Gonzaga University
WIRA Championships
Zags Make History; Win Four Golds At WIRA Championships
5/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Crew
May 3, 2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Gonzaga University women's rowing team closed out one of its most successful weekends in school history as it earned gold in all four events on the final day of the 2009 WIRA Championships Sunday at Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif. The Bulldogs, coming off its 12th West Coast Conference Championship in 13 years on Friday, won gold in the Varsity 8+, Junior Varsity 8+, Novice 8+ and Varsity 4+ to claim the WIRA Efficiency Trophy.
The sweep is the first time in school history the Zags claimed gold in all races they were participating in. Last season, Gonzaga took first in the Varsity 8+ and Junior Varsity 8+ and second in the Novice 8+ and Varsity 4+ races. GU has now won the Varsity 8+ and Novice 8+ three times in the last four years and the Junior Varsity 8+ for the second time in four years.
"This was such an exciting weekend for us," explained head coach Melissa Flint. "We weren't sure coming in how everybody else's speed was, but like we did all weekend, we just raced our race and got the job done.
"I can not explain in words right now what a good weekend this was for our program."
The marquee Varsity 8+ race held a strong field of opponents for the Zags. The top three finishers on Sunday closed out the 2,000-meter course with times under seven minutes. Gonzaga held strong an earned the gold with a two-second victory over Sacramento State University with a time of 6:48.9. Sacramento State turned in a time of 6:50.1 for second place and the University of San Diego took third with a 6:50.1 mark.
"The Varsity 8+ race was such an even race," stated Flint. "We were up, then down throughout the race until we hit the 250-meter mark. About then is when we took the lead and held on through the finish line."
The Junior Varsity 8+ led wire-to-wire in winning in 7:07.1, good for a 3.7 second victory over WCC foe the University of San Diego, who finished at 7:10.8. San Diego State rounded out the top three at 7:14.1.
The Novice 8+ was another close finish as the Zags earned the victory with the team's second sub-7 minute finish of the day at 6:57.0. Second place finisher Western Washington University crossed the finish line 2.6 seconds later at 6:59.6. Sacramento State was third at 7:06.9.
The Varsity 4+ had the largest margin of victory for Gonzaga on the day, claiming the victory by four seconds with a time of 7:34.7. UC Irvine and San Diego finished second and third, respectively, with times of 7:38.0 and 7:42.5.
Jana Holcombe, Liz Moore and Hanna McClintock garnered All-WIRA first team accolades, while Sierra Tittle and Rachel Ross were tabbed for All-WIRA second team.
The Bulldogs now prepare for the Pacific-10 Championships set for May 17 at Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif.
WIRA CHAMPIONSHIPS - DAY 2 (Grand Finals)
Varsity 8+
1. Gonzaga, 6:48.9
2. Sacramento State, 6:50.1
3. San Diego, 6:52.2
4. Saint Mary's, 7:00.0
5. UC Davis, 7:01.4
6. San Diego State, 7:10.3
Junior Varsity 8+
1. Gonzaga, 7:07.1
2. San Diego, 7:10.8
3. San Diego State, 7:14.1
4. UC Davis, 7:21.3
5. Sacramento State, 7:23.3
6. Loyola Marymount, 7:39.8
Varsity 4+
1. Gonzaga, 7:34.7
2. UC Irvine, 7:38.0
3. San Diego, 7:42.5
4. San Diego State, 7:46.5
5. UC Davis, 7:53.0
6. Sacramento State, 8:14.7
7. Santa Clara, 8:24.7
Novice 8+
1. Gonzaga, 6:57.0
2. Western Washington, 6:59.6
3. Sacramento State, 7:06.9
4. UC Davis, 7:11.7
5. San Diego State, 7:12.0
6. Orange Coast, 7:12.3
WIRA Lineups:
Varsity 8+: Emily Wilson, Katie Atkins, Alissa Stempson, Liz Moore, Hanna McClintock, Sami Koppinger, Jana Holcombe, Sam Cekovic, Whitney Engle.
Second Varsity 8+: Nicky Talkington, Therese Yrani, Paula Welly, Alexis Curtright, Sierra Tittle, Kat Storwick, Hannah Winters, Lauren Miller, Lana Bowie.
Varsity 4+: Rachel Cregg, Sophie Bluhm, Rachel Ross, Rachel Schlosser, Martha Buttry.
Novice 8+: Natalie Wolfrom, Alicia Adams, Paula Welly, Chelsea Quilling, Elise Perkins, Teddi McGuire, Lizzie Braicks, Maryssa Thompson, Olivia Miller.
