Bearcats Set to Open Rowing Season at Daffodil Sprints in Tacoma

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

TACOMA, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's rowing team will open the 2014 season at the Daffodil Sprints on American Lake in Tacoma, Wash., on Saturday, March 29. Joining WU at the regatta will be host University of Puget Sound, plus Lewis & Clark College, Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Portland.

Head Coach Reba Knickerbocker, who joined Willamette this past fall, said that she was looking forward to the team's first competition.

"We're going to have a really good opportunity to see how we're stacking up against those other crews, and get a feel for maybe what we need to work on and what we're doing really well," Knickerbocker said.

The Bearcats will be competing in the women's novice 4+ and the women's varsity 4+.

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

Willamette's entry in the WN4+ will include stroke Bea McAlister (So., Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor HS), as well as Emily Rolin(Fr., Richmond, RI/Chariho HS) at 3-seat, Lily Dunbar (Fr., Oakland, CA/Oakland Technical HS) at 2-seat, Jenny Duren (Fr., Redmond, WA/Inglemoor HS) at bow and Sidney Gallardo (Fr., Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico/Oaxaca Christian School) at coxswain.

According to Wallner, the team members are ready to row against other crews.

"This weekend's regatta will be exciting," Wallner said. "We're ready to put ourselves out there ... and see where we stand. We know we'll be there 100%. It will be interesting to see what happens."