Oct. 30, 2009

PHOTO GALLERY

Pullman, Wash. - The Washington State University women's rowing team defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the seventh annual Head of the Snake Regatta Friday, Oct. 30. The Cougars finished four of seven boats ahead of Gonzaga, despite unfavorable weather conditions.

The Snake River lived up to the reputation Friday afternoon. Earlier this week Gonzaga men's head rowing coach Dan Gehn said the Snake River can either be a garden snake or a pit viper. Intermittent strong wind gusts caused whitecaps and forced a 45 minute delay of the first flight. Race officials nearly cancelled races, but the weather held out and all flights were able to proceed.

"Today it was a bit of a viper," WSU head coach Jane LaRiviere said, "but most important right now is just getting out and racing."

All four WSU varsity boats finished in front of Gonzaga for the second straight week. The Cougar varsity eight (Erica Lewis-bow, Annie Eastwood, Hannah Rothstrom, Katie Dick, Lisa Roman, Irena Neffeova, Natasha Ostopovich, Kyann Martin-stroke, Corina Chilibeck-cox) finished with a time of 15:17.52, approximately 51 seconds faster than the Bulldog varsity eight. Second varsity eight (Kasia Rademacher-bow, Danya Levesque, Ann Hoag, Sarah Powell, Crystal Martin, Erika Jorgensen, Christina Kinck, Sarah Wolff-stroke, Cayla Ravancho-cox) and third varsity eight (Jessica Start-bow, Katie Wollstein, Liz England, Leah Smith, Corinna Sharick, Tamara Jonoubeh, Josie Lallemand, Lauren Johnson-stroke, Lexi Ryman-cox) each finished approximately 30 seconds in front of their Gonzaga counterparts, finishing with times of 16:17.87 and 16:39.01 respectively. The WSU fourth varsity eight (Liz Beck-bow, Kelsey Lounsbury, Kelly Brashers, Cortnee Whittington, Allie Reilly, Alison Smith, Johanna Gerig, Rachel McNeil-stroke, Rachel Johnson-cox) also finished with a faster time than the Bulldog third varsity eight, finishing with a time of 17:01.33.

Each of the three Cougar novice boats dropped its race against the Bulldogs. The WSU novice eight and second novice eight finished with times of 18:16.75 and 19:11.76 respectively. In the closest contest of the regatta, the Cougar third novice finished approximately five seconds in front of the Gonzaga third novice eight, finishing with a time of 19:20.77.

Next week the Cougars will travel to Seattle to compete in the Head of the Lake Regatta Sunday, Nov. 8. The event is hosted by Pac-10 rival Washington.

Head of the Snake
Pullman, Wash.
October 30, 2009

Varsity Eight: 1. WSU 15:17.52; Gonzaga 16:08.35

Second Varsity Eight: 1. WSU 16:17.87; 2. Gonzaga 16:49.92

Third/Fourth Varsity: 1. WSU3 16:39.01; 2. WSU4 17:01.33; 3. Gonzaga 17:15.20

Novice Eight: 1. Gonzaga 17:26.05; 2. WSU 18:16.75

Second Novice Eight: 1. Gonzaga 18:59.86; 2. WSU 19:11.76

Third Varsity Eight: 1. Gonzaga 19:20.77; 2. WSU 19:25.73