ROWING BEGINS TITLE DEFENSE WITH SEASON OPENER ON SATURDAY

3/6/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento State women’s rowing team begins defense of its Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) team championship this Saturday, March 8, when the team takes on Santa Clara at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center in Gold River, Calif.

The Hornets and Broncos will compete for the Jim Farwell Cup in the varsity eight race, a prize that Sacramento State has claimed each of the last four years. Racing on Saturday begins at 9 a.m. with the varsity eight competition, followed by the second varsity eight (9:30 a.m.), varsity four (10:15 a.m.) and novice eight (11 a.m.).

At the conclusion of the trophy ceremony (approximately 11:30 a.m.), the newest eight to the Hornets’ boathouse will be christened. That boat will be named the Bobby Gene Baze in honor of the late grandfather of current Hornet rower Aimee Chenard.

Sixth-year head coach Mike Connors, who was named the WIRA Coach of the Year in 2006, will oversee a squad that has 29 student-athletes returning from last season’s title-winning team. That list is headlined by Chenard, who won a gold and silver medal at this past summer’s USRowing Club National Championships, as well as four gold medals at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

In addition, the team returns seven rowers from last year’s varsity eight (Chenard, Krista Hill, Meghyn Cox, Holly Hopkins, Michelle McMullen, Chelsea Semrau and Ruthie Van Esso).

Sacramento State has won four WIRA titles over the last eight years, and five titles since the program gained intercollegiate status in 1995. The WIRA Championships serve as the team’s conference championship.