Bulldogs Ready for WIRA Championships
4/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Crew
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April 26, 2007
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University men's crew program heads to Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif., to compete in this weekend's WIRA Championships. The Bulldogs, who will enter boats in the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ and Novice 4+, placed second in both the Novice 8+ Grand Final and the Second Novice 8+ Grand Final a season ago.
The Zag Varsity 8+ has been seeded first in the WIRA draw and will be racing in the first of three heat races. Also racing in Gonzaga's heat will be Loyola Marymount University, Sacramento State University, UC Santa Barbara and Puget Sound. The top two boats from each heat race advance to Sunday's Grand Final. At last year's WIRA's the Bulldogs placed first in the Petite Final.
"It is nice to know that the other coaches have ranked us one in this race," stated head coach Dan Gehn. "But the reality is that it is just a number. We have to do what we need to on the course. This race holds great importance on a lot of fronts for us: we are looking to win the WIRA's for the first time and are looking to earn a spot in the national championships."
The Second Varsity 8+ boat will only compete on Sunday morning racing in the Grand Final. Other participants in the Grand Final are UC Davis, University of San Diego, UC San Diego, Orange Coast College, UC Irvine and Santa Clara University.
The Varsity 4+ boat will race in the third heat race along with Pacific Lutheran, Puget Sound, Humboldt State, Orange Coast College, and Long Beach State. The top three boats advance to Sunday's Grand Final.
The Novice 4+ boat has also been selected to race in the third heat of its race. Competing against the Bulldogs will be UC Santa Barbara, University of Oregon, San Diego State, Orange Coast and UC Irvine. Again, the top three boats advance to Sunday's Grand Final.
The Gonzaga Varsity 8+ has three seniors in the boat in coxswain LeeAnne Templeman, and strokes Matt Wernette and David Hinshaw. Wernette, a second-team All-WIRA in 2005, along with Hinshaw, Scott McCoy and Warren North all rowed in the Varsity 8+ boat a season ago.
"The Varsity 8+ boat is a good mix of guys," said Gehn. "Half of the boat is from our freshman boat that was 16th in country last season while the other half were in the Varsity 8+ boat that competed at the WIRA's in 2006. It's a strong mix of old guard and new guard which brings great chemistry and power."
WIRA Championships (April 28-29) Lineups
Saturday, April 28
Varsity 8+ (Heat 1, 9:20 a.m.)
LeeAnne Templeman, Warren North, Scott McCoy, Pat Swihart, David Hinshaw, Brendan McCarthy, Matt Wernette, Bryan Franceschi, Andre' Gallant
Varsity 4+ (Heat 3, 11:40 a.m.)
Scott McConnell, Mike Anderson, Sean Haffey, Nic Mather, Matt Berry
Novice 4+ (Heat 3, 8:50 a.m.)
Sean Finerty, JP Roach, Mike Marsh, Scott Lampe, Kelly Cumiskey
Sunday, April 29
Second Varsity 8+ (Final Only, 10:40 a.m.)
Amanda Brown, Greg Malman, Sean Haase, Derek Clemmensen, KC Anderson, Ryan Roller, Alex Moore, Drew Smith, Pat Moran
