SAN DIEGO – No. 15 Washington State University rowing saw all of its four crews advance to the Grand Final in each of their respective races at the San Diego Crew Classic, Saturday, on Mission Bay at San Diego. The Cougars placed in the top two in three of the preliminary heats.

"It was productive to race against tough competition, and it's good to be on to the Grand Finals," said WSU head coach Jane LaRiviere. "We need to get off the line a lot better, and are looking forward to another crack at it tomorrow."
 
WSU's varsity eight (coxswain – Jenna Mangiagli, Emily Thomson, Isabella Watt, Nicole Hare, Lucie Weissova, Ieva Adomaviciute, Paige Danielson, Kristel Tohu, Mihaela-Teodora Berindei) led off the day in preliminary racing for the Jessop-Whittier Cup. In the second of two heats, WSU battled with Pac-12 opponent, No. 13 USC, and the Trojans were able to edge the Cougars, crossing at 6:28.784. WSU finished at 6:34.521, in second, and qualified for the Grand Final, along with the Trojans and third-place British Columbia. No. 6 Texas, No. 12 Wisconsin, and UCLA finished first, second, and third, respectively, in the first heat of the day to take the other three spots in the six-crew Grand Final. The race for the Jessop-Whittier Cup will be at 10:16 a.m., Sunday.
 
The Cougar varsity four (coxswain – Mikaelyn Davis, Kamila Ondrackova, Renee Kemp, Jessica Newson, Rosalina Torcivia) competed in the third preliminary heat of the Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup, and squared off against No. 12 Wisconsin, San Diego State, and Saint Mary's. WSU and No. 12 Wisconsin ended up well ahead of the pack, with the Badgers crossing first at 7:17.892, and the Cougars following at 7:33.961. In the second heat, Pac-12 crews No. 13 USC and UCLA also qualified for the Grand Final. No. 6 Texas and San Diego were the top-two finishers in first heat. The Grand Final is set for 11:56 a.m., Sunday.
 
WSU claimed second in a third-straight race, Saturday, when the second varsity eight (coxswain – Ellie Burg, Emily Morrow, Brittany Brooks, Chloe Rogers, Ivy Elling Quaintance, Jenna Kennedy, Lori VerMurlen, Jessi Howe, Taija Thompson) was edged by No. 12 Wisconsin in preliminary racing for the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Memorial Trophy. Racing in the third heat, the Cougars finished six seconds behind the Badgers at 6:40.777. Both crews qualified for the Grand Final, along with No. 13 USC and UCLA in the second heat and No. 6 Texas and Tennessee in the first heat. Grand Final racing for the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Memorial Trophy is scheduled for 9:52 a.m., Sunday.
 
The first day of the two-day regatta ended with the WSU open eight (coxswain- Hannah Welzbacker, Grace Arnis, Jill Hannink, Sara Brevick, Miranda Armstrong, Miranda Strickland, Codi Swenson, Mahal Johnson, Sue Yu) placing third in preliminary racing for the Carley Copley Cup. In the only preliminary heat, WSU crossed the finish line at 7:17.680 behind No. 13 USC (7:13.666) and the Stanford lightweight open eight, which won at 7:07.700. All seven crews from the preliminary race advanced to the Grand Final, which kicks off at 1:28 p.m., Sunday.
 
The Cougars wrap up the San Diego Crew Classic, Sunday, competing for Grand Final victories in each of their four races at Mission Bay. WSU's first race leaves the starting line at 8:40 a.m. Results can be found at www.herenow.com and a free live stream of the racing is available on the USRowing YouTube page.
 
San Diego Crew Classic
Saturday, April 1 | 8:48 a.m. | Mission Bay
Results – 65° & Sunny –

Women's Collegiate Varsity 8+ Jessop-Whittier Heat B
1. No. 13 USC, 6:28.785
2. No. 15 Washington State, 6:34.521
3. British Columbia, 6:37.319
4. San Diego, 6:38.375
 
WSU Varsity Eight Lineup
coxswain-Jenna Mangiagli
stroke-Emily Thomson
7-Isabella Watt
6-Nicole Hare
5-Lucie Weissova
4-Ieva Adomaviciute
3-Paige Danielson
2-Kristel Tohu
bow-Mihaela-Teodora Berindei
 
Women's Collegiate Varsity 4+ Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup Heat B
1. No. 12 Wisconsin, 7:17.892
2. No. 15 Washington State, 7:33.961
3. San Diego State, 7:55.639
4. Saint Mary's, 8:19.466
 
WSU Varsity Four Lineup
coxswain-Mikaelyn Davis
4-Kamila Ondrackova
3-Renee Kemp
2-Jessica Newson
bow-Rosalina Torcivia
 
Women's Collegiate 2V 8+ Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Memorial Trophy Heat C
1. No. 12 Wisconsin, 6:34.741
2. No. 15 Washington State, 6:40.777
3. British Columbia, 6:52.171
4. San Diego State, 6:52.180
5. Santa Clara, 7:29.351
 
WSU Second Varsity Eight Lineup
coxswain-Ellie Burg
stroke-Emily Morrow
7-Brittany Brooks
6- Chloe Rogers
5-Ivy Elling Quaintance
4-Jenna Kennedy
3-Lori VerMurlen
2-Jessi Howe
bow-Taija Thompson
 
Women's Open 8+ Carley Copley Cup Preliminary
1. Stanford Lightweight, 7:07.700
2. No. 13 USC, 7:13.666
3. No. 15 Washington State, 7:17.680
4. San Diego, 7:18.658
5. Long Beach State, 7:43.826
6. UC Santa Barbara, 7:44.900
7. Colorado, 7:53.924
 
WSU Open Eight Lineup
coxswain-Hannah Welzbacker
stroke-Grace Arnis
7-Jill Hannink
6-Sara Brevick
5-Miranda Armstrong
4-Miranda Strickland
3-Codi Swenson
2-Mahal Johnson
bow-Sue Yu