Zags Head East To George Washington Invitational
4/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Crew
April 8, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University men's rowing team will partake in the 22nd annual George Washington Invitational Regatta Friday and Saturday on the Potomac River. George Washington will host the event, which is tabbed as the East Coast's premier collegiate dual racing series.
"This race has become a very competitive cross representational race for us," stated head coach Dan Gehn. "It is especially important with the new qualification system for the National Championship. Coach Greg Myhr at George Washington has done a great job elevating this regatta."
This year's invitational will have the Bulldog boat competing in three dual races - one on Friday and two on Saturday. The racing will take place on a 2,000-meter, four lane buoyed course which begins near the Sprout Run area of the Potomac River with a finish line at Washington Harbour in Georgetown.
In addition to the Zags and host Colonials, other men's teams participating are Cornell University, Georgetown University, College of Holy Cross and the US Naval Academy.
The Gonzaga Varsity 8+, who is receiving votes in the latest USRowing Collegiate Top 20 poll after an idle week, will hit the water for its first race Friday at 1:15 p.m. PDT against Georgetown, ranked 17th. The Bulldogs second race of the weekend will be Saturday at 8:48 a.m. PDT against No. 11 Cornell. The Zags final race of the weekend is set for 1:33 p.m. PDT against Holy Cross.
The Varsity 8+ lineup consists of Alex Chalk, Matt White, Greg Malman, Pat Swihart, Andrew Krug, Connor Wege, Benjamin Schwarz, Brendan McCarthy, and Michael Anderson.
The Zags Second Varsity 8+ will begin their racing Friday at 12:54 p.m. PDT against Georgetown. Gonzaga will face Cornell at 8:21 a.m. PDT on Saturday, with its final race at 1:06 p.m. PDT against Holy Cross.
The Second Varsity 8+ boat is comprised of Sean Finerty, Julian Stephanski, Patrick Moran, Neil Coppinger, Will Graffith, Brian Franceschi, KC Anderson, Nick Willard, and Matt Berry.
The Bulldog Novice 8+ will start their racing Friday at 12:33 p.m. PDT against Georgetown. On Saturday, GU face Cornell at 7:48 a.m. and Holy Cross at 12:39 p.m. PDT.
The Freshman 8+ lineup is Chris Light, Jeremy Lazzara, Connor Murphy, Sam Freedgood, Jake Avella, Colt Kesselring, Marc Bales, Tyler Mendiola, and Scott Selfridge.
"We're lucky, coming from the West Coast, to be able to race three Eastern sprint schools in one weekend," expressed Gehn. "Our guys will have their work cut out for them racing Georgetown and Cornell, which are both ranked this week, along with Holy Cross."
The weather in the Washington, D.C., area calls for highs in the 60s Friday and Saturday with 50 percent chance of afternoon showers both days.
Gonzaga's GW Invitational Regatta Schedule
Friday, April 10
12:33 p.m.: Freshman 8+ vs. Georgetown
12:54 p.m.: Second Varsity 8+ vs. Georgetown
1:15 p.m.: Varsity 8+ vs. Georgetown
Saturday, April 11
7:48 a.m.: Freshman 8+ vs. Cornell
8:21 a.m.: Second Varsity 8+ vs. Cornell
8:38 a.m.: Varsity 8+ vs. Cornell
12:39 p.m.: Freshman 8+ vs. Holy Cross
1:06 p.m.: Second Varsity 8+ vs. Holy Cross
1:33 p.m.: Varsity 8+ vs. Holy Cross
*22nd Annual George Washington Invitational Regatta official website: http://www.gwir.org
**All times PDT
