Meghan Woodman

May 18, 2008

GOLD RIVER, Calif. - The Western Washington University women's varsity eight held its own against some of the nation's best NCAA Division I schools, placing third in a petite final after a strong qualifying heat performance Sunday at the PAC-10 Rowing Championships held on Lake Natoma.

The Vikings, ranked No.1 nationally in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II Poll, had a 6:58.40 clocking over the 2,000-meter course in the petite final. That was just a boat length behind victorious Division I No.20-ranked UCLA (6:53.19) and a half length behind Gonzaga (6:55.39). UC Davis (7:00.39) was fourth and Sacramento State (7:10.61) fifth.

"They didn't leave anything out there, that's for sure," said Western coach John Fuchs. "UCLA had a pretty good first 500 and they couldn't hang onto them ... They were a little disappointed, but they were happy with their performance for sure. I think that they represented Division II very well here."

"This brings added respect for our program. To be this close to PAC-10 schools is pretty awesome."

Earlier in the day, Western defeated Gonzaga, placing fourth in a qualifying heat in 6:45.67. Gonzaga was fifth in 6:49.96.

Division I No.1-rated California won that race in 6:31.89 with No.12 Southern California second (6:40.46) and No.14 Oregon State third (6:41.17).

"They raced their hearts out," Fuchs said. "I don't know if they could have rowed any faster. In order to get to the grand final, we knew that we had to beat Oregon State."

Seated in the Vikings' 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).

Western's top-rated eight has won six of nine races this season, its only losses being against Division I competition. The Vikings, who already have won the unofficial NCAA II West Regional and Northwest College Rowing Conference titles, will go for an unprecedented fourth straight Division II national championship on May 30-June 1, also on Lake Natoma.

"It's been one of our best seasons and it's definitely our fastest crew," said Fuchs. "They've handled the spring well and I'm excited to get things going (at nationals) in a couple of weeks."

Western's second varsity eight also competed at the PAC-10 regatta, placing fifth in its petite final and sixth in its qualifying heat.

"The junior varsity had a great race too," Fuchs said. "They were pretty far back, but they looked good and they rowed solid. It's hard to keep up with this kind of competition."

In the second eight for the Vikings were coxswain Katie Sauerbrey (Fr., Brush Prairie/Hockinson/Clark CC, stroke Katie Tipton (Fr., Snohomish), No.7 Casey Mapes (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), No.6 Julia Munger (Jr., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.5 Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.4 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), No.3 Heather Kelly (So., Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage), No.2 Siri Carlson (Fr., Tacoma/Franklin Pierce) and bow Miranda Steward (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor).

"This is something that we haven't done in the last few years, this quality, nose-to-nose type racing against the best in Division I," said Fuchs of the PAC-10 experience . "I think it prepped them pretty well and launched them forward.

"Now, it's time to switch gears and get ready for nationals."

PAC-10 Conference Championships (Gold River, Calif. - Lake Natoma)

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 Katie Sauerbrey (Fr., Brush Prairie/Hockinson/Clark CC, stroke Katie Tipton (Fr., Snohomish), No.7 Casey Mapes (Fr., Anchorage, AK/Service), No.6 Julia Munger (Jr., Palmer, AK/Colony), No.5 Hilary Gastwirth (Jr., Issaquah/Liberty), No.4 Heidi Hoff (Jr., Seattle/Roosevelt), No.3 Heather Kelly (So., Bird Creek, AK/South Anchorage) No.2 Siri Carlson (Fr., Tacoma/Franklin Pierce), bow Miranda Steward (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor).

Results:

V8 (petite final) - 1. UCLA 6:53.19, 2. Gonzaga 6:55.39, 3. Western Washington 6:58.30, 4. UC Davis 7:00.39, 5. Sacremento State 7:10.61

2V8 (petite final) - 1. UCLA 7:03.59, 2. Gonzaga 7:08.42, 3. UC Davis 7:13.75, 4. Sacramento State 7:18.47, 5. Western Washington 7:33.25

V8 (qualifying heat) - 1. California 6:31.89, 2. Southern California 6:40.46, 3. Oregon State 6:41.17, 4. Western Washington 6:45.67, 5. Gonzaga 6:49.96.

2V8 (qualifying heat) - 1. California 6:45.79, 2. Oregon State 6:46.84, 3. Stanford 6:49.25, 4. UCLA 6:53.70, 5. Sacramento State 7:16.28, 6. Western Washington 7:18.25.