing against Dartmouth College on Sunday. The Junior Varsity 8+ hits the water first against the Big Green at 5:30 a.m., followed by the Varsity 8+ at 6:00 a.m. The Varsity 4+ rounds out the weekends rowing at 6:30 a.m.

Varsity 8+ lineup: Joan Aubry, Katie Atkins, Kelsey Koenig, Kelly Steinhaus, Hanna McClintock, Cory Nelson, Julie Smetana, Liz Moore and Whitney Engle.

Junior Varsity lineup: Sarah Rotar, Kari Sulenes, Sierra Tittle, Whitney Patrick, Teagan Towhey, Sam Cekovic, Stephanie Murphy, Sami Koppinger and Jana Holcombe.

Varsity 4+ lineup: Emily Wilson, Chelsie Eddings, Alissa Stempson, Katherine Kruger and Lana Bowie.