Bearcat Rowers Win Women's Collegiate Novice 4+ at Covered Bridge Regatta

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

EUGENE, ORE. -- Willamette University took first place in the women's collegiate novice 4+ to highlight the Bearcats' competition at the Covered Bridge Regatta at Dexter Lake on Saturday, April 14. The Willamette WCN4+ won in a field of eight boats with a time of 8:13.36.

The Bearcats won the WCN4+ by 4.48 seconds over Humboldt State University, which finished second in 8:17.84. The split to Lewis & Clark College in third place was another 10.24 seconds, as the Pioneers reached the finish line in 8:28.08. The University of Oregon placed fourth in 8:33.10.

Competing for Willamette in the win were coxswain Rachel Robinson along with stroke Alison Claybool-Conrad, 3-seat Nina Berger, 2-seat Anna Fredendall and bow Kira Egelhoffer.

Additional success in the fours came when WU took third place in the women's collegiate junior varsity 4+. Humboldt State won the race in 7:33.18, while the University of Portland was second at 7:53.77. Willamette's time in third place was 8:00.48, a full 12 seconds in front of the fourth place boat from Seattle Pacific University.

The crew for the WU junior varsity 4+ was led by Nicole Piechocki as the coxswain. Rowers were stroke Meredith Miller, 3-seat Rebecca Hall, 2-seat Sophie Hearn and bow Hadley Clegg.

Willamette's varsity 4+ rowed exhibition in the WCJV4+ race. The Bearcats in the varsity boat finished in 7:35.32. Blair Davis was the coxswain, with Jessie Lovell at stroke, Kate Pfeiffer at 3-seatt, Lea Griggs at 2-seat and Karina Hoogstede at bow.

Three of the Bearcat crews took fourth place. They were in the women's collegiate varsity 8+, the men's collegiate varsity 8+ and the men's collegiate novice 4+

In the WCV8+, Portland finished first in 7:10.37 and Humboldt State was second at 7;17.27. Seattle Pacific claimed third place at 7:28.06 and the Bearcats were fourth in 7:32.45. WU edged out Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) rival Lewis & Clark by 0.63, with the Pioneers taking fourth in 7:33.08.

Davis was the coxswain for the Willamette women's varsity 8+. Her crew included Lovell at stroke, Marguex Hunter at 7-seat, Griggs at 6-seat, Pfeiffer at 5-seat, Hoogstede at 4-seat, Fredendall at 3-seat, Egelhofer at 2-seat and Gwen Hryciw at bow.

The men's collegiate varsity 8+ as won by Lewis & Clark with a time of 6:30.76 Humboldt State garnered second place in 6:34.30, while the University of Oregon was third in 6:52.28. Willamette finished in fourth at 7:02.44 and San Diego State University rounded out the race at 7:17.98.

On the men's varsity 8+ for the Bearcats were coxswain Michaelin Richards, stroke Till Gwinn, 7-seat Forrest Betton, 6-seat Dillono Pack, 5-seat Karsten Kern, 4-seat Jackson Sheedy, 3-seat Jordan Wildish, 2-seat Kaile Burkey and bow Garrett Maltzan.

There were two final heats in the men's collegiate novice 4+. Willamette rowed in the faster heat and placed last among the four boats, but faster than all five entries in the other heat.

Willamette's heat was won by Seattle Pacific in 7:09.74. San Diego State reached the finish line in 7:29.51. Humboldt State nosed out the Bearcats for third place, as HSU finished in 7:33.02 and WU earned a time of 7:33.39. Rowing for the Bearcats in the men's novice 4+ were Betten at stroke, Peck at 3-seat, Kern at 2-seat and Maltzan at bow. Richards was the coxswain.

The Covered Bridge Regatta featured a wide range of events, from junior races, to the collegiate races to masters events. It is a significant event on the Oregon regatta calendar each season.

Up next for Willamette is the NCRC Championship Regatta, which will bring the Bearcats back to Dexter Lake on Saturday, April 21. The NCRC includes seven members located in Oregon, Washington and California.