June 17, 2004
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Just Briefly
It was a season to remember for the Loyola Marymount crew program. The Lions saw their Women's Varsity 8 team win a record three championships on the season, including the San Diego Crew Classic title, a second straight Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association title and the West Coast Conference title. The women's team went 10-2 in dual competitions and took their highest overall finish in WCC history with a second place finish.
The WCCs
The Loyola Marymount University women's crew team finished in second place in the 2004 West Coast Conference Championships at Lake Natoma. The second place finish is the highest in program history as they finished with 25 points. The best day in crew history in the WCC also had its heartbreak as they finished second behind Gonzaga by just one point. The one-point margin is the closest in WCC Championship history, which began its current point format in 1999. Rounding out the WCC results was San Diego in third place with 18 points, Santa Clara in fourth with 11 points and Saint Mary's in fifth with eight points. Points are given in each of the three races held during the championships, with the highest point total earning the championship. The Lions won the Varsity 8 Championship for the first time in program history, dominating the five-boat race from start to finish. The team of Blake Boyer (coxswain), Caitlin McClain, Kathryn Holzberger, Vanessa Glendenning, Naomi Hoogesteger, Lot Keijzer, Beth Henderson, Erin Ludwig and Sarah Daum finished in a time of 6:49.50. The time, according to the WCC record book, is the second best Varsity 8 times in the history of the championships. The Lions defeated Gonzaga by more than 10 seconds. The Zags finished in second at 6:59.52, followed by San Diego (7:04.39), Santa Clara (7:15.37) and Saint Mary's (7:37.75). The win in the Varsity 8 gave the Lions 15 points. The Zags earned 12 for second.
More First at The WCCs
After not racing in the Second Varsity 8 race a year ago, the Lions had an impressive showing of second place in 2004. Rowing for the Lions was Julia Paradiso (coxswain), Meggan Brunette, Liz Stewart, Kristin Lumm, Courtney Cox, Angela Tanner, Amy Lauber, Ashlee Pierce and Sylvia Olvera. The Lions finished in a time of 7:13.00, the quickest in program history at the WCC Championships. The Lions also made strides in the Varsity 4 competition, taking fourth in a time of 8:38.78. Racing for the Lions in the Varsity 4 was Tracy Vaiuso (coxswain), Diana Mazenko, Jen Aronson, Jessica Butler and Lisa Mercurio. They earned two points for the finish. The LMU men's Varsity 8 team also rowed against competition from the WCC. They finished in fourth place with a time of 6:22.50. The men's races are not part of the WCC Championship. Rowing for the Lions was Ellie Goldsmith (coxswain), Adam Baker, Jason Lake, Warren Anderson, Tim Santy, Scott Henderson, Brannon Wynn, Jim Puccetti and JP Voisinet.
Back-to-Back
The record season for the Loyola Marymount University crew team continued as they won the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Women's Varsity 8 championship on May 2, defeating second place finisher Sacramento State by more than three seconds at Lake Natoma. For the Lions, it is their second straight WIRA championship after winning its first in program history in 2003. This season's WIRA title adds to an impressive list of Grand Final titles for the women's Varsity 8, as the Lions won the West Coast Conference Varsity 8 on April 30 and the San Diego Crew Classic Championship on April 4. The three titles is the most in one season for the Lions' program. The Varsity 8 team of Blake Boyer (coxswain), Caitlin McClain, Kathryn Holzberger, Vanessa Glendenning, Naomi Hoogesteger, Lot Keijzer, Beth Henderson, Erin Ludwig and Sarah Daum have become the most successful Varsity 8 team in program history.
Another Strong Showing for JV8
The Lions' Second Varsity 8 (or JV8) continued to post their best finish in school history as they advanced to the Grand Final of their race for the first time in the program's history at the WIRA Championships. By winning their heat on Saturday, the Lions were in a four-team battle with Gonzaga, Sacramento State and UC Davis. It was a tight race at the start with Sacramento State and Gonzaga pulling a head early. The Lions team of Julia Paradiso (coxswain), Meggan Brunette, Liz Stewart, Kristin Lumm, Courtney Cox, Angela Tanner, Amy Lauber, Ashlee Pierce and Sylvia Olvera would finish in a time of 7:09.9, the best placing for the Lions JV8 at WIRA. They finished three seconds back of UC Davis and just five seconds off Gonzaga. Sacramento State won the event at 6:59.0.
A Classic in San Diego
LMU women's crew team won the Varsity 8 Cal Cup at the 2004 San Diego Crew Classic. The Cal Cup Championship is the first in program history. The Lions Varsity 8 team of Blake Boyer (coxswain), Sarah Daum, Erin Ludwig, Beth Henderson, Vanessa Glendenning, Naomi Hoogesteger, Lot Keijzer, Kathryn Holzberger and Caitlin McClain finished the Grand Final in a time of 7:12.70. LMU finished nearly four seconds faster than second place Miami and eight seconds better than third place UCLA. The Lions were one of the top three crews off the line at the start, crossing the 500-meter mark in third place, three seats down on UCLA and Miami. As the crews advanced to the 1000-meter line, LMU had moved half way through UCLA, who was bow to stern with third place Miami. In what was a battle between the top three crews all the way to the last 250, LMU began to pull away from the pack as Miami took over UCLA. Crossing the line first, the Lions gained a four second victory over second place finisher Miami. Winning the Women's Cal Cup means that next year's Varsity race will be invited to compete in the prestigious Jessup-Whittier Cup along with the nation's elite collegiate teams. Also claiming a first place finish on Sunday was the LMU Men's Varsity 8. The Lions took first in the Cal Cup Third Race in a time of 6:29.5. The Lions also edged out UCLA by over three seconds and Saint Mary's by just under four seconds. San Diego, UC San Diego and Arizona State rounded out the Cal Cup-Third finish.
All-Conference Honors
Thanks to impressive showings at the WCC Championship on April 30 and the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on May 1-2, the LMU women's crew team earned individual honors to go with one of the most successful seasons in program history. Juniors Caitlin McClain and Vanessa Glendenning were both named first-team WCC All-Conference and first-team WIRA All-Association after leading their teams to the Varsity 8 Championship in both events. Joining McClain and Glendenning on the All-WIRA first-team was senior Lot Keijzer. The pair of all-conference honors in the WCC is the most ever in one season. The Varsity 8 earned first place for the first time to help five-year Head Coach Patrick Kelly to his second WCC Coach of the Year honors. The three All-WIRA selections equals last year's number as the Lions' Varsity 8 won the Grand Final championship for the second straight year. The back-to-back WIRA Championships is the first in program history and earned Kelly back-to-back WIRA Coach of the Year honors. McClain, Glendenning and Keijzer have led the Lions to new levels of success.
More Honors
The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association placed more honors on the LMU crew team as Vanessa Glendenning earned second-team West All-Region honors. The CRCA also named Caitlin McClain, Naomi Hoogesteger, Erin Ludwig and Blake Boyer to the Academic West All-Region team. McClain took the honors a step further, earning First-Team CoSIDA District VIII Academic Honors. With the first-team honor, she was a finalist for the Academic All-America honors. Completing the honors in 2004 was Hoogesteger, McClain, and Ludwig with Academic All-WCC accolades.
Coach Kelly
The 2003-04 season marked the fifth season for Head Coach Patrick Kelly of the men's and women's crew programs. In his five seasons, the Lions have won more Varsity 8 championships in his tenure than any other combined. The accomplishments have earned Kelly two WCC and WIRA Coach of the Year honors. Kelly rowed varsity for the Lions for four seasons and served as team captain in 1987 and 1988.
