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Currents to Test SPU Rowers in California
Falcons Win 5 of 6 Against Lutes; Three 8s Row at Humboldt
March 21, 2007

Short Strokes

The last race by an SPU men’s eight was at the 2003 Husky Invitational. A women’s novice eight is also entered this week...Last week Humboldt State rowed at Lake Natoma, finishing sixth (7:40) out of seven in the women’s eight. The varsity four was fifth, ahead of Mills...A year ago, HSU won three, lost two and drew once with the SPU women’s eight in six close encounters. The Falcons won the final and highest-stakes race match-up at the Div. II West Regional...Matt Shi (So., Seattle, Wa./Roosevelt) can give orders as well as take them. Shi is the cox for the men’s varsity four, and also pulls the bow oar in the novice four...In last week’s women’s eight race, SPU was behind going into the last 750 meters. Between their sprint and PLU steering, they managed to win by 1.4 seconds...Jefferson said that while his women’s varsity four will not row in regional championships, it is a crew which compares well with SPU predecessors who won national titles in 2003 and ‘04. This year’s four comprises the stern four of the varsity eight and although young (three sophomores and five novices), is bigger and stronger than a year ago.

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Tidal test. The young crews of Seattle Pacific University will get a lesson in currents and tides while contending with some Californians at Saturday’s (Mar. 24) Blue Heron Redwood Sprints on Humboldt Bay. Host Humboldt State, Cal Maritime and Mills College will be among the rival rowers in Eureka. Next week the Falcons venture south to Vancouver, Wash., for the NCRC Invitational.

Tricky situation. Of all the courses Seattle Pacific annually races, Saturday’s could well be the trickiest. Coach Keith Jefferson notes that the incoming tide often prompts officials to shorten the course from 200 meters and currents can test the acumen of any coxswain. Although he has tried to simulate the conditions in training on Lake Union, Jefferson said there is no substitute to prepare for the Pacific Ocean. SPU will compete in eight events, including a rare men’s varsity eight race. A year ago, it won three of four Redwood Sprints, including the women’s varsity eight and men’s varsity and novice fours.

Opening shot. The Falcons won five of six races in last week’s duel with Pacific Lutheran through the Ship Canal. Their home course advantage may have been the difference in the women’s eight. While the Lutes veered right, SPU stayed the course and won by a seat in a strong early-season time of 6:58.2. The women’s novice four won by a boat-length and the varsity four finished with plenty of open water. The men’s varsity eased to 24-second win over a PLU lightweight crew and the male novices got a quick jump at the start and prevailed by over two-lengths.

Last week’s results.

Women's Results

Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific, 7:41.6; 2-Pacific Lutheran, 8:19.66
Junior Varsity 4: 1-Pacific Lutheran, 7:42.72; 2-Pacific Lutheran Lwt., 7:59.82; 3-Seattle Pacific 8:09.21
Novice 4: 1-Seattle Pacific, 7:59.79; 2-Pacific Lutheran, 8:05.56
Varsity 8: 1-Seattle Pacific, 6:58.2; 2-Pacific Lutheran, 6:59.6

Men's Results

Varsity 4: 1-Seattle Pacific, 6:58.37; 2-Pacific Lutheran, 7:23.24; 3-Seattle Pacific JV 7:35.8
Novice 4: 1-Seattle Pacific, 7:26.12; 2-Pacific Lutheran, 8:13.05

Crew lineups this week.

Women

Varsity 8: Stroke-Rachel Savage, 7-Katie Wolff, 6-Kay Chikos, 5-Zanie McMillan, 4-Melissa Blevins, 3-Heather Waggoner, 2-Holly Allan, bow-Karene Takamura, coxswain-Megan Giske
Varsity 4: Stroke-Rachel Savage, 3-Katie Wolff, 2-Amy Burns, bow-Katie Wilner, coxswain-Megan Giske
Junior Varsity/Lightweight 4: Stroke-Holly Allan, 3-Karene Takamura, 2-Denise Filley, coxswain-Tricia Omoto
Novice 8: Stroke-Kay Chikos, 7-Zanie McMillan, 6-Amy Burns, 5-Heather Waggoner, 4-Melissa Blevins, 3-Karene Takamura, 2-Denise Filley, bow-Erin Arkin, coxswain-Tricia Omoto
Novice 4: Stroke-Amy Burns, 3-3-Zanie McMillan, 2-Kay Chikos, bow-Erin Arkin, coxswain-Tricia Omoto

Men

Varsity 8: Stroke-Jeremy Bryant, 7-Justin Rowley, 6-Ben Zupke, 5-John Chevigny, 4-Zeke Schelberg, 3-Erik Bright, 2-Kris Williams, bow-Michael Willcockson, coxswain-Matt Shi
Varsity 4: Stroke-Jeremy Bryant, 3-Justin Rowley, 2-Ben Zupke, bow-John Chevigny, coxswain-Jeney Wierman
Junior Varsity/Lightweight 4: Stroke-Zeke Schellberg, 3-Matt Shi, 2-Michael Willcockson, bow-Mark Figueroa, coxswain-Tricia Omoto
Novice 4: Stroke-Kris Williams, 3-Erik Bright, 2-Michael Willcockson, bow-Mark Figueroa, coxswain-Rose Velasquez

SPU Coaches. Keith Jefferson has steered Seattle Pacific University into uncharted waters in national prominence during his 16-year tenure as head coach. In the past eight years alone, Jefferson’s Falcons have claimed national titles in seven events, medaled in five 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 is in her fifth year as assistant. She was oarsman of the year and an all-region selection as a senior in 2001. Kip Wassink, who stroked a varsity four at Dad Vail in 1999, returns for his second season on the staff.

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