GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The Sacramento State women's rowing squad claimed a gold medal in the varsity four, a silver in the second varsity eight, and a bronze in the varsity eight at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championship on Sunday morning at a windy Lake Natoma.
The WIRA's, which used to serve as the Hornets' conference championship, consisted of 34 schools this year. Sacramento State is in its second year of membership in the American Athletic Conference, and prior to 2014, the WIRA's served as the Hornets' conference championship event.
Of Sacramento State's entries into five different race categories, the Hornets were able to qualify for the grand final in all five.
The varsity eight, second varsity eight and third varsity eight raced in the same lanes based off of pre-race seedings after not competing in Saturday's heats due to extreme wind conditions.
Today's conditions weren't nearly as windy, and included a light crosshead up and down the race course.
Juniors Jill Modean and Carli Preston were named first team all-WIRA while senior Megan Boggs and Kayley Rasmussen were named second team all-WIRA.
The Hornets' second varsity eight finished second in its grand final with a time of 6:58.7. Stanford's Lightweights placed first with a time of 6:57.0, and San Diego State rounded out the top three with a time of 7:03.9 in a six-boat field.
The second-place finish for the Hornets marked the sixth consecutive season the second varsity eight has medaled at the WIRA Championships. Sacramento State's third varsity eight also competed in the race and finished sixth with a time of 7:40.3.
The varsity four won gold at the event for the third straight year. The Hornets' time of 8:02.1 was more than eight seconds faster than second-place San Diego State (8:10.6), third-place Saint Mary's A (8:15.7) and fourth-place Saint Mary's B (8:32.4).
Sacramento State's varsity eight finished third in its grand final with a time of 7:02.5, trailing Stanford Lightweights (6:45.8) and San Diego State (6:57.1). Trailing Sacramento State were Saint Mary's (7:05.4), Seattle (7:10.9) and Santa Clara (7:37.2), respectively.
The novice eight's fourth-place time of 7:31.6 in its grand final trailed Stanford Lightweights (7:05.9), San Diego (7:16.9), and San Diego State (7:25.2), respectively.
The Hornets will race again this Saturday, May 7 against UC Davis at the Port of West Sacramento. First race is currently scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
For complete results from every race on Saturday and Sunday, please click here or the link above the story.
SACRAMENTO STATE'S LINEUPS
VARSITY EIGHT
cox – Alexa Cantley, s – Courtney Owen, 7 – Nika Szyrynski, 6 – Shannon Rauls, 5 – Sarah Buchter, 4 – Jill Modean, 3 – Carli Preston, 2 - Anne Smolenski, b – Callie Senna
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
cox – Melissa Pollard, s- Gabrielle Luebben, 7 – Claire Perez, 6 – Migle Griskelyte, 5 – Elena Galvez, 4 - Bailey Greenslit, 3 – Jasmine Taylor, 2 – Megan Boggs, b – Erin Kothlow
VARSITY FOUR
cox – Emily Mauer, s – Kayley Rasmussen, 3 – Natasha Bazzo, 2 – Elizabeth Ditoiu, b – Emily Zimmerman
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT
Cox- Cassidy Bouchard, s - Cheyenne Amaro, 7- Lexi Haynes, 6 - Dimari Aldridge, 5 - Cassandra Macias, 4- Kennedi Sullivan, 3 - Alexus Hewitt, 2- Susana Contreras, b- Vjollca Rexhepi
NOVICE EIGHT
Cox - Deyanira Ventura, s - Raelyn Troche, 7 - Ashley Velasquez, 6- Amber Anderson-Wells, 5- Lia Patrinellis, 4 - Kaylin Mallery, 3 - Shamon Pollard, 2 - Chelscie Pacheco, b -
Valeria Torres
SACRAMENTO STATE RESULTS (all grand finals)
VARSITY FOUR
1. Sacramento State 8:02.1
2. San Diego State 8:10.6
3. Saint Mary's A 8:15.7
4. Saint Mary's B 8:32.4
NOVICE EIGHT
1. Stanford Lightweights 7:05.9
2. San Diego 7:16.9
3. San Diego State 7:25.2
4. Sacramento State 7:31.6
5. Santa Barbara A 7:35.1
6. Orange Coast College 7:36.3
7. UC San Diego 7:46.7
SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
1. Stanford Lightweights 6:57.0
2. Sacramento State 6:58.7
3. San Diego State A 7:03.9
4. Saint Mary's 7:10.9
5. San Diego State B 7:32.7
6. Sacramento State 3V8 7:40.3
VARSITY EIGHT
1. Stanford Lightweights 6:45.8
2. San Diego State 6:57.1
3. Sacramento State 7:02.5
4. Saint Mary's 7:05.4
5. Seattle 7:10.9
6. Santa Clara 7:37.2
