Lotsa boats afloat. They may not be the featured attraction, still the Seattle Pacific University varsity four crews will be in the thick of a Northwest tradition Saturday (May 6) when they participate in the 37th annual Opening Day Regatta in the Montlake Cut. Nineteen races will be followed by a parade of pleasure craft to mark the commencement of boating season. This marks the final local appearance for the Falcons. The women’s varsity will row at the Pacific Coast Championships May 13-14 in Rancho Cordova, Calif., while the men’s four goes to Worcester, Masss., for the ECAC National Invitational Championships May 14.

Rub-a-U-dub-dub. Opening Day is hosted by the University of Washington and, as such, there will be no shortage boats bearing Huskies this weekend. The SPU men’s four will be flanked by the UW ‘A’ crew on one side and UW frosh on the other. Another Washington crew plus Gonzaga and the Lake Union Crew round out the six-team field. The women will be pitted against the Huskies, Western Washington and Lake Washington Rowing Club. This is the first time in five years that Seattle Pacific has been involved in the Opening Day festivities. The best finish was second place by the 1986 women’s J.V. 8.

WIRA recap. SPU is coming off a competitive effort yet a disappointing placement in the WIRA men’s four grand final. Although their final race was a 16-second improvement on the prelim, the Falcons were unable to earn medals. Coach Keith Jefferson indicated that the competition at the ECAC may pale in comparison to WIRA. Western Washington went to the front early and finished first in 6:25.7. Less than 12 seconds separated all six crews. Seattle Pacific won the women’s varsity petite final by 30 seconds over Colorado. In fact, the winning time of 7:14.8 would have placed fifth among those crews in the grand final. During the first day, the women were fourth and the men second in qualifying heats.

WIRA Results.

• Women’s Varsity 8 (heat 2): 1-Sonoma State 7:12.5, 2-Orange Coast 7:17.3, 3-Humboldt State 7:19.1, 4-Seattle Pacific 7:21.3
• Women’s Varsity 8 (Div. II-III Petite Final): 1-Seattle Pacific 7:14.8, 2-Colorado 7:44.0
• Men’s Varsity 4 (heat 2): 1-Long Beach State 6:49.9, 2-Seattle Pacific 6:52.2, 3-Lewis & Clark 6:54.6, 4-Cal Lights 7:06.8
• Men’s Varsity 4 (Div. II-III Grand Final): 1-Western Washington 6:25.7, 2-Long Beach State 6:26.6, 3-Oregon 6:31.2, 4-Puget Sound 6:32.6, 5-Seattle Pacific 6:36.4, 6-Loyola Marymount, 6:37.2

Women’s lineups.

• Varsity 8: Stroke–Alicia Apple; 7–Megan Sweeney; 6–Rachel Savage; 5–Katie Wolff; 4–Holly Allan; 3–Kimberly Leinstock; 2–Rebecca Snow; bow–Liz Boettcher; coxswain–Megan Giske
• Varsity 4: Stroke–Alicia Apple; 3–Megan Sweeney; 2–Rachel Savage; bow–Katie Wolff; coxswain–Megan Giske
• Varsity Pair: Stroke–Alicia Apple; bow–Megan Sweeney.
• 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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