Zags Head South; Set For Pacific-10 Challenge
3/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Crew
March 27, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University men's rowing team heads south to California this weekend to participate in the Pacific-10 Challenge presented by Windermere Real Estate and hosted by Stanford University. The Pac-10 Challenge is held at Redwood Shores in Redwood City, Calif. The two-day regatta takes place on Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The regatta will feature more than 114 crew races between the nation's top universities.
The Zags first race of the weekend is scheduled for 9:56 a.m. on Saturday as the Varsity 8+ races Santa Clara University. Gonzaga continues the day as the Second Varsity 8+ races Stanford at 10:44 a.m. The Freshman 8+ then hits the water against the California at 11:40 a.m., followed by the Second Varsity 8+ facing off against both Santa Clara and Stanford at 3:32. Rounding out the first day of competition is the Varsity 8+ versus Northeastern University, who finished fourth at the IRA national championships a season ago, at 4:36 p.m. and the Freshman 8+ against Stanford at 5:40 p.m.
On Sunday, the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+ and Freshman 8+ all face off against UCLA. The Bulldog Varsity 8+ faces off against the Bruins at 10:04 a.m., followed by the Second Varsity 8+ at 11:00 and the Freshman 8+ at 11:56 p.m.
"This weekend is a great early season test because we can get down the race course three times in one weekend against some great competition at a unique race venue," stated head coach Dan Gehn. "The Stanford coaching staff, along with Windermere Real Estate, does a great job setting this up. Coming off last week's barn burner with Oregon State University, we are looking forward to getting another chance to firm up our race strategy and test our speed against Northeastern, who will be very fast. You also can't overlook Santa Clara or UCLA. Although I think the novices will have the toughest test seeing California, Stanford and UCLA."
The Bulldogs are coming off a solid home weekend against Oregon State. The Zag Varsity 8+ battled the Beavers, who finished 14th at the IRA's last season, throughout their race, with neither team never really able to separate from one another by more than two seats. OSU ultimately earned the victory by just .33 seconds.
Pacific-10 Challenge Schedule
Saturday, March 28
Varsity 8+ vs. Stanford - 9:56 a.m.
Second Varsity 8+ vs. Stanford - 10:44 a.m.
Freshman 8+ vs. California - 11:40 a.m.
Second Varsity 8+ vs. Santa Clara and Stanford - 3:32 p.m.
Varsity 8+ vs. Northeastern - 4:36 p.m.
Freshman 8+ vs. Stanford - 5:40 p.m.
Sunday, March 29
Varsity 8+ vs. UCLA - 10:04 a.m.
Second Varsity 8+ vs. UCLA - 11:00 a.m.
Freshman 8+ vs. UCLA - 11:56 a.m.
Lineups:
Varsity 8+: Alexandra Chalk, Matt White, Greg Malman, Pat Swihart, Andrew Krug, Conner Wege, Benji Schwarz, Brendan McCarthy, Mike Anderson.
Junior Varsity 8+: Sean Finerty, Julian Stephanski, Pat Moran, Neil Coppinger, Will Griffith, Bryan Franceschi, KC Anderson, Nick Willard, Matt Berry.
Novice 8+: Chris Light, Jeremy Lazzara, Eddie Lopez, Sammuel Freedgood, Conor Murphy, , Colt Kesselring, Jake Avella, Tyler Mendiola, Scott Selfridge.
