SPU Claims Conference Titles in Women's Four, Men's Light Four
April 24, 2004

LAKE STEVENS, Wash. (Apr. 24) -- Bouncing back from its only loss, Seattle Pacific University won its seventh consecutive women's varsity four title while the Falcon men's lightweight four remained undefeated at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Championships Saturday on Lake Stevens.

The SPU women jumped ahead quickly and went on to finish more than two boat-lengths ahead of Willamette, which had pulled an upset a week ago in Eureka, Calif. SPU was timed in 7 minutes, 49.5 seconds on the 2000-meter course to pick up their fifth victory this season and their 13th in 16 races over two seasons. The Bearcats were second in 8:01.2.

The varsity four lineup was Sarah Zorn, stroke; No. 3 seat Andi Martineau; No. 2 Heidi Visser; bow Carly Bollen; and coxswain Joanna Hodgkiss. Zorn, Martineau and Visser rowed in last year's crew which swept the conference, regional and national titles.

In the men's light four final, the Falcons coasted to an 9-second margin of victory over Willamette. The lineup was Joel Braman, stroke; No. 3 trevor Winters, No. 2 David Stalsbroten, bow Ryan Suess and cox Emily Thomas. That crew is now 4-0.

Bringing home NCRC silver medals were the men's novice four, and varsity pair and single. The novices held the lead until a wake caused them to catch a crab with 500 meters remaining. In the pair, Puget Sound prevailed by just 1.0 second.

Seattle Pacific's junior varsity women were eighth in the varsity race and fourth in the JV category.

SPU competes in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships next Saturday on Lake Natoma near Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Women's Results

• Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific-A 7:49.5, 2-Willamette 8:01.2, 3-Puget Sound 8:07.8, 4-Humboldt State 8:11.4, 5-Western Washington 8:11.8, 6-Lewis & Clark 8:17.5, 7-Pacific Lutheran 8:18.9, 8-Seattle Pacific-B 8:22.9
• Junior Varsity 4: 1-Puget Sound 8:12.7, 2-Humboldt State 8:13.6, 3-Western Washington 8:18.5, 4-Seattle Pacific 8:20.5, 5-Pacific Lutheran 8:21.1, 6-Willamette 8:47.6, 7-Lewis & Clark 8:50.2

Men's Results

• Varsity 4: 1-Puget Sound 6:48.9, 2-Western Washington 6:54.7, 3-Humboldt State 7:00.6, 4-Portland 7:04.5, 5-Seattle Pacific 7:12.7, 6-Lewis & Clark 7:13.1, 7-Pacific Lutheran 7:14.1, 8-Willamette 7:21.1
• Lightweight 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 7:15.5, 2-willamette 7:24.4, 3-Puget Sound 8:02.8
• Junior Varsity 4: 1-Willamette 7:16.1, 2-Puget Sound 7:21.1, 3-Lewis & Clark 7:31.6, 4-Western Washington 7:33.3, 5-Humboldt State 7:45.1, 6-Pacific Lutheran 7:51.5, 7-Seattle Pacific 7:52.7
• Pair: 1-Puget Sound 8:03.5, 2-Seattle Pacific 8:04.5, 3-Western Washington 8:07.4, 4-Pacific Lutheran 8:17.9, 5-Willamette 9:46.2
• Single: 1-Willamette 9:27.3, 2-Seattle Pacific 9:46.3
• Novice 4: 1-Lewis & Clark 7:40.6, 2-Seattle Pacific 7:49.1, 3-Puget Sound 8:01.4, 4-Pacific Lutheran 8:25.5