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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University participated in its first rowing action of the spring season at the Haag Lake Invitational Regatta on Saturday, March 14. The Bearcats competed in the Women's Varsity 8+, the Women's Second Varsity 8+ and the Women's Novice 8+.

Conditions were difficult for all of the team with a quartering tailwind and plenty of rain. The wind blew crews into shore and forced many realignments during the regatta.

Willamette placed second once and third once in the two races held for the WV8+. The Bearcats were third in the W2V8+ and fourth in the WN8+.

"Overall, it was a good day of competition for us," Willamette Head Coach Reba Knickerbocker said. "In reflecting on the challenges that we have handled over the last 3 to 4 weeks -- athlete illness, coach illness, fog that kept us off the water, lack of water that kept us off the water, I think we went out to compete and to engage in a bit of a fact-finding mission.

"We absolutely competed," Knickerbocker added. "We also answered questions about what worked well and about what we need to focus on heading into spring training week."

In the first race involving the WV8+, Lewis & Clark College took first place in 7:21.9. Willamette was second at 7:33.9 and Pacific University was third at 8:36.2. The second WV8+ race was won by the University of Oregon club team at 7:27.1. Lewis & Clark was close behind in second at 7:29.9, while Willamette was third in 7:44.6.

The varsity crews from Pacific and Oregon each competed in just one of the WV8+ races.

Rowing in Willamette's WV8+ boat were coxswain Julia Di Simone (Fr., Livermore, CA/Livermore Valley Charter Prep), stroke Katy Wallner (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS), 7-seat Hannah Puckett (So., Davis, CA/Davis HS), 6-seat Abby Bernhard (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), 5-seat Carrie Moore (Fr., Walla Walla, WA/South Eugene HS), 4-seat Bea McAlister (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor HS), 3-seat Angela Witty (Jr./Fr., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS), 2-seat Molly Pritchard (So., Medford, OR/South Medford HS), and bow Sarah Fish (Jr., Issaquah, WA/Holy Names Academy).

Willamette's second boat, filled with novice rowers, competed in the Women's Second Varsity 8+ and the Women's Novice 8+. The Bearcats were third in the W2V8+ and took fourth in the WN8+.

The W2V8+ was won by Oregon with a time of 7:57.4. Lewis & Clark placed second at 8:05.2 and Willamette was third at 8:53.3.

In the WN8+, Oregon prevailed in 8:10.2, with L&C in second place at 8;18.1. Pacific finished third at 8:39.3 and Willamette was fourth in 8:45.5.

Competing in the W2V8+ and the WN8+ for the Bearcats were coxswain Sidney Gallardo (So., Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico/Oaxaca Christian School), Sophia Nordt (Fr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) at stroke, Elsa Roush (Fr., Jackson Hole, WA/Jackson Hole HS) at 7-seat, Sarah Crabb (Fr., Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS) at 6-seat, Ingrid Avila (Fr., Redwood City, CA/Summit Prep) at 5-seat, Navi Hewage (Fr., Walnut Creek, CA/Northgate HS) at 4-seat, Brenda Mittlebuscher (Fr., Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) at 3-seat, Gillian Weisenfluh (Fr., Atherton, CA/Menlo Atherton HS) at 2-seat, and Holly Walsh (Fr., Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon HS) at bow.

"I think it's important to note that our novices competed at this 2,000-meter distance for the very first time,"Willamette Head Coach Reba Knickerbocker said. "They raced with boats next to them for the first time, and raced twice in one day for the very first time."

After starting their spring training week, the Bearcats will compete against Chico State (Calif.) on Thursday, March 26 at the Forebay Aquatic Center near Oroville, Calif.

"I'm looking forward to seeing both crews gain speed and confidence over the next 2 to 3 weeks," Knickerbocker said.