American Athletic Championship Central
GOLD RIVER, Calif. — Sacramento State took home medals in three finals, propelling the Hornets to a fourth place finish in the program's second-ever appearance at the American Athletic Conference Rowing Championship on Saturday morning at Lake Natoma.
The Hornets joined the American prior to last year after competing in 2014 in Conference USA. A total of six race categories made up this year's American Championship, which was held on the Hornets' home water at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center. The Hornets raced in all six categories, taking home a silver medal in the second varsity eight and second varsity four finals, and a bronze in the third varsity four. Sacramento State placed fifth in the varsity eight, varsity four and third varsity eight finals.
The regatta consisted of seven schools, so there were no time trials, just six grand finals in rapid succession today between 11 a.m. and noon. The league determines the team champion based on finishes in all six finals with a heavy emphasis (based on points up for grabs) placed on the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four races.
With 213 points, Central Florida was crowned the American champions for the second straight year and will get the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Championship. Trailing Central Florida in the league standings were Tulsa (183), Temple (149), Sacramento State (141), San Diego State (128), UConn (101) and SMU (48).
Sacramento State junior Jill Modean was named first team all-conference while senior Megan Boggs and junior Kayley Rasmussen were both named second team all-league.
In the second varsity eight, Sacramento State placed second with time of 6:58.2 over 2,000 meters, which only trailed Central Florida's time of 6:50.3. Tulsa (7:01.1), San Diego State (7:03.3), Temple (7:04.3), UConn (7:08.9) and SMU (7:33.1) rounded out the seven-boat field.
The varsity eight saw Central Florida finish first at 6:40.7, followed by Tulsa (6:49.2), Temple (6:54.0), San Diego State (6:55.4), Sacramento State (6:56.1), UConn (7:01.0) and SMU (7:08.9). It was Central Florida that finished first in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four competitions.
In the varsity four, only seven seconds separated the top four crews between Central Florida (7:35.2), Tulsa (7:39.5), UConn (7:41.9) and Temple (7:42.4). Sacramento State was fifth at 7:48.3, followed by San Diego State (7:57.1) and SMU (8:34.4).
Sacramento State's second-place finishing time in the second varsity four was 7:53.4, the bronze-medal winning third varsity four raced to a 8:05.8, and the third varsity eight placed fifth in its race with a 7:32.0. The Hornets' third varsity four was only fifth-tenths of a second away from winning gold as the race was extremely tight between Temple (8:05.1), San Diego State (8:05.6) and the Hornets (8:05.8).
Today's regatta closed the 2016 season for Sacramento State. The Hornets will return 17 rowers next season that competed today in either the varsity eight, second varsity eight or varsity four competitions.
FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
1. Central Florida - 213
2. Tulsa - 183
3. Temple - 149
4. Sacramento State - 141
5. San Diego State - 128
6. UConn - 101
7. SMU - 48
SACRAMENTO STATE'S LINEUPS
VARSITY EIGHT
cox – Alexa Cantley, s –Jill Modean, 7 – Nika Szyrynski, 6 – Courtney Owen, 5 – Sarah Buchter, 4 – Shannon Rauls, 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 – Melissa Kepler, 4 - Elena Galvez, 3 – Jasmine Taylor, 2 – Megan Boggs, b – Erin Kothlow
VARSITY FOUR
cox – Emily Mauer, s – Kayley Rasmussen, 3 – Bailey Greenslit, 2 – Natasha Bazzo, b – Emily Zimmerman
SECOND VARSITY FOUR
cox – Paige Poulin, s – Elizabeth Ditoiu, 3 – Danielle Stout, 2 – Cheyenne Amaro, b - Samantha Walker
THIRD VARSITY FOUR
cox – Cassidy Bouchard, s – Carissa Macias, 3 – Lexi Haynes, 2 – Raelyn Troche, b – Ashley Velasquez
THIRD VARSITY EIGHT
Cox - Leanne Krautheim, s - Kaylin Mallery, 7 - Cassandra Macias, 6 - Dimari Aldridge, 5-Lia Patrinellis, 4 - Amber Anderson-Wells, 3 - Vjollca Rexhepi, 2 - Chelscie Pacheco, b - Valeria Torres
REGATTA RESULTS
Varsity Eight
Final
1. UCF 6:40.7
2. Tulsa 6:49.2
3. Temple 6:54.0
4. San Diego State 6:55.4
5. Sacramento State 6:56.1
6. UConn 7:01.0
7. SMU 7:08.9
Second Varsity Eight
Final
1. UCF 6:50.3
2. Sacramento State 6:58.2
3. Tulsa 7:01.1
4.San Diego State 7:03.3
5. Temple 7:04.3
6. UConn 7:08.9
7. SMU 7:33.1
Varsity Four
Final
1.UCF 7:35.2
2. Tulsa 7:39.5
3. UConn 7:41.9
4.Temple 7:42.4
5. Sacramento State 7:48.3
6. San Diego State 7:57.1
7. SMU 8:34.4
Third Varsity Eight
Final
1. Temple 7:09.3
2. Tulsa 7:14.4
3. UCF 7:16.8
4. UConn 7:25.6
5. Sacramento State 7:32.0
6. San Diego State 7:39.7
Second Varsity Four
Final
1. Tulsa 7:50.1
2. Sacramento State 7:53.4
3. UCF 7:59.3
4.Temple 8:05.3
5. UConn 8:10.2
6. San Diego State 8:11.0
Third Varsity Four
Final
1. Temple 8:05.1
2. San Diego State 8:05.6
3. Sacramento State 8:05.8
4. UCF 8:06.9
5. Tulsa 8:23.9
6. UConn 8:27.4
