April 27, 2005

The West Coast Conference Women's Crew Championship is set for Friday, April 29 with the I Four Race kicking off the regatta at 12:00 p.m. Gonzaga has captured all eight WCC Championships and last season defeated Loyola Marymount by one point for the crown. The event will be held at the 2,000-meter Lake Natoma in Rancho Cordova, California. Following the I Four Race will be the II Eight Race at 12:20 and the I Eight Race at 12:40.

Gonzaga - The Bulldogs have won all eight WCC Championships. Impressive results this season include a 1st place finish at the NCRC Invitational as Gonzaga edged Western Washington University by 4-tenths of a second. The Bulldogs posted two varsity wins at the WCC Challenge with victories over LMU and Santa Clara. The Bulldogs return all-conference selection Karen O'Hagan.

Loyola Marymount - The Lions finished one point behind Gonzaga in last year's WCC Championship. Reigning WCC Coach of the Year winner, Patrick Kelly, leads LMU. The Lions placed third at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival and placed just over a second behind No. 14 ranked USC. LMU won the Petite Finals in the Varsity-8, Second Varsity-8 and Novice-8. LMU returns two all-conference performers in Vanessa Glendenning and Caitlin McClain.

Saint Mary's - The Gaels placed in fifth in last season's championship. SMC defeated Sonoma State at the Redwood Shores Regatta in the varsity-8 race. The Gaels finished second in the Petite Final at the San Diego Crew Classic. At the Sacramento State Invitational, SMC finished second in the Varsity-8 and Varsity-4 races.

San Diego - The Toreros finished third at last year's championship, but have claimed second place finishes in the previous five seasons and in six of the eight championships. USD won the 9th annual Berg Cup with victories in the varsity, JV and novice events. At the WCC Challenge, the Toreros finished third behind second place Gonzaga and winner Loyola Marymount.

Santa Clara - The Broncos placed fourth at last season's WCC Championship. SCU posted a third place finish at the Blue Heron Regatta by winning the Varsity-8 and Novice-4 races. At the Davis Invitational Regatta, the Broncos placed third in the Varsity-8 behind UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara. Santa Clara defeated Sacramento State in four races at the Sacramento State Dual.