April 15, 2007

BERKELEY, CALIF. - The California Golden Bears varsity eight lost to Notre Dame and Louisville, but came out atop against Tennessee, this weekend at the Windermere Crew Classic. Cal was undefeated on all other levels of competition, including the second varsity eight, varsity four, novice eight and third varsity eight.

The varsity eight lost their first race, against No. 16 Notre Dame by more than five seconds. The Fighting Irish led the Bears throughout the 2000 meter course. In their second race on Saturday, Cal fell to Louisville. The Cardinals held a mere .44 second lead after 500 meters, but the Bears couldn't catch up, eventually losing by nearly nine seconds. In the California varsity eight's final race of the weekend, they defeated No. 15 Tennessee. The Volunteers held a .55 second lead after 500 meters. The Bears quickly took the lead, holding a 1.21 second lead at the half way maker and eventually winning by nearly three seconds.

The Cal second varsity defeated Notre Dame, Louisville and Tennessee. The Bears held the lead on Notre Dame for all 2000 meters, finishing 15 seconds ahead of the Fighting Irish. Against Louisville the Bears started off trailing by .88 seconds after 500 meters and 2.8 seconds after 1000 meters. In the last 1000 meters Cal outraced the Cardinals to finish nearly four seconds ahead of Louisville. Cal struggled early against Tennessee, trailing for a majority of the race, but the Bears ultimately finished more than three seconds ahead of the Volunteers.

The Cal varsity four defeated Notre Dame, Louisville and Tennessee. The bears led on Notre Dame throughout the 2000 meter course, finishing nearly three seconds ahead of the Fighting Irish. The Bears started off strong against Louisville, capturing an eight second lead after just 500 meters. Cal rowed to a 25 second victory of the Cardinals. The Tennessee Volunteers trailed Cal for the all 2000 meters, finishing four seconds behind the Bears' boat.

"We made significant changes to all three crews before today's racing," said Cal Head Coach Dave O'Neill. "Our success on Sunday was due in part to the line-up adjustments, but I would say the athletes getting together last night and recognizing they needed to work together as a whole had the biggest impact."

Cal next races against Stanford, Saturday, April 21, 2007, at Redwood Shores. Cal has defeated the Cardinal nine of the past ten years.

Racing Results
Saturday Morning:
V8
1. Notre Dame   7:04.46
2. California   7:10.05
(Cal lineup: cox Krista Ellis, stroke Mara Allen,
7 Megan Smith, 6 Eeva Karppinen, 5 Taryn O'Connell,
4 Erika Blecha, 3 Onna Poeter, 2 Lou Kinder,
bow Lauren Nowinski)
2V8
1. California   7:13.25
2. Notre Dame   7:28.07
(Cal lineup: cox Megan O'Connor, stroke Adrienne Keller,
7 Jennifer Stanton, 6 Rebecca Meissner, 5 Kaiti Seders,
4 Kirsten Hextrum, 3 Elena Humphreys, 2 Ali Seders,
bow Maggie Devine)
V4
1. California   7:40.71
2. Notre Dame   7:43.18
(Cal lineup: cox Becky Pacheco, stroke Melissa Herman,
3 Jessica Smith, 2 Sam Silvia, bow Emmie Koenig)
Princeton 2V8 vs California 3V8
1. California   7:29.17
2. Princeton    7:49.28
Saturday Afternoon:
V8
1. Louisville   7:10.56
2. California   7:19.29
(Cal lineup: cox Krista Ellis, stroke Mara Allen, 7 Megan Smith,
6 Eeva Karppinen, 5 Taryn O'Connell, 4 Erika Blecha, 3 Onna Poeter,
2 Lou Kinder, bow Lauren Nowinski)
2V8
1. California   7:25.88
2. Louisville   7:29.45
(Cal lineup: cox Megan O'Connor, stroke Adrienne Keller,
7 Jennifer Stanton, 6 Rebecca Meissner, 5 Kaiti Seders,
4 Kirsten Hextrum, 3 Elena Humphreys, 2 Ali Seders, bow Maggie Devine)
V4
1. California   8:26.47
2. Louisville   8:50.97
(Cal lineup: cox Becky Pacheco, stroke Melissa Herman, 3 Jessica Smith,
2 Sam Silvia, bow Emmie Koenig)
N8
1. Virginia     7:14.07
2. California   7:41.43
(Cal lineup: cox Michele Schaeffer, stroke Kirsten Campbell,
7 Sydney Ford, 6 Alexis Campbell-Craven, 5 Kelly Lundy,
4 Arielle Fersht, 3 Laurel Kuhn, 2 Kelsey Bates, bow Katie Caves)
Sunday Morning
2V8
1. California   6:41.71
2. Tennessee    6:51.17
(Cal lineup: cox Krista Ellis, Stroke Ali Seders,
7 Jennifer Stanton, 6 Megan Smith, 5 Kaiti Seders, 4 Onna Poeter,
3 Elena Humphreys, 2 Sam Silvia, bow Maggie Devine)
V8
1. California   6:43.75
2. Tennessee    6:46.55
(Cal lineup: cox Megan O'Connor, Stroke Adrienne Keller,
7 Eeva Karppinen,6 Rebecca Meissner, 5 Mara Allen, 4 Taryn O'Connell,
3 Erika Blecha, 2 Lauren Nowinski, bow Lou Kinder)
V4
1. California   7:57.53
2. Tennessee    8:01.66
(Cal lineup: cox Becky Pacheco, Stroke Melissa Herman,
3 Jessica Smith, 2 Kirsten Hextrum, Bow Emmie Koenig)