Day One Recap

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (Apr. 29) ­ With a strong second half, Seattle Pacific University earned the bronze in the women's varsity eight Sunday at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on Lake Natoma.

UC San Diego handily won the Division II-III/Division Club grand final in 7 minutes 2.6 seconds, with the Falcons and Long Beach State battling bow-to-bow for second. The 49ers nudged in front over the final 15 strokes to be runners-up in 7:17.2 and SPU next in 7:18.1. All boats encountered a headwind.

It was Seattle Pacific's first WIRA medal in a varsity eight category. A year ago, the Falcons did not qualify for the grand final.

This year's crew features six novices and two second-year rowers. Veteran coxswain Megan Giske (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wa.) was named to the all-WIRA second team.

"It was fun to watch such a young group row with such maturity," said coach Keith Jefferson. "I'm really proud of them."

The men's varsity four, plagued by injuries, finished sixth (7:10.4) in the grand final, which was won by Puget Sound in 6:52.4.

Seattle Pacific will return to the same course May 12 for the Pacific Coast Championships.

Women's Varsity 8 Grand Final:
1-UC San Diego 7:02.6, 2-Long Beach State 7:17.2, 3-Seattle Pacific 7:18.1, 4-Pacific Lutheran 7:20.1, 5-Orange Coast 7:29.1, 6-Arizona State 7:30.1, 7-Sonoma State 7:35.1

Men's Varsity 4 Grand Final:
1-Puget Sound 6:52.4, 2-Washington State 6:53.7, 3-Long Beach State 7:01.9, 4-Western Washington 7:05.0, 5-UC Santa Barbara 7:05.4, 6-Seattle Pacific 7:10.4

Women's Lineup
Varsity 8: Stroke-Rachel Savage (So., Encinitas, Ca/San Dieguito), 7-Katie Wolff (Jr., Bridgewater, Vt./Mid Vermont Christian), 6-Amy Burns (So., Palm Springs, Ca./Desert Chapel), 5-Rachel Strand (Sr., Shoreline, Wa./King's), 4-Kay Chikos (Fr., Renton, Wa./Kentridge), 3-Erin Arkin (Fr., Tacoma, Wa./Academy Northwest), 2-Melissa Blevins (Fr., Walla Walla, Wa.), bow­Denise Filley (Fr., Mesa, Az./Dobson), coxswain-Megan Giske (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor).

Men's Lineup
Varsity 4: Stroke-Jeremy Bryant (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wa./Gig Harbor), 3-John Chevigny (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Roosevelt), 2-Ben Zupke (Sr., Lynden, Wa./Lynden), bow-Justin Rowley (So., Kenmore, Wa./Inglemoor), coxswain-Jeney Wierman (Sr., Walla Walla, Wa.)