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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's rowing team will compete against the Chico State (Calif.) club team on Thursday, March 28 at the Forebay Aquatic Center near Oroville, California. Willamette and Chico State will race in the women's varsity 8+ and the women's novice 8+.

Willamette has been holding practice during Spring Training at Forebay this week in preparation for the regatta.

"It will be a great opportunity to see a crew from outside the Northwest Conference," WU Head Coach Reba Knickerbocker said. "We haven't raced against Chico State so we have no idea what to expect in terms of speed or competition."

Participating for Willamette in the WV8+ will be coxswain Julia Di Simone (Fr., Livermore, CA/Livermore Valley Charter Prep) along with Katy Wallner (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS) at stroke, Hannah Puckett (So., Davis, CA/Davis HS) at 7-seat, Abby Bernhard (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) at 6-seat, Carrie Moore (Fr., Walla Walla, WA/South Eugene 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 Sarah Fish (Jr., Issaquah, WA/Holy Names Academy) at bow.

Di Simone also will coxswain the Bearcats in the WN8+. The novice crew includes 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.

The WN8+ race will be held at 6:30 a.m. (PDT). The WV8+ will start at 7:10 a.m.

After taking on Chico State, the Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, April 11 at American Lake in Tacoma, Wash. In addition to Willamette, the regatta will include Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, Lewis & Clark College and Pacific University.