ROWING BEGINS SEASON BY CLAIMING THE JIM FARWELL CUP OVER SANTA CLARA

3/8/2008

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, and varsity four competitions over Santa Clara Saturday morning on Lake Natoma at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center. The race was the first spring regatta of the season for the Hornets.

The two-time defending Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) team champions began the year in impressive fashion, as the Hornets won four of the five competitions by at least 19 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 fifth consecutive year, defeating Santa Clara by more than 19 seconds over 2,000 meters.

Despite putting a varsity eight lineup in the water that had four potential athletes out with injury, sixth-year head coach Mike Connors saw his top boat post a time of 6:50.3 over 2,000 meters, comfortably ahead of Santa Clara’s time of 7:09.6. The Hornets’ time was nearly six seconds faster than last year’s varsity eight time (6:56.0) during the team’s spring opener.

“I thought our varsity eight rowed a very solid race,” Connors said. “With all the injuries we’ve dealt with lately, our student-athletes performed very well. We are capable of going faster, but this was a good performance with a roster that is not completely healthy.”

Ruthie Van Esso, Chelsea Semrau, Anne Morrison and Michelle McMullen, who each served time in the Hornets’ varsity eight lineup last season, missed today’s race with various injuries.

In the second varsity eight competition, the Hornets rowed to a winning time of 7:13.1, followed by Santa Clara’s time of 7:35.5. The varsity four A event saw Sacramento State’s A boat post a winning time of 7:49.0, followed by Sacramento State B (8:09.5) and Santa Clara (8:41.5). In the varsity four B event, the Hornets crossed the finish line with a first-place time of 8:26.0.

In the only close race of the day, the Hornets’ novice eight posted a winning time of 8:13.3, slightly ahead of Santa Clara’s time of 8:14.9.

Complete results and lineups are included below.

The Hornets return to action for the second of six Spring home dates on Saturday, March 15, 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 Pacific.

VARSITY EIGHT: Teresa Seich at coxswain, Aimee Chenard at stroke, Kellie Cook at seven, Holly Hopkins at six, Meghyn Cox at five, Ashley Loucks at four, Krista Hill at three, Lenore Meehan at two and Victoria Jackson at bow.

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT: Erin DeGoede at coxswain, Dani Thole at stroke, Sherry Payne at seven, Alicia Tarkenton at six, Sandra Miller at five, Jenna Tofanelli at four, Megan Riggs at three, Joanne Stacy at two and Alyse Marlatt at bow.

NOVICE EIGHT: Abigail Macaraig at coxswain, Madeleine Folco at stroke, Sarah Slagle at seven, Elyssa Cross at six, Elizabeth Danielson at five, Rebecca Woolston at four, Heather Ferguson at three, Katie English at two and Angela Stassi at bow.

VARSITY FOUR (A): DeGoede at coxswain, Hopkins at stroke, Hill at three, Chenard at two and Cook at bow.

VARSITY FOUR (B): Seich at coxswain, Loucks at stroke, Cox at three, Meehan at two and Jackson at bow.

VARSITY FOUR (C): Stassi at coxswain, Danielson at stroke, Folco at three, Hansen at two and Macaraig at bow.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

VARSITY EIGHT
1. Sacramento State  6:50.3
2. Santa Clara  7:09.6

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
1. Sacramento State 7:13.1
2. Santa Clara  7:35.5

NOVICE EIGHT
1. Sacramento State  8:13.3
2. Santa Clara  8:14.9

VARSITY FOUR A
1. Sacramento State A  7:49.0
2. Sacramento State B  8:09.5
3. Santa Clara  8:41.5

VARSITY FOUR B
1. Sacramento State 8:26.0
2. Santa Clara  8:49.4