May 3, 2008

CORDOVA, Calif. - The Gonzaga University men's rowing team had a strong first day at the 2008 WIRA Championships at Lake Natoma just outside of Sacramento, Calif., Saturday. The Bulldogs advanced two boats to Sunday's Grand Finals, joining one boat that had already secured a spot in the Grand Final.

The Bulldogs Varsity 8+ dominated their heat racing, winning it in a margin of four seconds. Gonzaga closed out the race with a time of 6:04.2, while second place UC Davis finished the course in a time of 6:08.1 to also earn a spot in the Grand Final. Rounding out the heat was Sacramento State University (6:12.4), Puget Sound (6:20.5), Loyola Marymount University (6:25.1) and UC Santa Barbara (6:25.4).

Orange Coast College won the first heat of the Varsity 8+ races in 6:03.5; the fastest time of the day. Placing second was Santa Clara University with a time of 6:09.5. In the third heat race the University of San Diego earned the victory in a time of 6:05.5, while UC San Diego took second crossing the finishing line in 6:06.7.

Also earning a spot in the Grand Final was the Bulldog Novice 8+. Gonzaga finished its heat racing in first with a time of 6:09.6, six seconds ahead of San Diego who placed second with a time of 6:15.0. Finishing third and also earning a spot in the Grand Final on Sunday was Santa Clara (6:19.8).

Rounding out the Zags Novice 8+ heat was UC Davis (6:28.2), Washington State University (6:32.6), Puget Sound (6:40.8), and San Diego State University (7:06.7).

Orange Coast won the other Novice 8+ heat race in 6:06.1. The other two schools securing a place in Sunday's Grand Final was UC San Diego (2nd, 6:15.3) and Sonoma (3rd, 6:54.0).

The Junior Varsity 8+ boat will only compete on Sunday morning in the Grand Final. Other participants in the Grand Final are UC Davis, UC San Diego, Orange Coast, Santa Clara and UC Irvine.

WIRA Championships - Day 1
Lake Natoma, Calif. - 2,000 meters

Varsity 8+ (Heat Racing)
1. Gonzaga, 6:04.2
2. UC Davis, 6:08.1
3. Sacramento State, 6:12.4
4. Puget Sound, 6:20.5
5. Loyola Marymount, 6:25.1
6. UC Santa Barbara, 6:25.4

Novice 8+ (Heat Racing)
1. Gonzaga, 6:09.4
2. San Diego, 6:15.0
3. Santa Clara, 6:19.8
4. UC Davis, 6:28.2
5. Washington State, 6:32.6
6. Puget Sound, 6:40.8
7. San Diego State, 7:06.7

Sunday's Grand Final Schedule
10:10 a.m. - Novice 8+: Orange Coast, Gonzaga, UC San Diego, San Diego, Sonoma
10:40 a.m. - Junior Varsity 8+: UC Davis, UC San Diego, Orange Coast, Gonzaga, Santa Clara, UC Irvine
11:40 a.m. - Varsity 8+: Orange Coast, Gonzaga, San Diego, Santa Clara, UC San Diego, UC Davis

Lineups:
Varsity 8+: Sean Finerty, Warren North, Joe Dudley, Pat Swihart, Scott McCoy, Brendan McCarthy, Greg Malman, Patrick Moran, and Michael Anderson.
Junior Varsity 8+: Meghan Quinn, Alex Moore, Ryan Roller, Brian Franceschi, Drew Smith, KC Anderson, Sean Haase, Matt Berry, and Nicholas Mather.
Novice 8+: Crystal Huff, Matt White, Julian Stephanski, Andrew Krug, Carson Bowlin, Connor Wege, Neil Coppinger, Nick Willard, and Benjamin Schwarz.