Row your boat. Seattle Pacific University’s stranglehold on supremacy among local women’s fours will be tested this weekend when the Falcons join the their small college sisters and brothers at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Championships on Lake Stevens. Fair weather is expected Saturday (Apr. 23) for the regatta, which attracts teams from Div. II and III programs in Washington, Oregon and northern California. The next action for SPU is the WIRA (Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association) Championships beginning Apr. 30 in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Breathing easier. Coach Keith Jefferson got the word earlier this week that his women’s four is ticketed for the ECAC National Invitational Championships May 7-8 in Worcester, Mass. There, the Falcons will aiming for their third straight national title. After a poor showing at the NCRC Invitational, SPU has bounced back to win its last two regattas. The women’s four has now won four out of five this season, and that event has provided 23 wins in 29 races over three seasons. The one common rower in those races is Andi Martineau (Sr., Superior, Mt.), who has won a total of three national championships, including a novice crown in 2002. Stroke Carly Bollen (Jr., Missoula, Mt./Valley Christian) was in the bow of last year’s crew.

Fleet report. Jefferson’s varsity crews bring considerable momentum into the NCRC Championships. The women quickly left Oregon in their wake at last week’s Governor’s Cup and defeated two other conference foes the previous week in the Redwood Sprints. The Ducks had finished ahead of SPU at Vancouver two weeks beforehand. Seattle Pacific has defeated each conference opponent it has faced this season but has not met Western Washington. Meanwhile, the men are coming off their first win since the opening weekend. They have been defeated by both Humboldt State and Puget Sound but figure to be in contention for a medal nonetheless.

Rowin’ down the river. Weather was once again an issue at last week’s Governor’s Cup in Salem but the Falcons still came away with victories in both varsity fours, plus a pair of third-place efforts by the men’s novice and junior varsity crews. The men’s varsity pulled away in the final 800 meters to win by 4 seconds over Oregon. The women had four boat-lengths on the Ducks at the finish. The women’s jayvee and novice races were scrubbed.

Governor’s Cup Women’s results.

• Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 7:53.1; 2-Oregon, 8:29.1

Governor’s Cup Men’s results.

• Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 6:55.4; 2-Oregon, 6:59.8; 3-Willamette, 7:04.2; 4-Lewis & Clark, 7:05.8
• Junior varsity 4: 1-Lewis & Clark, 7:07.1; 2-Lewis & Clark B, 7:12.4; 3-Seattle Pacific, 7:717.3; 4-Willamette, 7:41.4
• Novice 4: 1-Lewis & Clark, 6:44.3; 2-Willamette, 6:53.0; 3-Seattle Pacific 7:03.1; 4-Lewis & Clark lwt., 7:12.4; 5-Oregon, 7:20.6

Redwood Sprints Women’s results.

• Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific NT, 2-Willamette NT, 3-HB Rowing A'' NT, 4-Santa Clara NT, 5-Mills NT, 6-HB Rowing 'B' NT, 7-Humboldt State NT.
• Junior varsity 4: 1-Humboldt State 7:47:88, 2-Seattle Pacific 7:51.75, 3-Willamette 8:11.30, 4-Santa Clara 8:15.05, 5-Humboldt State 8:59.04.

Redwood Sprints Men’s results.

• Varsity 4: 1-Humboldt State 7:15.32, 2-Seattle Pacific 7:30.81, 3-Willamette 7:31.45, 4-Saint Mary's 7:47.15, 5-Cal Maritime 8:14.94.
• Junior varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 6:43.11, 2-Saint Mary's 6:46.74, 3-Humboldt State 6:54.52, 4-Willamette 6:55.41.
• Novice 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 5:17.79, 2-Humboldt State 5:27.59, 3-Willamette 5:29.84, 4-HB Rowing A'' 5:53.45.

Women’s lineups.

• Varsity 4: Stroke–Carly Bollen; 3–Andi Martineau; 2–Alicia Apple; Bow–Megan Sweeney; Coxswain–Megan Giske
• Novice 4: Stroke–Kimberly Leinstock; 3–Katie Bobson; 2–Carolyn Robbins; Bow–Claire Walter; Coxswain–Megan Giske

Men’s lineups.

• Varsity 4: Stroke–Jeremy Bryant; 3–Jason Mobley; 2–Ben Zupke; Bow–Jon Paul Ramirez; Coxswain–Jeney Wierman
• Novice 4: Stroke–Ben Zupke; 3–Nate Shockey; 2–Charles Lowenkopf; Bow–Matt Hall; Cox–Jeney Wierman

SPU Coaches. Keith Jefferson has steered Seattle Pacific University into uncharted waters in national prominence during his 14-year tenure as head coach. In the past six years alone, Jefferson’s Falcons have claimed national titles in seven events, medaled in four others and won regional crowns in 10. 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 n 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 daughter, Emma, and reside in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. Jessica Pennington served as interim head coach in 2003 and returns as an assistant for her fourth 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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