Bearcat Rowing Places Second in WV4 and W2V4 at Cascade Sprints

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

LAKEWOOD, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's varsity 4+ and women's second varsity 4+ both achieved second place finishes to lead the Bearcats at the Cascade Sprints on Saturday, March 24 at American Lake. In addition, the Bearcats took third place in the women's varsity 8+ and the women's novice 4+, while earning fifth place in the men's varsity 8+.

Many of the races involved a field of five boats. This was the case in the WV8+, the WN4+ and the MV8+. The WV4+ event included six crews, while the W2V4+ featured four boats.

In the WV4+ the Bearcats battled with the University of Puget Sound and Western Washington University for the top three finishes. Puget Sound took first place in 7:29.27, with Willamette in second place just 1.27 seconds later at 7:30.54. Western Washington was third at 7:33.53.

Competing for Willamette in the women's varsity 4+ were coxswain Blair Davis, along with Jessie Lovell at stroke, Kate Pfeiffer at 3-seat, Lea Griggs at 2-seat and Karina Hoogstede at bow.

The W2V4+ was won by the Vikings of WWU in 7:36.68, but Willamette edged out Puget Sound for second place. The Bearcats reached the finish line in 7:53.94, while UPS completed the race in 7:54.36. WU's second varsity 4+ featured Nicole Piechocki as the coxswain, while Meredith Miller was the stroke, Kira Egelhoffer was the 3-seat, Sophie Hearn was at 2-seat and Rebecca Hall was at bow.

Willamette and Puget Sound continued their traditional rivalry in the women's varsity 8+. Western Washington, ranked #1 in NCAA Division II, won the race with a time of 6:42.41. Puget Sound took second place in 6:57.68 for a slim margin of 1.68 seconds over Willamette in third. The Bearcats were timed at 6:59.36.

UPS was ranked #9 in the latest NCAA Division III Poll, while Willamette received votes and was just two spots out of the top 15.

Rowing for WU in the WV8+ were Lovell at stroke, Marguex Hunter at 7-seat, Griggs in the 6-seat, Pfeiffer at 5-seat, Hoogstede holding down the 4-seat, Anna Fredendall at 3-seat, Egelhoffer in the 2-seat and Alli Claypool-Conrad at bow. Davis was the coxswain.

Puget Sound claimed first place in the WN4+ at 7:52.02. Pacific Lutheran was second at 8:10.44 and Willamette finished third in 8:14.53. Washington State University at 9:16.29 and Seattle University at 9:19.82 rounded out the field.

The Bearcats in the women's novice 4+ followed the leadership of coxswain Rachel Robinson. Claypool-Conrad was stroke, with Fredendall at 3-seat, Nina Berger at 2-seat and Hadley Clegg at bow.

Western Washington prevailed in the MV8+, as the Vikings earned a solid win at 5:57.28. Pacific Lutheran took second in 6:13.56 and Washington State was third in 6:18.97. Willamette's time in fifth place was 6:47.98.

Michaelin Richards was the coxswain for WU in the MV8+. She worked with stroke Till Gwinn, 7-seat Forrest Betton, 6-seat Dillon Peck, 5-seat Karsten Kern, 4-seat Jackson Sheedy, 3-seat Jordan Wildish, 2-seat Kaile Burkey and bow Garrett Maltzan.

Willamette will spend the remainder of Spring Break training in the Salem area. The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, April 7 at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) Invitational at Vancouver Lake in Vancouver, Wash.