Gonzaga University
WIRA Championships
Gonzaga's Women's Varsity Eight Second
5/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Crew
May 4, 2003
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gonzaga University's women varsity eight, which two days earlier had won the West Coast Conference title, saw the tables reversed Sunday as Loyola Marymount University stunned the Bulldogs to capture the Grand Final of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championship.
LMU won in 6:46.3 over the 2,000-meter Lake Natoma course while the Bulldogs were second by three-quarters of a boat length in 6:49.1 to edge the University of San Diego in third in 6:49.7. Host Sacramento State University was fourth (6:57.4) followed by Willamette University (7:00.8) and San Diego State University (7:04..5).
"LMU got off to a quick start," Gonzaga head coach Glenn Putyrae said. "We were never able to make a strong enough move to catch them. It was kind of the opposite of the WCC Championship."
Gonzaga's varsity eight was comprised of coxswain Courtney Haase, Cynthia Savoca, Maria Bokulich, Renee Holl, Jenifer Gehlsen, Breah Neimiec, Karen O'Hagan, Kristi Aamodt and Bridget Troy.
The Bulldogs did taste victory Sunday as the second varsity eight and novice four each captured the Grand Final.
The second varsity eight came home in 7:05.3 to beat Sacramento State by a boat length, the Hornets finishing in 7:10.9. San Diego State University was third in 7:12.9. Gonzaga's boat was comprised of coxswain Courtney Serpa, Kari Durgan, Carolyn Schepper, Joni Goodman, Jessica Nestor, Jenni Cooper, Hilda Morones, Andrea Genord and Alison Cushman.
The novice four slipped ahead of Pacific Lutheran University by 1.2 seconds to claim the victory in 7:40.7 to the Lutes 7:41.9. The top two finishers were well ahead of third place University of Puget Sound (7:56.2). The Gonzaga boat consisted of coxswain Melissa Hayes, Brianna Morin, Sarah Allison, Mariah Smith-Miloff and Kate Goudreau.
Haase, Savoca and Neimiec were named to the All-WIRA first team, while Serpa was a second-team selection.
The final competition of the season will be this Saturday and Sunday at the ECAC Championships in Camden, NJ,. The event, by invitation only, replaces what was previously known as the Avaya Championship. Gonzaga's varsity eight will be the lone Bulldog boat entered.
Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA)May 4, 2003 - Lake Natoma - Sacramento, Calif.
Gonzaga Results
Varsity Eight
Grand Final - 1. Loyola Marymount 6:46.3, 2. Gonzaga 6:49.1, 3. San Diego 6:49.7, 4. Sacramento State 6:57.4, 5. Willamette 7:00.8, 6. San Diego State 7:04.5.
Second Varsity Eight
Grand Final - 1. Gonzaga 7:05.3, Sacramento State 7:10.9, 3. San Diego State 7:12.9, 4. UC Davis 7:13.3, 5. San Diego 7:21.3, 6. UC Irvine 7:27.3.
Novice Four
Grand Final - 1. Gonzaga 7:40.7, 2. Pacific Lutheran 7:41.9, 3. Puget Sound 7:56.2, 4. Long Beach State 8:01.8, 5. Seattle Pacific 8:04.0, 6. Portland 8:07.3.
