May 3, 2008

LAKE NATOMA, Calif. - The San Diego State rowing team had a successful first day at the WIRA Championships Saturday on the shores of Lake Natoma, Calif. All four competing boats made it out of the preliminary heats to Sunday's grand finals, a first in the program's history.

In the varsity eight race, SDSU took third of six boats in heat two with a time of 6 minutes, 47.8 seconds. Gonzaga (6:41.9) and San Diego (6:46.4) also advanced to Sunday's grand final.

"I was very proud of our varsity eight boat," head coach Jennifer Zebroski said. "It's unbelievable how much faster we have gotten since our last race and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

In the first heat of the second varsity eight race, the Aztecs (7:14.5) edged Loyola Marymount (7:15.0) for second place of seven boats in a race won by Gonzaga in 7:05.0.

"(The second varsity eight boat) did exactly what we should have done," Zebroski said. "We beat LMU twice this season and USD at the (San Diego) City Championships. Out main goal was getting to the grand final and we did that."

The novice eight continued its solid season with a first-place showing over six boats in heat one with a 7:05.5 clocking, comfortably ahead of second place Willamette's 7:16.3.

"It was nice to move onto Sunday," Zebroski said. "We didn't row the fastest race we could have, knowing we had to race tomorrow. I'm excited to see how we match up tomorrow seeing how each of the three heats were won by large margins."

San Diego State also won the novice four race in heat three with a time of 8:11.9, almost five seconds ahead of Colorado (8:16.5).

"I think the novice four had their best showing all year," Zebroski said. "It was great to see them come in first. The good showing really shows our depth in the novices."

The Aztecs will have five boats compete tomorrow in the grand final, beginning with the novice four race at 8:20 a.m. The second novice eight will debut at the 9 a.m. final, while the novice eight will race at 10 a.m. The second varsity eight boat will race at 10:30 a.m., followed by the varsity eight at 11:50 a.m.

Varsity Eight
(Heat 2; Top three advance to grand final)
1. Gonzaga - 6:41.9
2. San Diego - 6:46.4
3. San Diego State - 6:47.8
4. St. Mary's - 6:54.7
5. Santa Clara - 7:03.7
6. UC Irvine - 7:15.8

Second Varsity Eight
(Heat 1; Top three advance to grand final)
1. Gonzaga - 7:05.0
2. San Diego State - 7:14.5
3. Loyola Marymount - 7:15.0
4. San Diego - 7:16.2
5. St. Mary's - 7:30.7
6. Humboldt State - 7:46.6
7. Point Loma Nazarene - 8:00.6

Novice Eight
(Heat 1; Top two advance to grand final)
1. San Diego State - 7:05.5
2. Willamette - 7:16.3
3. San Diego - 7:35.2
4. UC San Diego - 7:41.4
5. Arizona State - 7:47.8
6. Chapman - 8:32.1

Novice Four
(Heat 3; Top two advance to grand final)
1. San Diego State - 8:11.9
2. Colorado - 8:16.5
3. Loyola Marymount - 8:19.8
4. Long Beach State - 8:28.9
5. Arizona State - 8:29.7
6. UC Irvine - 8:33.3

WIRA Lineups
Varsity Eight
Cox - Caitlynn Crouch
Stroke - Allison Hardin
Seven - Jaime Hinton
Six - Casi Boyle
Five - Tashina Vavuris
Four - Anna Ohrstrom
Three - Chloe Wiegman
Two - Christine Dickson
Bow - Mary Anne Hinman

Second Varsity Eight
Cox - Laura Norton
Stroke - Jenna Wood
Seven - Robin Lauber
Six - Melissa Carey
Five - Taylor Weirick
Four - Alyson Boyd
Three - Kristina Giacolone
Two - Katie Rusch
Bow - Kelly West

Novice Eight
Cox - Cassy Baleix
Stroke - Rachel Mossinger
Seven - Alanna Call
Six - Kristin Guissanie
Five - Leslie Sexton
Four - Kelsey Anderson
Three - Kassi Russell
Two - Ashley Kohler
Bow - Stacey Triche

Novice Four
Cox - Cassie Lyman
Stroke - Jenny Woudenberg
Three - Lindsey Serhan
Two - Kelsey Burns
Bow - Daniela Garcia