May 4, 2008

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - The Gonzaga University men's rowing program capped off a successful weekend by winning silver in two events and bronze in another as the 2008 WIRA Championships came to a close on Sunday. The Bulldogs took second and earned a silver medal in both the Varsity 8+ and Novice 8+, while the Junior Varsity 8+ took third in the Grand Final to earn a bronze medal.

Gonzaga, who has claimed silver for two-straight seasons in the Varsity 8+, finished with a time of 6:06.2; four seconds behind first place finisher Orange Coast College. OCC took top honors with a finish of 6:02.8. Placing third and earning bronze in the Varsity 8+ was the University of San Diego who was clocked in at 6:12.5.

With Gonzaga having the best finish out of all West Coast Conference schools in the Varsity 8+ it was also awarded with the WCC Championship trophy.

The Varsity 8+ boat was consisted of Sean Finerty, Warren North, Joe Dudley, Pat Swihart, Scott McCoy, Brendan McCarthy, Greg Malman, Patrick Moran, and Michael Anderson.

Also earning a second place victory was the Novice 8+ boat. The Zags came in two second behind Orange Coast to claim the silver medal. OCC finished with a time of 6:08.4 while GU crossed the finish line in 6:10.2. This is the second time in three years Gonzaga's Novice 8+ placed second in the Grand Finals of the WIRA Championships. The Bulldogs also claimed silver in 2006; again behind Orange Coast.

Finishing third in the Novice 8+ race to earn a bronze medal was UC San Diego with a time of 6:25.9.

The Novice 8+ boat was comprised of Crystal Huff, Matt White, Julian Stephanski, Andrew Krug, Carson Bowlin, Connor Wege, Neil Coppinger, Nick Willard, and Benjamin Schwarz.

The Junior Varsity 8+, who won the event in 2007, finished third this season with a finish of 6:26.8. UC San Diego captured the victory crossing the finish line with a time of 6:22.6, while UC Davis came in second, just ahead of the Bulldogs, at 626.0.

The Junior Varsity 8+ boat members were Meghan Quinn, Alex Moore, Ryan Roller, Brian Franceschi, Drew Smith, KC Anderson, Sean Haase, Matt Berry, and Nicholas Mather.

WIRA Championships
Lake Natoma - 2,000-meters

Varsity 8+ Grand Final
1. Orange Coast, 6:02.8
2. Gonzaga, 6:06.2
3. San Diego, 6:12.5
4. Santa Clara, 6:14.7
5. UC San Diego, 6:15.8
6. UC Davis, 6:18.0

Junior Varsity 8+ Grand Final
1. UC San Diego, 6:22.6
2. UC Davis, 6:26.0
3. Gonzaga, 6:26.8
4. Orange Coast, 6:30.2
5. Santa Clara, 6:42.5
6. UC Irvine, 6:43.1

Novice 8+ Grand Final
1. Orange Coast, 6:08.4
2. Gonzaga, 6:10.2
3. UC San Diego, 6:25.9
4. San Diego, 6:30.5
5. Santa Clara, 6:34.8
6. Sonoma State, 6:44.4