Apr 30- The Gonzaga rowing team captured its eighth straight WCC rowing championship Friday afternoon, edging Loyola Marymount by one point at Lake Natoma. Gonzaga accumulated 26 points to finish in first place overall, followed by LMU, which posted its highest-ever finish at second place with 25 points. San Diego finished third overall with 18 points followed by Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s.

Loyola Marymount claimed the I-Eight event for the first time in WCC Championship history, finishing with a time of 6:49.50. Gonzaga captured second place with a time of 6:59.52, while San Diego came in third with a time of 7:04.39. Santa Clara finished fourth at 7:15.37, and Saint Mary’s rounded out the field with a 7:37.75 mark.

In the II-Eight event, Gonzaga finished first for the fourth straight year with a time of 7:08.50, while LMU collected second place with a time of 7:13.00. San Diego captured third place, finishing in 7:26.65, and Santa Clara came in fourth with a time of 7:37.63. Saint Mary’s did not enter a boat in the II-Eight event.

Saint Mary’s won the I-Four event with a time of 7:52.30, marking the second time in three years that the Gaels took first in the race. Gonzaga was was edged out of first place after finishing with a time of 7:55.65, while San Diego came in third with a time of 8:19.09. LMU finished fourth, posting an 8:38.78 mark and Santa Clara came in fifth at 8:43.62.

The Bulldogs were rewarded for their first place finish by landing four members on the all-conference team in Maria Bokulich, Kristi Aamodt, Karen O’Hagan, and coxwain Courtney Serpa. LMU placed two members on the all-conference team in Caitlin McClain and Vanessa Glendenning. Rounding out the all-conference team were SMC’s Breanne Jackson, San Diego’s Kelsey Watters and Santa Clara’s Amanda Kremer. LMU’s Patrick Kelly was named the Coach of the Year.

I Eight
1. Loyola Marymount, 6:49.50, 15 pts
2. Gonzaga, 6:59.52, 12 pts
3. San Diego, 7:04.39, 9 pts
4. Santa Clara, 7:15.37, 6 pts
5. Saint Mary's, 7:37.75, 3 pts

II Eight
1. Gonzaga, 7:08.50, 10 pts
2. Loyola Marymount, 7:13.00, 8 pts
3. San Diego, 7:26.65, 6 pts
4. Santa Clara, 7:37.63, 4 pts

I Four
1. Saint Mary’s, 7:52.30, 5 pts
2. Gonzaga, 7:55.65, 4 pts
3. San Diego, 8:19.09, 3 pts
4. Loyola Marymount, 8:38.78, 2 pts
5. Santa Clara, 8:43.62, 1 pt

2004 All-West Coast Conference Rowing Team
Maria Bokulich, Gonzaga
Kristi Aamodt, Gonzaga
Karen O’Hagan, Gonzaga
Caitlin McClain, Loyola Marymount
Vanessa Glendenning, Loyola Marymount
Breanne Jackson, Saint Mary’s
Kelsey Watters, San Diego
Amanda Kremer, Santa Clara
Coxswain-Courtney Serpa, Gonzaga

COACH OF THE YEAR
Patrick Kelly Loyola Marymount