Willamette to Row against NWC Opponents at Logger Invitational

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University will compete against several Northwest Conference opponents at the Logger Invitational on American Lake near Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, April 11. The first race in the regatta is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. (PDT).

The Bearcats will participate in two women's varsity 8+ races and will also row in the women's novice 8+

WU's first boat on the water will be the WV8+ against NWC rivals Pacific Lutheran University and Pacific University at 9:45 a.m. The Bearcats will row in a second WV8+ race at 11 a.m. against University of Puget Sound's WV8+ and W2V8+. At 12:15 p.m., the Bearcats will compete in the WN8+ versus Puget Sound and Pacific.

Julia Di Simone (Fr., Livermore, CA/Livermore Valley Charter Prep) will be Willamette's coxswain for the WV8+.

Rowing the varsity shell will be Katy Wallner (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS) at stroke, Hannah Puckett (So., Davis, CA/Davis HS) at 7-seat, Abby Bernhard (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) at 6-seat, Carrie Moore (Fr., Walla Walla, WA/South Eugene HS) at 5-seat, Bea McAlister (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor HS) at 4-seat, Angela Witty (Jr./Fr., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS) at 3-seat, Molly Pritchard (So., Medford, OR/South Medford HS) at 2-seat, and Sarah Fish (Jr., Issaquah, WA/Holy Names Academy) at bow.

Witty will also be rowing on the WN8+, as she is slated to participate in three races on the day.

"Since a 2,000-meter race is the physiological equivalent of playing two back-to-back basketball games with no break, this is no small feat," WU Head Coach Reba Knockerbocker said in praise of Witty's willingness to help the team in every race.

The novice crew for Willamette will include coxswain Navi Hewage (Fr., Walnut Creek, CA/Northgate HS).

Completing the crew will be stroke Sophia Nordt (Fr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) at stroke, 7-seat Elsa Roush (Fr., Jackson Hole, WA/Jackson Hole HS), 6-seat Sarah Crabb (Fr., Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS), 5-seat Witty, 4-seat Gillian Weisenfluh (Fr., Atherton, CA/Menlo Atherton HS), 3-seat Brenda Mittlebuscher (Fr., Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS), 2-seat Ingrid Avila (Fr., Redwood City, CA/Summit Prep), and bow Holly Walsh (Fr., Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon HS).

NWC member Lewis & Clark College will be participating at the Logger Invitational, but the Bearcats and the Pioneers are not entered in the same heats of the WV8+. L&C is not rowing in the WN8+.

Following this weekend's regatta, the Bearcats will prepare for the first ever Northwest Conference Championships, set for Sunday, April 19 at Vancover Lake in Vancouver, Washington.