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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's rowing team will open the 2014-15 season by competing at the Portland Fall Classic on Sunday, Oct. 26 on the Willamette River. The Bearcats will be represented by a women's varsity 8+ and a women's novice 8+.

"I'm looking forward to seeing both our novices and our varsity pull hard and race well at the Portland Fall Classic this weekend," Willamette Head Coach Reba Knickerbocker said. "Since our varsity missed racing last month due to the cancellation of the Row for the Cure they are even more ready to get out there and see some competition."

The Row for the Cure was canceled due to the growth of toxic blue-green algae in the Willamette River. The problem with the algae has gone away, so the Station L Rowing Club and the Rose City Rowing Club will host this weekend's regatta.

Willamette will open the day in the Women's Collegiate D3/Club Varsity 8+ at 8:39 a.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will be rowing against Lewis & Clark College and the club team form the University of Oregon.

Competing on Willamette's WV8+ will be coxswain Julia Di Simone (Fr., Livermore, CA/Livermore Valley Charter Prep), 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).

Later on Sunday morning, WU will row in the Women's Collegiate/Open Novice 8+ at 11:17 a.m. Also participating in the novice race will be Lewis & Clark, Pacific University, Seattle University and two crews from the University of Portland.

The Willamette WN8+ will be led by Di Simone as the coxswain. Rowing for the Bearcats will be 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.

Willamette will conclude its fall workouts with the Portland Fall Classic. The Bearcats will return to practicing and competing during the spring semester.