GOLD RIVER, Calif. -- In its first-ever appearance at the WCC Championship as a league affiliate, Sacramento State placed fourth out of nine schools in the final team points standings on Saturday morning at Lake Natoma.

There were four race categories - V8, 2V8, V4 and 2V4 - at the WCC Championship which began yesterday with heat racing. Based on Friday's results, the Hornets advanced their varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four to today's grand finals, and the second varsity four qualified for the petite final.

Sacramento State, which joined the WCC for rowing prior to this season, competed against five full-time members (Gonzaga, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Diego, Santa Clara) as well as affiliates Creighton, Oregon State and Washington State.

In today's racing, Sacramento State's varsity eight placed fourth in its final with a time of 6:58.18, finishing ahead of Saint Mary's and San Diego, respectively. Oregon State, which is ranked 20th in the country and the only nationally ranked WCC program, finished first with a time of 6:36.16, followed by Gonzaga and Washington State, respectively, to round out the top three.

Both the Hornets' second varsity eight (7:13.89) and varsity four (8:08.81) took fifth in their respective grand finals. The second varsity four won its petite final, besting second place Creighton by over eight seconds.

Sacramento State's Daria Okhremtchuk and Kaylee Godwin were named to the all-WCC team.

Oregon State, in its first year in the WCC, was crowned the conference champion by virtue of winning gold in each of the points races (V8, 2V8 and V4). The Beavers placed first in all four race category, and will represent the WCC at the NCAA Championship May 30-June 1 at Mercer Lake in New Jersey. The Beavers' championship snapped a string of nine consecutive WCC titles won by Gonzaga.

Today marks the end of the season for Sacramento State. The Hornets wrapped up a successful year that saw the team win gold in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four grand finals at the same WIRA Championship for the first time in program history (1995-pres.). All but two members of the varsity eight (Emma Goldsmith, Valarie Reed) will return next season.

SACRAMENTO STATE LINEUPS

VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Emma Goldsmith, stroke - Kaylee Godwin, 7 - Harper Waring, 6 - Nieka Marais, 5 - Daria Okhremtchuk, 4 - Ella Holmes, 3 - Mackenzie Murray, 2 - Ruth Brooks, bow - Valarie Reed

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Corey Pantega, stroke - Katherine Macias, 7 - Britain Fehd, 6 - Amaka Okam, 5 - Madi Smith, 4 - Olivia Zanni, 3 - Nela Stehlik, 2 - Emma Hallums, bow - Gabriella Glaser

VARSITY FOUR
cox - Ella Barrow, stroke - Pearl Gaston, 3 - Bryleigh Nixon, 2 - Lauren Mannerino, bow - Emma Stockton

SECOND VARSITY FOUR
cox - Savannah Keith, stroke - Emily Lopez, 3 - Dailyn Francia, 2 - Eliana Garcia, bow - Emma Doddridge

FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
1. Oregon State - 54
2. Gonzaga - 47
3. Washington State - 43
4. Sacramento State - 33
5. San Diego - 30
6. Saint Mary's - 27
7. Creighton - 14
8. Portland - 14
9. Santa Clara - 8