Bearcats Earn Second Place in Women's Novice 4+ at NCRC Invitational

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

VANCOUVER, WASH. -- Willamette University finished in second place in the women's novice 4+ during the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) Invitational, held at Vancouver Lake on Saturday, April 6. The Bearcats also competed in the women's varsity 8+, men's varsity 4+ and men's second varsity 4+.

The regatta was completed in poor weather conditions, and the water was very choppy on the lake. Distances during the second half of the day's schedule were reduced from the usual 2,000 meters to just 1,000 meters, in an effort to offset some of the impact from the weather.

Pacific Lutheran University won the WN4+ in 4:55.7. Willamette's crew was next in a time of 5:07.0, as the Bearcats gained a 2.3-second advantage on the University of Puget Sound, which ended up in third place at 5:09.3. Lewis & Clark College was fourth at 5:12.9, Seattle Pacific University was fifth at 5:29.5 and the University of Oregon club team was sixth at 5:46.7.

Competing on Willamette's WN4+ crew were Sarah Fish (Fr., Issaquah, WA/Holy Names Academy) at stroke, Evann Zuckerman (Fr., Glendale, CA/Hoover HS) at 3-seat, Taylor Cooksy (Fr., Cameron Park, CA/Ponderosa HS) at 2-seat, Naomi Morgan (Fr., Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) at bow, and Rachel Robinson (So., Bellevue, WA/Bellevue HS) at coxswain.

Willamette finished fifth in the women's varsity 8+ with a time of 8:51.3. Puget Sound achieved first place in 7:56.9 for a sizable lead over Pacific Lutheran in second at 8:10.9. Lewis 7 Clark was third in 8:16.5.

The Bearcats also took fifth place in the M2V4+. The University of Oregon club team won the event at 8:54.9, while Puget Sound was second at 9:08.2. Willamette's time was 9:35.3.

WU was seventh in the men's varsity 4+, but the split between all seven teams was less than 30 seconds. Seattle Pacific claimed first place in 4:02.8 and Humboldt State University was second in 4:04.7. Willamette's completed the race in 4:31.7.

The NCRC Invitational included six of the seven members of the conference, along with invited opponents such as the U of O club team.

Up next for the Bearcats will be the Covered Bridge Regatta on Saturday, April 13. The regatta will be held on Dexter Lake near Lowell, Ore.