Toreros win first WCC Championship in program history

Women's Rowing April 30, 2010

WOMEN'S ROWING WINS FIRST WCC CHAMPIONSHIP

April 30, 2010

Rancho Cordova, Calif. - With one finger raised in the air representing their win in the Varsity 8 race, the USD women's rowing team captured their first West Coast Conference Championship in program history on Friday morning defeating perennial power Gonzaga by less than half a second.

The Toreros won two of the three races at Lake Natoma earning 28 team points after finishing first in the Varsity 4 race and the Varsity 8 race, and nearly got the sweep with a second place finish in the Second Varsity 8 race.

Head Coach Kim Cupini was named WCC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive time while junior Allyn DeLozier was honored with WCC Coxswain of the Year honors. Delozier was named to the WCC All-Conference team along with senior Christine Holloway, junior Hannah Patrick, and senior Katherine Petrich also being honored with All-Conference accolades.

The Varsity 8 boat (Cox: Allyn DeLozier, Hannah Patrick, Christine Holloway, Katharine Petrich, Gina Schneider, Michelle Schooler, Marilyn Smith, Taylor Caldwell, Michelle Geesman) battled with Gonzaga down the course. Coxswain Allyn DeLozier made a final push at the finish line as it literally came down to a photo finish with the Toreros finishing in 6:43.6, just two-tenths of a second ahead of the Bulldogs picking up 15 points.

The Varsity 4 boat (cox: Caitlin Soper, Nichole Norby, Taylar Albertini, Lisa O'Toole, Melanie Lucas-Conwell) picked up their second consecutive first place finish. After 1500 meters, the Toreros had a comfortable lead over the Bulldogs finding their rhythm and powering down the course. The V4 boat crossed the finish line seven seconds ahead of Gonzaga finishing in 8:00.2 tacking on five team points.

The Second Varsity 8 boat (cox: Kristin Jones, Maggie Cole, Lauren Rollins, Stephanie Jegat, Sara Church, Alexandra Parker, Lindsey Dornes, Hannah Ward, Anne Lewis) came in second place in a solid race that had them battling for the lead with the Bulldogs. The 2V8 boat came up short finishing in 7:15.4 earning eight points for USD.

This is USD's fifth win of the spring season after victories at the San Diego City Championship, the Oklahoma Invitational, the San Diego Crew Classic, and the Berg Cup. USD will look to continue their winning ways at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta at Lake Natoma on Saturday and Sunday. The Toreros are entered in three races on Saturday and three races on Sunday.

WCC Women's Rowing Championships - Friday, April 30, 2010 at Lake Natoma (Rancho Cordova, California)

Final Standings:
San Diego - 28
Gonzaga - 26
Loyola Marymount - 18
Saint Mary's - 12
Santa Clara - 3

I Four Race Official Results:
1. San Diego (cox: Caitlin Soper, Nichole Norby, Taylar Albertini, Lisa O'Toole, Melanie Lucas-Conwell) 8:00.2
2. Gonzaga (cox: Nicky Talkington, Maryssa Thompson, Jamie Hemenway, Olivia Miller, Courtney Norris) 8:07.0
3. Loyola Marymount (cox: Janel Peralez, Kerry Small, Paris Amy, Jill Dannia, Molly Clinton) 8:39.3
4. Saint Mary's (cox: Lisa Wickhem, Lauren Jaeckel, Blair Smith, Jessica Menzhuber, Tara Larson) 8:43.5

II Eight Race Official Results:
1. Gonzaga (cox: Natalie Wolfrom, Lauren Miller, Alexa Bostwick, Paula Welly, Hannah Winters, Therese Yrani, Rachel Schlosser, Sophie Bluhm, Lana Bowie) 7:06.2
2. San Diego (cox: Kristin Jones, Maggie Cole, Lauren Rollins, Stephanie Jegat, Sara Church, Alexandra Parker, Lindsey Dornes, Hannah Ward, Anne Lewis) 7:15.4
3. Loyola Marymount (cox: Marie Simoni, Sydney Sutton-Liswith, Tayla Courtney, Maggie Boze, Adrienne Lindtrom, Liz LaLonde, Cassidy Baine, Leanne McNamee, Harriett Russell) 7:24.1
4. Saint Mary's (cox: Molly Chow, Elyssa Roselle, Jillian Parlee, Elaina Jones, Deanna Estes, Nicolette Pierantoni, Jacqueline Lintner, Caitlin Staat, Ann Boyd) 7:55.2

I Eight Race Official Results:
1. San Diego (cox: Allyn DeLozier, Hannah Patrick, Christine Holloway, Katharine Petrich, Gina Schneider, Michelle Schooler, Marilyn Smith, Taylor Caldwell, Michelle Geesman) 6:43.6
2. Gonzaga (cox: Emily Wilson, Chelsea Quilling, Alissa Stempson, Liz Moore, Teddi McGuire, Elise Perkins, Sam Cekovic, Chelsie Eddings, Sami Koppinger) 6:43.8
3. Loyola Marymount (cox: Kayla Pietruszka, Katrina Regan, Shannon Craig, Mary Foster, Alex Silva, Michelle Herrerias, Chris Erhart, Bettina Messerli, Hanna Osborne) 7:11.0
4. Saint Mary's (cox: Marrah Galvin, Savina Brown, Jordan Bonadio, Miranda Ripoli, Dana Cook, Michelle Burns, Laura Kocourek, Taylor Balian, Jennifer Trowers) 7:21.1
5. Santa Clara (cox: Katelyn Daley, Jennifer Bullian, Jillian Walker, Kira Kubota, Berkeley Fial, Gabrielle Alexander, Laurel Schuster, Katie Caudle, Mehanna Hoopii) 7:31.0