Into the sprint. In rowing races, there is the start, the settle and, lastly, the sprint. This week Seattle Pacific University crews begin the sprint of their season. The Northwest Collegiate Rowing Championships are Saturday (Apr. 22) on Snohomish County’s Lake Stevens, and next week the stakes are raised at the WIRA Championships in California.

Fits & starts. For the past few weeks, the rowing season has lurched forward then hit the brakes. It’s been comparable to catching a crab. The men’s crews have gotten their oars wet in races only three times and, along with the women are coming off a two-week break. Compared to a year ago, when the Falcons had five consecutive weeks of racing going into the NCRC, this season has been a series of fits and starts.

Changing times. Unlike past years, Coach Keith Jefferson does not possess a gold-medal favorite in any particular NCRC event. Jefferson will be entering a boat in the women’s varsity eight category for the first time in his 16-year tenure. The women have brought home a total of 19 golds since 1999, including varsity four titles in six of the last seven years. They will not have an entry this time around, only a novice four. The men are seeking their first varsity four crown since 1995.

Silver anniversary. The last time SPU won a Northwest women’s varsity eight championship was 1981, and celebrating that silver anniversary with a victory will be an awfully tall order. Western Washington is the defending NCAA Division II champion and currently No. 1 in the West Region. The Falcons need to finish in front of Humboldt State in order to boost their regional standing and strengthen their case for earning an at-large national berth for that boat. SPU beat Humboldt on its home course last month but has since finished behind the Lumberjacks in two regattas.

Last time out. Before taking the Easter weekend off, Seattle Pacific crews claimed wins in three races but finished third in the featured women’s eight at the Covered Bridge Regatta Apr. 8. The Falcons won the men’s varsity four and both the men’s and women’s novice fours—the latter two by open water. Midway through the women’s eight race, SPU appeared to be in position for a sweep, going bow to bow with Humboldt State. But both teams were overtaken in the sprint by Willamette and the Falcons eventually settled for third place. Willamette finished in 7:20.42, followed by the regional rival Lumberjacks (7:22) and SPU (7:24).

Covered Bridge Results.

• Women’s Varsity 8: 1-Willamette 7:40.42, 2-Humboldt State 7:22.37, 3-Seattle Pacific 7:24.61; 4-Evergreen 8:09.86
• Women’s Novice 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 8:34.5, 2-Humboldt State 8:47.55, 3-Portland 9:09.81, 4-Portland State 9:13.2
• Men’s Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 7:16.4, 2-Oregon 7:21.79, 3-Humboldt State 7:31.18, 4-Willamette 7:49.75
• Men’s Novice 4: 1-Seattle Pacific 7:12.2, 2-Portland State 7:38.97, 3-Oregon 7:49.33, 4-Willamette 8:43.82

Women’s lineups.

• Varsity 8: Stroke–Alicia Apple; 7–Katie Wolff; 6–Rachel Savage; 5–Liz Boettcher; 4–Holly Allan; 3–Rachel Ward; 2–Adrien Camp; bow–Katie Wilner; Coxswain–Megan Giske
• Varsity 4: Stroke–Alicia Apple; 3–; 2– ; Bow–Megan Sweeney; Coxswain–Megan Giske
• Novice 4: Stroke–Holly Allan; 3–Rachel Ward; 2–Adrien Camp; bow–Liz Boettcher; Coxswain–Matthew Shi

Men’s lineups.

• Varsity 4: Stroke–Jeremy Bryant; 3–John Chevigny; 2–Jonathan Dyk; Bow–Ben Zupke; Coxswain–Jeney Wierman
• Novice 4: Stroke–Jonathan Dyk; 3–Casey Esmond; 2–Justin Rowley; Bow–Zeke Schellberg; Coxswain–Matthew Shi

SPU Coaches. Keith Jefferson has steered Seattle Pacific University into uncharted waters in national prominence during his 15-year tenure as head coach. In the past seven 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 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 daughter, Emma, and reside in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle. Andi Martineau, a member of championship fours in 2003 and ‘04, is in her first year as assistant. Kip Wassink, who stroked a varsity four at Dad Vail in 1999, is also new to the staff.

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