Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 30, 2009

WOMEN'S COLLEGE ROWING: WWU rowing team on TV

Highlights of Western Washington University's fifth consecutive NCAA Division II national championship in women's rowing can be seen Saturday, July 4, at 11 a.m. on KIRO TV (Ch. 7) as CBS presents the 2009 NCAA Championships Spring Highlight Show.

The program includes footage of the national championship rowing races held May 31 at Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on the Cooper River.

Western's accomplishment was the first time that a team in any NCAA rowing division has won five straight titles since the NCAA began a rowing championship in 1997.

The Vikings' eight, which completed a perfect season with 10 wins in 10 races, won its 2,000-meter grand final in a time of 6:52.60, over a boat length ahead of second-place Mercyhurst PA (6:57.22).

Western, coached by John Fuchs, was second in the fours grand final, edging third-place Mercyhurst by just two seats on the last two strokes. Nova Southeastern FL won that race in 7:53.64. The Vikings were clocked in 7:57.34 and Mercyhurst in 7:57.70.

Western took the team title with 18 points, followed by Mercyhurst 13, Nova Southeastern 11 and Philadelphia 3.

The Vikings entered the championship regatta ranked No.2 nationally in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II Poll, with Mercyhurst No.1.

Western has not lost to a non-Division I school in varsity eight competition since 2004.

Seated in Western's eight were coxswain Kristy Theodorson, stroke Casey Mapes, No. 7 Audrey Coon, No. 6 Jean Piette, No. 5 Heather Kelly, No. 4 Katie Woolsey, No. 3 Megan Northey, No. 2 Madeleine Eckmann and bow Kate Berni.

The Vikings' four was made up of coxswain Samantha Oberholzer, stroke Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, No. 3 Hilary Gastwirth, No. 2 Siri Carlson and bow Hannah Gallagher.