GOLD RIVER, Calif. -- Sacramento State's second varsity eight and varsity four each finished first in their respective races, highlighting the second and final day of the seventh-annual Lake Natoma Rowing Invitational Sunday morning at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma.
The two-day, nine-team regatta featured a powerhouse lineup that included four nationally ranked teams, not to mention three of the top six programs in the nation. Among the schools at the event included second-ranked Brown, No. 3 Cal, No. 6 Stanford and No. 16 Notre Dame. Gonzaga and San Diego are both receiving votes in the poll, while Sacramento State, Rhode Island and Loyola Marymount rounded out the field. The Hornets co-hosted the event with Cal.
All boats were placed into groups, and competed against different teams in each round of racing. Teams generated points based on their performances in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four races. Every school was given the opportunity to compete in five different race categories during the event, including the third varsity eight and second varsity four, although those two categories did not count towards the final team standings. Most raced were comprised of three-boat fields.
Cal won all three of its varsity eight races during the weekend, which helped catapult the Golden Bears to their fifth Lake Natoma Invitational title (2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009). The other two Lake Natoma Invite championships were won by USC in 2013, and Stanford in 2011. Trailing Cal in this year's standings were Stanford and Brown who finished in a tie for second place, followed by Notre Dame, San Diego, Gonzaga, Sacramento State, Rhode Island and Loyola Marymount, respectively. Loyola Marymount and Rhode Island finished in a tie for eighth.
The Hornets competed in four events today, including the varsity eight and third varsity eight.
Sacramento State's second varsity eight raced to a 2,000-meter winning time of 6:56.7, followed by Rhode Island (6:57.4) and Loyola Marymount (7:16.7). In addition, the team's varsity four won its race with a time of 7:43.3, followed by Rhode Island (7:49.0) and Loyola Marymount (8:05.1). Sacramento State's varsity four raced well all weekend, which included besting Gonzaga yesterday morning by nearly 11 seconds. In fact, the boat's time of 7:28.8 yesterday morning set a new school record for a Hornet varsity four crew over 2,000 meters.
In this morning's varsity eight race, Sacramento State's time of 6:58.8 trailed both Loyola Marymount (6:50.9) and Rhode Island (6:53.3) in the three-bat field. The Hornets competed a pair of boats this morning in the third varsity eight petite final which saw Gonzaga win with a time of 7:06.5, followed by Sacramento State's third varsity eight (7:23.0) and the Hornets' fourth varsity eight (7:33.9).
"I was very happy the way our second varsity eight and varsity four performed today," Sacramento State head coach Mike Connors said. "Our varsity four was consistent all weekend, and the only crews they finished behind were nationally ranked crews. The second varsity eight was a little off yesterday, but bounced back and had a very good race today.
"After racing well at the Crew Classic a couple weeks ago, the varsity eight lost some boat speed and their performance this weekend was disappointing."
Complete results of today's racing can be found via Twitter @NatomaInvite. The Hornets' times and lineups are below, as well as the final points standings.
Sacramento State returns to the water when the team hosts the WIRA Championships on April 25-26.
FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
1. Cal - 52
T2. Stanford - 46
T2. Brown - 46
4. Notre Dame - 38
5. San Diego - 36
6. Gonzaga - 35
7. Sacramento State - 25
T8. Loyola Marymount - 24
T8. Rhode Island - 24
SACRAMENTO STATE LINEUPS
VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Emily Mauer, s - Kim Gross, 7 - Hannah Silberberg, 6 - Michelle Evers, 5 - Rosemary Kloh, 4 - Courtney Owen, 3 - Katie Koehler, 2 - Jill Modean, b - Danielle Stout
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Alexa Cantley, s - Alexandra Santella, 7 - Desiree Drab Munoz, 6 - Nika Szyrynski, 5 - Carly Hartman, 4 - Kayley Rasmussen, 3 - Elena Galvez, 2 - Olivia Oydna, b - Shannon Rauls
VARSITY FOUR
cox - Paige Poulin, s - Megan Boggs, 3 - Jasmine Taylor, 2 - Gabrielle Luebben, b - Callie Senna
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Any Ardon Castro, s - Gina Slocumb, 7 - Melissa Kepler, 6 - Anne Smolenski, 5 - Carli Preston, 4 - Ashley Hubbell, 3 - Cassandra Macias, 2 - Elizabeth Ditoiu, b - Bianca Aguirre
FOURTH VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Elizabeth Ferraro, s - Carissa Macias, 7 - Sarah Buchter, 6 - Cheyenne Amaro, 5 - Melinda Anthony, 4 - Amber Guzman, 3 - Alexus Hewitt, 2 - Dimari Aldridge, b - Vjollca Rexhepi
SACRAMENTO STATE RESULTS
Third Varsity Eight, Petite Final
1. Gonzaga 7:06.5
2. Sacramento State 3V8 7:23.0
3. Sacramento State 4V8 7:33.9
Varsity Four, Group 1
1. Sacramento State 7:43.3
2. Rhode Island 7:49.0
3. Loyola Marymount 8:05.1
Second Varsity Eight, Group 1
1. Sacramento State 6:56.7
2. Rhode Island 6:57.4
3. Loyola Marymount 7:16.7
Varsity Eight, Group 1
1. Loyola Marymount 6:50.9
2. Rhode Island 6:53.3
3. Sacramento State 6:58.8
