March 21, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University men's rowing squad will take on Oregon State University Saturday at Dexter Lake, Ore. The Bulldogs, who opened their spring season last weekend with a victory over UC San Diego, will race a 2,000-meter course.

The racing begins at 9:15 a.m. with the Novice 8+ boats squaring off, followed by the Junior Varsity 8+ at 9:45 a.m. The Varsity 8+ crews race at 10:10 a.m., with the Varsity 4+ boats at 10:45 a.m. The Second Novice 8+ race caps off the men's racing with an 11:00 a.m. start.

"We are very excited about this race," stated 14th-year head coach Dan Gehn. "It has been a good number of years since we have raced Oregon State on an annual basis. To start a home-and-home with them is great for both of our programs.

"We had a great race against them a season ago," explained Gehn." Their Varsity 8+ finished 10th in the country, so it will be a big challenge to compete with them; a challenge I believe our team is up for."

The Beavers beat the Zags in 2007 when the Varsity 8+ boats met at the Windermere Classic. Oregon State, who was ranked No. 19 at the time, finished with a time of 6:11.80, while Gonzaga closed out the course in 6:15.64. Racing Lineups

Varsity 8+: Meghan Quinn, Pat Swihart, Joe Dudley, Warren North, Scott McCoy, Brendan McCarthy, Greg Malman, Patrick Moran, Michael Anderson.

Junior Varsity 8+: Sean Finnerty, Alex Moore, Brian Francheschi, Ryan Roller, KC Anderson, Drew Smith, Sean Haase, Matt Berry, Nick Mather.

Novice 8+: TBD

Second Novice 8+: TBD

Varsity 4+: TBD

GETTING TO DEXTER LAKE
From I-5 North or South:
- Take Exit 188A Highway 58/Willamette Hwy - Towards Oakridge
- Follow Highway 58 East for approximately 13.5 miles
- Left at Jasper-Lowell Rd. (Covered Bridge is on left-hand side right before the turn)
- Follow Jasper-Lowell Rd. for 0.7 Miles
- Left on North Shore Dr. - North Shore Dr. turns into Pengra Rd.
- Lowell Recreation Site is located 0.7 miles from turn on the left hand side.