Bearcats to Compete at WIRA Championships in California

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's rowing team will compete at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championship Regatta, set for Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at Lake Notoma near Folsom, Calif. The Bearcats will participate in the women's varsity 8+ for D2/D3/Club teams and in the women's novice 4+.

Willamette's crew in the WN4+ will row in the third of three preliminary heats at 8:40 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday. Depending on results form the heats, Willamette might compete in the Third Final at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday, the Petite Final at 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, or the Championship Final at 8:10 a.m. on Sunday.

The Bearcats will row in the WV8+ at 2:10 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday. Willamette will be one of five crews in the third heat. The Petite Final is scheduled for 11:40 a.m. on Sunday, with the Championship Final at 11:50 a.m. on Sunday.

Julia Di Simone (Fr., Livermore, CA/Livermore Valley Charter Prep) is the coxswain for the Willamette WV8+ crew. She will be guiding the efforts of Hannah Puckett (So., Davis, CA/Davis HS) at stroke, Sarah Fish (Jr., Issaquah, WA/Holy Names Academy) at 7-seat, Katy Wallner (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS) at 6-seat, Abby Bernhard (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt 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 Carrie Moore (Fr., Walla Walla, WA/South Eugene HS) at bow.

Navi Hewage (Fr., Walnut Creek, CA/Northgate HS) will be the coxswain for the Bearcats in the WN4+. Rowing for WU in the novice four will be stroke Sarah Crabb (Fr., Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS), 3-seat Elsa Roush (Fr., Jackson Hole, WA/Jackson Hole HS), 2-seat Gillian Weisenfluh (Fr., Atherton, CA/Menlo Atherton HS), and bow Ingrid Avila (Fr., Redwood City, CA/Summit Prep).