Stroke Staci Reynolds

March 29, 2008

TACOMA, Wash. - The Western Washington University women's rowing team opened its season by sweeping the varsity eight and four races Saturday at the Daffodil Regatta on American Lake.

The Vikings, who have won the last three NCAA Division II national championships, also took the second varsity eight race.

"I thought it went really well," said Western coach John Fuchs. "We came down here after miserable spring break weather and I think we're ready to go for the rest of the season. Everybody raced well and that's all that we were trying to do today."

Western's varsity eight had a winning time of 7:59.7 over the 2,000-meter course with host Puget Sound second in the five-boat race, nearly 14 seconds behind at 8:13.5. The Loggers placed fourth at the 2007 NCAA III nationals.

In Western's eight were coxswain Kristy Theodorson (Jr., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Sr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Metta Gilbert (Sr., Helena, MT), No.6 Meghan Woodman (Jr., Redmond), No.5 Gina Auriemma (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.4 Samantha Marikis (Sr., Republic), No.3 Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris), No.2 Audrey Coon (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central), and bow Madeleine Eckmann (So., Winthrop/Liberty Bell).

The Vikings' varsity four was victorious in 8:44.9, followed by their B boat in 9:02.16

In the A boat were coxswain Kristy Theodorson (Jr., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Sr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.3 Metta Gilbert (Sr., Helena, MT), No.2 Samantha Marikis (Sr., Republic), and bow Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris). Making up the B boat were coxswain Samantha Oberholzer (Fr., Bellevue), stroke Meghan Woodman (Jr., Redmond), No.3 Gina Auriemma (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.2 Audrey Coon (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central), and bow Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris).

Western had an eight-second victory in the second varsity eight race, having a winning time of 8:21.7. Puget Sound was second among six boats at 8:29.7.

Seated in the Vikings second eight were coxswain Samantha Oberholzer (Fr., Bellevue), stroke Katie Tipton (Fr., Snohomish), No.7 Casey Mapes (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), No.6 Julia Munger (Jr., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.5 Heather Kelly (So., Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage), No.4 Erin Bean (Jr., Lynnwood/Meadowdale), No.3 Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.2 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), and bow Miranda Steward (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor).

Western next competes on Saturday, Apr. 5, at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Invitational Regatta.

Daffodil Regatta Results

WOMEN

Varsity 8 - 1. Western Washington 7:59.70, 2. Puget Sound 8:13.50, 3. Willamette 8:42.50, 4. Lewis & Clark 9:00.40, 5. Pacific Lutheran 9:21.85

2Varsity 8 - 1. Western Washington-A 8:21.70, 2. Puget Sound-A 8:29.70, 3. Puget Sound-B 8:52.40, 4. Western Washington-B 9:00.40, 5. Willamette 9:13.20, 6. Pacific Lutheran 9:19.11

Novice 8 - 1. Puget Sound 8:31.42, 2. Western Washington 8:38.09, 3. Pacific Lutheran 9:05.55, 4. Willamette 9:17.64, 5. Lewis & Clark 9:35.68, 6. Evergreen State 10:17.35, 7. Portland 10:18.92

2Varsity 4 - 1. Puget Sound-B 9:50.90, 2. Puget Sound-A 9:54.99, 3. Lewis & Clark 9:58.19, 4. WWU 10:08.69

Varsity 4 - 1. Western Washington-A 8:44.90, 2. Western Washington-B 9:02.16, 3. Puget Sound-A 9:13.65, 4. Willamette 9:18.05, 5. Lewis & Clark 9:30.87, 6. Puget Sound-B 10:18.15

2Novice8 - 1. Puget Sound 8:56.60, 2. Western Washington 9:16.67, 3. Pacific Lutheran 9:37.84, 4. Evergreen State 9:58.88

Novice 4 - 1. Lewis & Clark 9:45.2, 2. Puget Sound-B 9:48.89, 3. Willamette 10:21.89, 4. Evergreen State 10:36.89, 5. Portland 11:13.20

MEN

Varsity 8 - 1. Puget Sound-A 7:04.30, 2. Washington State-A 7:05.59, 3. WSU-Lightweights 7:31.29, 4. Western Washington 7:39.25, 5. Willamette 7:43.52

Novice 4 - 1. Puget Sound NT, 2. Western Washington NT, 3. Washington State NT, 4. Lewis & Clark NT, 5. Willamette NT, 6. Pacific Lutheran NT, 7. Portland NT.

Varsity 4 - 1. Washington State 7:54.4, 2. Puget Sound 8:14.92, 3. Western Washington 8:29.92, 4. Lewis & Clark 8:32.98, 5. Willamette 9:06.51, 6. Portland 9:17.6

Novice 8 - 1. Washington State 7:44.30, 2. Puget Sound 8:01.43, 3. Willamette 9:12.34

2nd Varsity 4 - 1. Washington State lightweights 8:29.14, 2. Puget Sound 8:45.65, 3. Pacific Lutheran 8:47.93, 4. Lewis & Clark 8:57.52, 5. Washington State 9:04.62

WWU Lineups:

Varsity 8 - coxswain Kristy Theodorson (Jr., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Sr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.7 Metta Gilbert (Sr., Helena, MT), No.6 Meghan Woodman (Jr., Redmond), No.5 Gina Auriemma (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.4 Samantha Marikis (Sr., Republic), No.3 Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris), No.2 Audrey Coon (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central), bow Madeleine Eckmann (So., Winthrop/Liberty Bell).

2nd Varsity 8 - coxswain Samantha Oberholzer (Fr., Bellevue), stroke Katie Tipton (Fr., Snohomish), No.7 Casey Mapes (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), No.6 Julia Munger (Jr., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.5 Heather Kelly (So., Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage), No.4 Erin Bean (Jr., Lynnwood/Meadowdale), No.3 Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.2 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), bow Miranda Steward (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor).

3rd Varsity 8 - coxswain Kelsey McFarland (Fr., Tacoma/Fife), stroke Meredith Emery (So., Rio Rancho, NM), No.7 Colleen Monaghan (Jr., Kent/Kentlake/Green River CC), No.6 Sarah Polster (Jr., Littleton, CO), No.5 Rexanne Greenstreet (Fr., Edmonds/Spring Ridge Academy AZ), No.4 Katie Ashe (Fr., Eatonville), No.3 Sara Malone (Fr., Mount Vernon), No.2 Jessi Stipe (Fr., Deming/Mount Baker/Whatcom CC), bow Rebecca Burroughs (Jr., Shoreline/Shorewood).

Novice 8 - coxswain Katie Sauerbrey (Fr., Brush Prairie/Hockinson/Clark CC), stroke Siri Carlson (Fr., Tacoma/Franklin Pierce), No.7 Jacqueline Ford (Fr., Redmond), No.6 Katie Tipton (Fr., Snohomish), No.5 Casey Mapes (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), No.4 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), No.3 Jocylin Parker (So., Belfast, ME/Belfast/Evergreen State), No.2 Jennifer Smith (Sr., Port Angeles/Peninsula), bow Molly Blue (Fr., Snohomish).

2nd Novice 8 - coxswain Daniella Armstrong (Fr., Eastsound/Orcas Island), stroke Anna Grindol (So., Port Angeles/South Puget Sound CC), No.7 Kylen Boddie (Fr., Port Orchard/South Kitsap), No.6 Katrina Ozols (Fr., Kodiak, AK), No.5 Elise Kiem (Fr., Redmond), No.4 Rachel Morrissey (Jr., Black Diamond/Enumclaw/Green River CC), No.3 Britney Bachmann (Fr., Everett/Cascade), No.2 Tamara Langowski (Fr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck/Everett CC), bow Sarah Seitz (Fr., Olympia/Avanti).

Varsity 4A - coxswain Kristy Theodorson (Jr., Bothell/Inglemoor), stroke Staci Reynolds (Sr., Vancouver/Columbia River), No.3 Metta Gilbert (Sr., Helena, MT), No.2 Samantha Marikis (Sr., Republic), bow Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris).

Varsity 4B - coxswain Samantha Oberholzer (Fr., Bellevue), stroke Meghan Woodman (Jr., Redmond), No.3 Gina Auriemma (Jr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), No.2 Audrey Coon (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central), bow Amelia Whitcomb (Sr., Spokane/Ferris).

2nd Varsity 4 - coxswain Samantha Oberholzer (Fr., Bellevue), stroke Julia Munger (Jr., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.3 Heather Kelly (So., Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage), No.2 Erin Bean (Jr., Lynnwood/Meadowdale), bow Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty).