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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University will participate in the first-ever Northwest Conference Rowing Championship on Sunday, April 19 at Vancouver Lake in Vancouver, Washington. Following the NWC Championship, the Bearcats also will row in the Cascade Cup, which are also set for Sunday at Vancouver Lake.

The Bearcats will participate in the women's varsity 8+ race at the NWC Championship. WU will have a boat in the women's novice four+ during the Cascade Cup.

In the WV8+, Willamette will be in lane five, with the race set to begin at 9:15 a.m. (PDT). The WN4+ at the Cascade Cup will start at 12:15 p.m.

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.

"The first varsity is ready to be competitive against other NWC crews, while at the same time continuing to refine our technique and find our rhythm," Willamette Head Coach Reba Knickerbocker said. "Our growth as a competitive Northwest Conference crew continues to increase, and with more racing will come more speed."

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).

Also competing in the NWC Championships will be Lewis & Clark College, Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound. All five teams will be represented in the WV8+. Willamette will be rowing against the UPS novice four in the WN4+ during the Cascade Cup.

"The Cascade Cup event will be our first regatta with this novice four lineup," Knickerbocker noted. "These novices are excited to be racing. They see this as an opportunity to develop their racing skills against a very competitive UPS crew."