News Article


RSS Subscribe to Gonzaga University's News Service RSS Feed

Dateline: 5/14/2009

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS FEATURE

History-Making Zags Win Four Golds at WIRA

Melissa Flint
Head Coach Melissa Flint
The Gonzaga varsity women’s rowing team finished one of its most successful weekends in school history earlier this month, earning gold in all four events on the final day of the 2009 Wester Intercollegiate Rowing AssociationChampionships at Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif. Coming off their 12th West Coast Conference Championship in 13 years, the Bulldogs won gold in the Varsity 8+, Junior Varsity 8+, Novice 8+ and Varsity 4+ to claim the WIRA Efficiency Trophy on May 3.

The sweep marks the first time in school history the Zags claimed gold in all races in which they competed. Last season, Gonzaga took first in the Varsity 8+ and Junior Varsity 8+ and second in the Novice 8+ and Varsity 4+ races. Gonzaga has now won the Varsity 8+ and Novice 8+ three times in the last four years and the Junior Varsity 8+ for the second time in four years.

“This was such an exciting weekend for us,” said head coach Melissa Flint. “We weren't sure coming in how everybody else’s speed was, but like we did all weekend, we just raced our race and got the job done. I cannot explain in words right now what a good weekend this was for our program.”

In the marquee Varsity 8+ race, Gonzaga earned the gold with a time of 6:48.9. The Junior Varsity 8+ won in 7:07.1. In the Novice 8+, the Zags won with a time of 6:57.0. The Varsity 4+ won by 4 seconds with a time of 7:34.7.

Jana Holcombe, Liz Moore and Hanna McClintock garnered All-WIRA first team accolades, while Sierra Tittle and Rachel Ross were tabbed for All-WIRA second team.

The Bulldogs are preparing for the Pacific-10 Championships on Sunday (May 17) at Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif.



May @Gonzaga Newsletter
Click here for more info