SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State will host the West Coast Conference Rowing Championship this Friday-Saturday at Lake Natoma.

The Hornets, who joined the WCC prior to last season, will host the event for the second straight year. Sacramento State has the luxury of competing at its home facility for the second straight season after traveling to the East Coast in previous years to compete at conference championship events.

There are 10 rowing programs in the WCC, comprised of eight full-time members (Gonzaga, Oregon State, Portland, Saint Mary's, San Diego, Santa Clara, Seattle U and Washington State) as well as two affiliates in Creighton and Sacramento State.

Because there are 10 teams, the regatta is split into two days with heat racing taking place on Friday morning, and finals on Saturday morning. Teams will compete in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four, and second varsity four race categories.

Racing begins Friday with a pair of second varsity four heats at 8:30 and 8:45, varsity four heats at 9:00 and 9:15, second varsity eight at 9:30 and 9:45, and varsity eight at 10:00 and 10:15. Sacramento State will compete in the second heat in all four categories - 8:45 a.m. in the 2V4, 9:15 a.m. in the V4, 9:45 a.m. in the 2V8, and 10:15 a.m. in the V8.

Saturday's racing begins with the second varsity four petite final (8:00), and concludes with the varsity eight grand final at 9:45 a.m. The championship ceremony will take place 30-45 minutes after the final race. 

A video stream of both Friday and Saturday's racing will be offered via ESPN+, and live race results will be provided by HereNow.

All 10 schools are competing in each of the four race categories, except Santa Clara and Seattle U not fielding a boat in the second varsity four.

Last season at the WCC's, the Hornets finished fourth out of nine schools with 33 total points, trailing Oregon State (54), Gonzaga (47) and Washington State (33). Prior to last year, Gonzaga had won nine straight WCC titles. 

Oregon State is ranked 20th in the nation in the latest CRCA Coaches Poll, and is the only WCC program with a current national ranking. The Beavers were selected first in the WCC preseason coaches poll, followed by Gonzaga, Washington State, Sacramento State and San Diego, respectively, to round out the top five.

The winner of the WCC Championship receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship, which takes place May 29-31 at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Ga.

NOTABLE -- Prior to last season, the Hornets competed in the American Athletic Conference. The Hornets placed in the top five of all eight American Championship events it competed, including a third place showing in 2024.

SACRAMENTO STATE TENTATIVE LINEUPS FOR FRIDAY

VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Jamisen Rasmussen, stroke - Kaylee Godwin, 7 - Katherine Macias, 6 - Ella Holmes, 5 - Daria Okhremtchuk, 4 - Ruth Brooks, 3 - Mackenzie Murray, 2 - Nieka Marais, bow - Harper Waring

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT
cox - Savannah Keith, stroke - Olivia Zanni, 7 - Gabriella Glaser, 6 - Amaka Okam, 5 - Lauren Mannerino, 4 - Juliette Jarotzky, 3 - Mac Burley, 2 - Emma Stockton, bow - Mattie Rowlands

VARSITY FOUR
cox - Meghan Hall, stroke - Jorja Johnston, 3 - Pearl Gaston, 2 - Giselle Uribe Sayah, bow - Emily Lopez

SECOND VARSITY FOUR
cox - Elizabeth Sweet, stroke - Shannon Stuart, 3 - Eliana Garcia, 2 - Nora Basmajian, bow - Kabrey Cooper