Shells by the seashore. There will be plenty of shells within view from the shores of Humboldt Bay when the Seattle Pacific University crews join six other teams for the Blue Heron Redwood Sprints in Eureka, Ca., Saturday (Apr. 17). The Falcons, in their final tune-up prior to the conference championships, will face the likes of Willamette, California, Cal Maritime, Oregon, Mills and host Humboldt State. The Northwest Collegiate Rowing Championships are Apr. 24 at Lake Stevens, Washington.

Sprints of tides. The Redwood Sprints are unique in a several ways. Humboldt Bay is a tough course, with river and tidal currents. This regatta is also a great chance to preview some of the California crews not normally seen prior to the regional championships. It is also the sight of the women’s varsity four’s last loss. SPU will race women’s boats in the varsity four and junior varsity four categories, and men’s boats in the varsity four, light four, novice four and JV four. The Falcons are defending regatta champion in the women’s JV four.

Fours collect four. The women’s varsity four remained unbeaten while the men’s crews picked up three wins in four races at the Governor's Cup Regatta on the Willamette River last week. The SPU women’s four went to 4-0 on the season and won for the 12th time in 14 outings, dispatching its junior varsity teammates and Lewis & Clark with considerable open water in ideal conditions. The men got back-to-back wins out of their lightweight four, first in that category by nearly two boat-lengths, and then the junior varsity open race by 10 seconds. Winning their fourth race in a row was the novice four. The varsity four was third behind Lewis & Clark and Humboldt State. Since all but the last 350 meters are rowed against the current, the course was shortened to approximate the effort and time to complete a standard 2000-meter race.

Last week’s Women's results

• Women Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific ŒA' 7:27.96, 2-Seattle Pacific ŒB' 7:56.54, 3-Lewis & Clark 8:11.17

Last week’s Men's results

• Varsity 4: 1-Lewis & Clark 6:45.21, 2-Humboldt State 6:49.32, 3-Seattle Pacific 6:51.98
• Light 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 6:30.33, 2-Willamette 6:38.82
• Novice 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 6:34.64, 2-Lewis & Clark 6:47.77, 3-Humboldt State 7:21.10
• Junior Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 6:19.85, 2-Willamette ŒA' 6:29.52, 3-Willamette ŒB' 7:35.56

Women’s Lineups

• Varsity 4: Stroke–Sarah Zorn; 3–Andi Martineau; 2–Heidi Visser; Bow–Carly Bollen; Coxswain–Joanna Hodgkiss.
  
• Junior Varsity 4: Stroke–Megan Sweeney; 3–Alicia Apple; 2–Elise Spencer; Bow–Laura Colby; Coxswain–Emiy Fletcher

Men’s Lineups

• Varsity 4: Stroke–Stroke–Dave Carson; 3–Jeremy Bryant; 2–Jason Mobley; Bow–John Paul Ramirez–Kristina Richards
  
• Varsity Light 4: Stroke–Joel Braman; 3–Trevor Winters; 2–David Stalsbroten; Bow–Ryan Suess; Cox–Emily Thomas.
  
• Novice 4: Stroke–Phil Chase; 3–Jeremy Bryant; 2–Jason Mobley; Bow–Danny Simmons; Coxswain–Emily Fletcher
  
• Varsity Light 4: Stroke–Joel Braman; 3–Trevor Winters; 2–David Stalsbroten; Bow–Ryan Suess; Cox–Emily Thomas.
  
• Varsity Pair: Stroke–Dave Carson; Bow–John Paul Ramirez.
  
• Junior Varsity 4: Stroke–Joel Braman; 3–Trevor Winters; 2–Dave Carson; Bow–John Paul Ramirez; Coxswain–Emily Thomas

SPU Coaches. Keith Jefferson has steered Seattle Pacific University into uncharted waters in national prominence during his 13-year tenure as head coach. In the past five years alone, Jefferson’s Falcons have claimed national titles in six events, medaled in four others and won regional crowns in eight. A past oarsman, alumnus and assistant coach, Jefferson became the fifth head coach at Seattle Pacific University in the fall of 1990. In 2003 he took a leave of absence after being called up to active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. A lieutenant colonel in the reserves, Jefferson was an active member of the Marines from 1983-87. Jefferson succeeded Jim Schultz as coordinator of the program after serving two seasons as an assistant. A graduate of Bothell High School, Jefferson rowed for Seattle Pacific from 1979-83. He was a member of the light four which advanced to the semifinal at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia in 1982. Keith and his wife Lori have a son, Randy, and reside in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. Jessica Pennington served as interim head coach in 2003 and returns as an assistant for her third season. Pennington was oarsman of the year and an all-region selection as a senior in 2001 when she rowed in the national title varsity four.

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