Washington State University Athletics

COUGAR ROWING HEADS TO SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC: Washington State rowing hits the road for the first time this spring, traveling to Mission Bay at San Diego for the 2019 San Diego Crew Classic...racing is scheduled to begin at  7:20 a.m., both days, with the varsity eight leaving the starting line at 9:04 a.m., Saturday, followed by the second 
varsity eight at 9:44 a.m...the varsity four is scheduled at 10:08 a.m...while the second varsity four will compete at 
11:48 a.m...Sunday race times will be determined by Saturday's preliminary results.

THE 2019 SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC: In its 46th year, the San Diego Crew Classic is one of the largest regattas in the world and is held for primarily eight-oared rowing shells...it takes place at Mission Bay on a 2,000-meter course...the course begins near the Sea World towers and finishes at Crown Point Shore...the regatta features high school junior programs, collegiate teams, master's clubs, and Olympic-level competition...there will be more than 4,000 athletes competing in over 100 races over the weekend...there are two or three opening heats for each event and the top three teams (for two-heat events) or two teams (for three-heat events) will advance to the Grand Final...for two heat events...the next three finishers advance to the Petite Final, if scheduled...for three heat events, the next two finishers advance to the Petite Final, if scheduled, and the following two finishers advance to the Third Final, if scheduled...WSU will compete in the Women's Collegiate Varsity Invitational - Jessop-Whittier Cup, the Women's Collegiate 2V - Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Memorial Trophy, the Women's Collegiate Varsity 4+ - Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup, and the Women's Collegiate 4+ B Only Final . 

ABOUT THE FIELD: The Cougars will compete against Pac-12 crews including No. 1 Washington, No. 2 California, No. 3 Stanford and UCLA...Cal won the 2018 NCAA Championship, followed by Washington in second...Stanford was fourth at the 2018 NCAAs...last year's third-place finisher, Texas, currently No. 4 n the nation, will also be competing along with Tennessee and Oklahoma...Stanford's lightweight crew, Gonzaga, San Diego State, LMU, Sacramento State, Santa Clara, UC San Diego and San Diego will all be competing as well.

LAST SEASON AT THE SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC: WSU raced three boats at the 2018 San Diego Crew Classic...in a battle for the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Memorial Trophy, the second varsity eight crossed at 7:08.317, placing fourth...WSU's varsity eight placed fifth in its quest for the Jessop-Whittier Cup finishing at 6:51.48...in a quest for the Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup, the Cougar's varsity four followed close behind Oklahoma to place fourth with a time of 8:00.956.

WSU HEAD COACH JANE LARIVIERE ON SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC: "As is always the case with us, it's always about taking another step. We were able to race a couple of times last weekend and the second race was a step up from the first race and what we're looking for this week is another step in the right direction."

WSU HEAD COACH JANE LARIVIERE ON TEAM DYNAMIC: "I think it's been really good, because we were stuck indoors for a lot longer than we usually are and it's a credit to the team that they've kept their heads in a really positive space and we're working really hard and things have been little different this year, but I think because we got a little bit of a late start on the water, they've been extra focused. I think they've used their minutes at the boathouse really well and I'm pretty happy with the progress so far."

COUGARS RECEIVING VOTES IN USROWING/CRCA POLL: WSU is receiving 21 votes in this week's USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Division I Coaches Poll presented by Pocock Racing Shells, released April 3...prior to this week, Washington State was ranked in the top 15 for 41-consecutive weeks dating back to March 25, 2015 and in the top 20 for 110-consecutive weeks dating back to June 11, 2008...five of the seven Pac-12 rowing teams are ranked in the top-20 poll, Washington-first, California-second, Stanford-third, USC-12th, and Oregon State-16th…WSU (21) and UCLA (3) are receiving votes.

COACHING STAFF: Jane LaRiviere is in her 17th year as head coach of the WSU women's rowing program...as a team, the Cougars have raced in 12 NCAA Championships under LaRiviere...she is joined by associate head coach Karl Huhta, assistant/novice coach Brandon Campbell, assistant coach Dave Kempsell, coordinator of operations Amy VanBuskirk, and graduate assistant Olivia Hecimovich...Huhta is in his fifth year with the Cougars, and second year as associate head coach...Campbell is entering his fourth year...Kempsell comes in for his second year, his first as an assistant coach with the Cougars after serving as the graduate assistant last year.
 
NEXT FOR THE COUGARS: The Cougars head southeast to South Carolina to compete at the Clemson Invitational at Lake Hartwell, at Clemson, S.C...the two day event will be held Friday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20.

REMAINING SPRING SEASON SCHEDULE:
Date                     Day             Opponent                                         Site

April 19-20            Fri.-Sat.     Clemson Invitational                      Clemon, S.C. (Lake Hartwell)
April 27                 Saturday    Gonzaga                                          Pullman, Wash. (Wawawai Landing)
May 19                 Sunday       Pac-12 Championships                 Gold River, Calif. (Lake Natoma)
May 31-June 2     Fri.-Sun.     NCAA Rowing Championships     Indianapolis, Ind. (Eagle Creek Park)