ROWING KICKS OFF SPRING SEASON IN VICTORIOUS FASHION OVER SANTA CLARA

3/3/2007

GOLD RIVER, Calif. -- The Sacramento State women’s rowing team opened its spring season by posting victories in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight, varsity four and novice four competitions over Santa Clara Saturday morning on Lake Natoma at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center.

The defending Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) champions began the year in impressive fashion, as the Hornets won four of the five competitions by at least 11 seconds. Both the Hornets and Broncos compete for the Jim Farwell Cup in the varsity eight race, and Sacramento State was able to win the Cup for the fourth consecutive year, defeating Santa Clara by more than 18 seconds over 2,000 meters.

The Hornets’ varsity eight has not lost a dual meet since the 2003 season and improved its winning streak in duals to 23-consecutive victories. The novice eight ran its dual-meet winning streak to 18 straight dating back to 2005.

In the varsity eight competition, Sacramento State posted a winning time of 6:56.0, followed by Santa Clara (7:14.6). In the second varsity eight race, the Hornets’ A boat recorded a first-place time of 6:59.7, followed by Sacramento State B (7:06.3) and Santa Clara (7:36.4).

In the novice eight competition, Sacramento State (7:27.5) won by more than 15 seconds over Santa Clara (7:43.2). The Hornets also posted a winning time of 7:44.0 in the varsity four race, with Santa Clara’s closest boat finishing third with a time of 7:55.3. No times were taken in the novice four race, but Sacramento State was the first to cross the finish line first in that competition as well.

Complete results and lineups are included below.

The Hornets return to action for the second of eight Spring home dates next Saturday, March 10, as the team hosts the Sacramento State Invitational. Racing will include boats from Sacramento State, Humboldt State, Saint Mary’s, Sonoma State, Cal (Lightweights) and Stanford (Lightweights).

VARSITY EIGHT: Ashley Platner at coxswain, Aimee Chenard at stroke, Meghyn Cox at seven, Janine LaCrosse at six, Krista Hill at five, Chelsea Semrau at four, Constance Deslauriers at three, Holly Hopkins at two and Ruthie Van Esso at bow.

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT (A): Kelly Major at coxswain, Anne Morrison at stroke, Kellie Cook at seven, Kyle Johnston at six, Michelle McMullen at five, Kristin Carlson at four, Catherine Woerner at three, Nicole Cavanagh at two and Aleisha DeCindis at bow.

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT (B): Erin DeGoede at coxswain, Ashley Loucks at stroke, Justine Fernandez at seven, Alicia Tarkenton at six, Sherry Payne at five, Lenore Meehan at four, Megan Riggs at three, Jenna Duale at two and Sandra Miller at bow.

NOVICE EIGHT: Katie Bossenmaier at coxswain, Alyse Marlatt at stroke, Michelle Stern at seven, Rayelynn Majoewsky at six, Victoria Jackson at five, Kaitlin Schnaars at four, Natalie Thomas at three, Molly Davis at two, Jenna Tofanelli at bow.

VARSITY FOUR (A): Major at coxswain, LaCrosse at stroke, Hill at three, Semrau at two, and Deslauriers at bow.

VARSITY FOUR (B): Platner at coxswain, Chenard at stroke, Cox at three, Hopkins at two, and Van Esso at bow

VARSITY FOUR (C): Teresa Seich at coxswain, Cavanagh at stroke, Payne at three, Meehan at two, and DeCindis at bow.

NOVICE FOUR: Seich at coxswain, Kayla Wright at stroke, Vanessa Dotson at three, Lauren King at two, and Ciara Dieters at bow.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

VARSITY EIGHT
1. Sacramento State  6:56.0
2. Santa Clara  7:14.6

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
1. Sacramento State A  6:59.7
2. Sacramento State B  7:06.3
3. Santa Clara  7:36.4

NOVICE EIGHT
1. Sacramento State  7:27.5
2. Santa Clara  7:43.2

NOVICE EIGHT
1. Sacramento State  7:27.5
2. Santa Clara  7:43.2

VARSITY FOUR
1. Sacramento State A  7:44.0
2. Sacramento State B  7:47.5
3. Santa Clara A  7:55.3
4. Sacramento State C  8:14.0
4. Santa Clara B  8:27.1

NOVICE FOUR
1. Sacramento State  NTT
2. Santa Clara A  NTT
3. Santa Clara C  NTT
4. Santa Clara B  NTT