April 29, 2011

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - LMU's hopes for a second West Coast Conference championship were dashed on Friday when San Diego rowed off with its second straight conference crown at Lake Natoma. The Lions, who won the event in 2006, placed fifth in the 2011 event while senior Mary Foster was named to the All-WCC team.

A cool, windy morning on Lake Natoma saw USD clinch the crown for the second consecutive season by sweeping all three events. The Toreros totalled 36 points to finish six points clear of Gonzaga. Saint Mary's was third with 24 points and conference newcomers Creighton placed fourth with 16. LMU was fifth with 14 points and Santa Clara sixth with five.

The day started with the varsity four race, with LMU's boat of coxswain Olivia Eischeneer, Uzui Amandla, Jennifer Boucer, Kiana Otsuka, and Allie Shorin finishing fifth in a time of 9:14.3 USD set the tone for its overall victory with a three-second win over Gonzaga.

The Second Varsity 8 was next up, with LMU's eight rowing home turning in the top Lion performance of the day with a fourth-place finish. The line-up of coxswain Jen Koester, Cassidy Baine, P.K. Carey-Jones, Danielle Ciraulo, Ku'ulei Lake, Liz LaLonde, Harriet Russell, Kerry Small, and Ally Wilches rowed home in 7:32.3. The top three for the race did not change from the varsity four, with USD outrowing Gonzaga and Saint Mary's.

The final race of the day was the marquee event in the varsity 8 and many schools jockeying for final placing. LMU took to the water with a veteran lineup of coxswain Kayla Pietruszka, Maggie Boze, Shannon Craig, Chris Erhart, Mary Foster, Michelle Herrerias, Hanna Osborne, Katrina Regan, and Alex Silva but could not overcome the strong showing by the top three. LMU's time of 7:34.7 narrowly trailed that of Creighton (7:32.8), who placed fourth.

At the post-race awards ceremony, Foster capped her career with her first All-WCC selection. Earlier this week, the senior was a finalist for the LMU Female Athlete of the Year and Female Student-Athlete of the Year awards.

WCC Women's Rowing Championships
Friday, April 29, 2010
Lake Natoma (Rancho Cordova, California)

Final Standings
San Diego 36
Gonzaga 30
Saint Mary's 24
Creighton 16
Loyola Marymount 14
Santa Clara 5

I Four Race Official Results
1. San Diego (cox: Kristin Jones; Madison Browning; Melanie Lucas-Conwell; Lauren Rollins; Hannah Whitney) 7:58.8
2. Gonzaga (cox: Jordan Schroeder; Corrine Gould; Madison Keaty; Alex Pollastro; Renee Wyman) 8:01.8
3. Saint Mary's (cox: Kaila Garza; Ann Boyd; Brandy Cho; Olivia Hua; Chelsea Serrano) 8:30.5
4. Creighton (cox: Kristina Ward; Katie Daugherty; Tayler Davis; Morgan McEnery; Molly Meister) 8:49.4
5. Loyola Marymount (cox: Olivia Eischeneer; Uzuri Amandla; Jennifer Boucher; Kiana Otsuka; Allie Shorin) 9:14.3

II Eight Race Official Results
1. San Diego 7:09.5
(cox: Kaitlin Soper; Maggie Cole; Lindsey Dornes; Stephanie Jegat; Brittany Johnson; Nichole Norby; Lisa O'Toole; Jennifer Travis; Hannah Ward)
2. Gonzaga 7:14.1
(cox: Nicky Talkington; Grace Ditzler; Tayler Drake; Olivia Miller; Courtney Norris; Agatha Oleksiak; Christine Powers; Maryssa Thompson; Therese Yranni)
3. Saint Mary's 7:24.2
(cox: Lisa Wickheim; Rachel Alvarez; Taylor Balian; AnaKarina Castrillo; Maryann Concannon; Alex Iwaszewicz; Nathalie Lambrecht; Jillian Parlee; Nicolette Pierantoni)
4. Loyola Marymount 7:32.3
(cox: Jen Koester; Cassidy Baine; P.K. Carey-Jones; Danielle Ciraulo; Ku'ulei Lake; Elizabeth LaLonde; Harriet Russell; Kerry Small; Ally Wilches)
5. Creighton 7:44.4
(cox: Hayley Pilcher; Whitney Jenich; Nicole Kamada; Maggie Miller; Kathryn Mindt; Christina Moore; Lauren Roknich; Hilary Van Noort; Laura Jo Washle)
6. Santa Clara 8:03.8
(cox: Brittany Meyer; Vanessa Delgado; Kayla Edquilane; Berkeley Fial; Melissa Giorgi; Melanie Lara; Cora Lemar; Samantha Meredith; Estelle Richardson)

I Eight Race Official Results
1. San Diego 6:56.9
(cox: Allyn DeLozier; Taylar Albertini; Taylor Caldwell; Michelle Geesman; Brianna Lamb; Courtney Olson; Hannah Patrick; Gina Schneider; Marilyn Smith)
2. Gonzaga 6:58.5
(cox: Natalie Wolfrom; Sammi Koppinger; Teddi McGuire; Christy Mentele; Elise Perkins; Chelsea Quilling; Rachel Schlosser; Paula Welly; Hannah Winters)
3. Saint Mary's 7:23.0
(cox: Marrah Galvin; Haley Adams; Christina Bennett; Jordan Bonadio; Savina Brown; Michelle Burns; Dana Cook; Deanna Estes; Laura Kocourek)
4. Creighton 7:32.8
(cox: Ellie Ritchey; Anne Beethe; Alex Blomquist; Meg Blue; Kim Boehm; Kayla Heimerman; Emily Keating; Lauren Klick; Christine Koehler)
5. Loyola Marymount 7:34.7
(cox: Kayla Pietruszka; Maggie Boze; Shannon Craig; Chris Erhart; Mary Foster; Michelle Herrerias; Hanna Osborne; Katrina Regan; Alex Silva)
6. Santa Clara 7:36.4
(cox: Caitlin Cutting; Katie Caudle; Deanna Clark; Rachel Donohoe; Adrienne Lohe; Blair Mitchell; Laurel Schuster; Hilary Stewart; Jillian Walker)

2011 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year
Kim Cupini, San Diego

2011 West Coast Conference Coxswain of the Year
Allyn DeLozier, San Diego

2011 All-West Coast Conference Team
Jordan Bonadio, Saint Mary's
Taylor Caldwell, San Diego
Mary Foster, LMU
Kayla Heimerman, Creighton
Sami Koppinger, Gonzaga
Hannah Patrick, San Diego
Rachel Schlosser, Gonzaga
Gina Schneider, San Diego
Jillian Walker, Santa Clara