Willamette Rowing Team Competes at Portland Fall Classic

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University participated in the Portland Fall Classic regatta on Sunday, Oct. 26. The event, held on the the Willamette River, was sponsored by the Station L Rowing Club and the Rose City Rowing Club.

The Bearcats placed second in the Women's Collegiate D3/Club Varsity 8+. Lewis & Clark College took first place in 19:38.20 over the 5,000-meter course. Willamette followed in 19:41.12, and the University of Oregon club team was third in 19:46.11.

Rowing on Willamette's WV8+ were stroke Hannah Puckett (So., Davis, CA/Davis HS), 7-seat Carrie Moore (Fr., Walla Walla, WA/South Eugene HS), 6-seat Katy Wallner (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS), 5-seat Elena O'Shea (Fr., Arcata, CA/NW Prep and Performing Arts Acad.), 4-seat Miranda Martin (Fr., St. Louis, MO/Ladue Horton Watkins HS), 3-seat Emily Rolin (Fr., Richmond, RI/Chariho HS), 2-seat Molly Pritchard (So., Medford, OR/South Medford HS), and bow Sarah Fish (Fr., Issaquah, WA/Holy Names Academy). The coxswain was Julia Di Simone (Fr., Livermore, CA/Livermore Valley Charter Prep).

Di Simone continued her duties as coxswain on the Willamette boat in the Women's Collegiate/Open Novice 8+. Also competing on the WN8+ crew were Abby Bernhard (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) at stroke, Holly Walsh (Fr., Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon HS) at 7-seat, Mary Needham (Fr., Alameda, CA/Alameda Comm. Learning Center/Linfield College) at 6-seat, Angela Witty (Fr., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS) at 5-seat, Navi Hewage (Fr., Walnut Creek, CA/Northgate HS) at 4-seat, Gillian Weisenfluh (Fr., Atherton, CA/Menlo Atherton HS) at 3-seat, Sophia Nordt (Fr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) at 2-seat and Sarah Crabb (Fr., Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS) at bow.

The Bearcats took fifth place in Women's Collegiate/Open Novice 8+. University of Portland's "A" crew won the race in 19:56.69. The Portland "B" team placed second in 21:09.95. Lewis & Clark was third at 22:04.19.

Seattle University placed fourth with a time of 22:56.12. Willamette was fifth in 23:51.93, and Pacific University was sixth at 24:00.28.

The Portland Fall Classic concluded the Willamette rowing team's fall season. The Bearcats will return to practicing and competing during the spring semester.