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Pioneer Crew concludes season at WIRA Championships
By Sam Taylor
Rancho Cordova, CA- Pioneer Crew concluded the
2010 season Sunday with two finals at the Western Intercollegiate
Rowing Association Championships, held on Lake Natoma.
The women's varsity eight raced in the Division II/III/Club event. On Saturday they placed third in their heat, behind Humboldt State and Willamette and ahead of University of California, San Diego and Mills College, to advance to Sunday's Grand Final. Racing the Grand with some of the strongest DII/III programs on the west coast, the Pioneers were challenged in the strong cross-wind and ended with a sixth-place finish. This is only the second grand final appearance for a Pioneer women's eight and represents a third-place finish among Division III crews on the west coast.
"In the end we did very well for our level of experience," Said Head Coach Sam Taylor, "I think in optimal conditions we could have pulled out another gear in the grands but those were some good crews and we're still a young group. I'm looking forward to getting these folks back hungry next fall."
The event also served as a sendoff for the Pioneer Women's lone senior, Jess Asbridge, who competed at five seat of the varsity eight.
The Men's varsity eight was fired up and ready to go after it following their close 3rd place at Conference and the NCRC team championships. In their Saturday heat they fought hard all the way but ended up in the fastest heat of the day and were fifth; four seats back of qualifying for the Petite final. "Really hard day for the men's 8+," said Head Coach Sam Taylor, "They improved twenty or thirty seconds from the last time we had an eight here at WIRA, took huge strides forward, and ended up by far in the fastest heat. We were faster then we've ever been, rowed better, moved closer to Puget Sound, and in the end we'll be in the 3rd final. They're satisfied with their effort, though, and fired up to show what they can do again tomorrow."
Contesting the third final Sunday
the Pioneers broke open water before 500 meters and powered their
way to a 13-second win for 13th place overall. The men's crew
had two seinors; Brandon Adams held down the three seat and
Coxswain Anna Tapfer called the race for the Pioneers.
The Women's novice eight raced twice Saturday, starting off with a
4th-place finish to advance to the Petite final Saturday
afternoon. With places 7-12 on the line, the Pioneers had a
slow start but again showed their fitness and finishing speed,
working their way through the field and pushing all the way up to
2nd by the finish line. With only NCRC champions Humboldt
ahead of them in the Petite final, the Pioneers are very
satisfied with their 8th-overall placing. "Great day for our
novice women," said Coach Taylor, "they're an awesome class and
will be the strength of the future for the women's program.
We managed to improve our results from conference by one place-
beat out UPS, UCSD, OCC, and some other traditionally strong
programs. To be top-10 in this association is a great
result."
This concludes the Pioneers spring season.
