May 2, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University men's rowing squad heads to Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif., to compete in this weekend's WIRA Championships. The Bulldogs, who will enter boats in the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, and Novice 8+, earned gold in the Second Varsity 8+ and captured silver in both the Varsity 8+ and Novice 4+ a season ago.

"All three of boats are trained up and ready to go," said head coach Dan Gehn."It's going to be some good racing this weekend. Orange Coast College is ranked number one in both the varsity and freshman. They are also ranked third in the American Collegiate Rowing Association poll this week. They seem to be the team to beat in both races.

"All though we haven't raced them head-to-head in the varsity this year, we are looking forward to seeing them in the championship. With that being said we need to be aware of UC Davis who has been picking up speed at the end of the year and is in our heat."

The Bulldog Varsity 8+ has been seeded second in the WIRA draw and will be racing in the second of three heat races. Also racing in Gonzaga's heat will be UC Davis, Puget Sound, Sacramento State University, Loyola Marymount University and UC Santa Barbara. The top two boats from each heat race advance to Sunday's Grand Final.

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 University and UC Irvine.

"As for the Junior Varsity, they are ranked fourth and are looking forward to the championship race," explained Gehn. "I think they will be extremely competitive."

The Novice 8+ also was selected as the second seed and will be rowing in the second of two heat races. Pitted against the Zags will be the University of San Diego, Santa Clara, UC Davis, Washington State University, Puget Sound and San Diego State. The top three boats from each heat race advance to Sunday's Grand Final.

There also will be a West Coast Conference trophy awarded to the top WCC finisher at the WIRA's.

Heat Racing Schedule for WIRA Championships
Lake Natoma, Calif.
Saturday, May 3
10:30 a.m. - Men's Varsity 8+
11:20 a.m. - Men's Novice 8+

Sunday, May 4
10:40 a.m. - Junior Varsity 8+ (Final Only)

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.