Gonzaga's Novice 8+ defeated Navy on Friday.

April 11, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC - Gonzaga University's Varsity 8+ lost to the U.S. Naval Academy while the Bulldogs Novice 8+ defeated the Midshipmen on Friday's opening day of the George Washington Invitational Regatta on the Potomac River.

The Varsity 8+ lost by five seconds, Navy covering the 2,000-meter course in 5:55.0 while the Bulldogs finished in 6:00.0. In the Novice 8+, the Bulldogs rowed a 6:02.6 to Navy's 6:04.2.

Racing continues Saturday with the Novice 8+ facing the University of Virginia and University of Michigan at 7:45 a.m. PDT with the Varsity 8+ rowing against the same two teams at 8:48 a.m. PDT. Racing concludes in the afternoon with the Bulldogs meeting Virginia and Rutgers University, the Novice 8+ rowing at 1:12 p.m. PDT with the Varsity 8+ beginning at 2 p.m. PDT.

Gonzaga head coach Dan Gehn said both boats raced well Friday.

"The freshmen rowed an outstanding race," Gehn said. "They were even through the first 500 meters and then worked hard and gradually pulled away.

"The varsity rowed a good race and were in contention through the first 1,000 meters, dropped back in the next 500 meters and then battled back and closed the gap in the final 500 meters," Gehn said. "Those were some fast times today."

The Varsity 8+ lineup was coxswain Sean Finerty, stroke Warren North, Joe Dudley, Pat Swihart, Scott McCoy, Brendan McCarthy, Greg Malman, Patrick Moran and bow KC Anderson. The Novice 8+ lineup consisted of coxswain Crystal Huff, stroke Matt White, Julian Stephanski, Andrew Krug, Carson Bowlin, Connor Wege, Neil Coppinger, Nick Willard and bow Benjamin Schwarz.