Willamette Competes at WIRA Championship Regatta

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

FOLSOM, CALIF. -- The Willamette University women's rowing team competed at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championship Regatta, held at Lake Natoma on Saturday, April 27. Willamette was represented by crews in the women's varsity 4+ for NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and club teams, as well as the women's novice 4+.

In the WV4+, the Bearcats placed seventh in their preliminary heat, which also included NCAA Division II varsity crews, as well as DI and DII club teams. Humboldt State University (Calif.) won the heat in 8:00, while the University of California-San Diego was second at 8:05 and Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) was third at 8:08.

Portland State University placed fourth at 8:15, with the University of Oregon in fifth at 8:18, Chico State University (Calif.) in sixth at 8:22 and Willamette in seventh at 8:25.

The Willamette WV4+ rowed in the Third Final, which included the Bearcats and the Arizona State University club. WU won in 8:45, while Arizona State finished in 9:19.

Competing for WU in the WV4+ were coxswain Rachel Robinson (Jr., Bellevue, WA/Bellevue HS), stroke Katy Wallner (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS), 3-seat Hannah Puckett (Fr., Davis, CA/Davis HS), 2-seat Molly Pritchard (Fr., Medford, OR/South Medford HS) and bow Sarah Fish (So., Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy).

The Bearcats took sixth place in the first of three preliminary heats in the WN4+. St. Mary's College (Calif.) was first in the heat at 8:22. The University of California lightweight crew was second in 8:34. Humboldt State placed third at 8:41, while Orange Coast College was fourth at 8:49, Portland State was fifth at 8:56 and Willamette was sixth at 9:31.

In the Third Final of the WN4+, Willamette finished fourth. Pacific Lutheran University won the race in 9:18, with Portland State in second at 9:35. Chapman University followed in third at 9:47, with the Bearcats in fourth at 9:53 and the Washington State University club in fifth at 9:59.

Rowing in the WN4+ for the Bearcats were Bea McAlister (So., Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor HS) at stroke, Emily Rolin (Fr., Richmond, RI/Chariho HS) at 3-seat, Lily Dunbar (Fr., Oakland, CA/Oakland Technical HS) at 2-seat and Jenny Duren (Fr., Redmond, WA/Inglemoor HS) at bow. Sidney Gallardo (Fr., Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico/Oaxaca Christian School) was the coxswain.

Up next for Willamette is the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) Championship Regatta on Saturday, May 3 at Dexter Lake near Eugene, Ore.