May 7, 2001
This Week
The San Diego State women's rowing team closes out its regular season with a trip to Rancho Cordova, Calif., this weekend to compete in the Pacific Coast Rowing championships Saturday and the Pacific-10 championships Sunday. Both events will be held on Lake Natoma.
Saturday's Schedule
The Aztecs will compete in the second heat of the novice four at Saturday's Pacific Coast Rowing championships. The race is scheduled for 8:50 a.m. and puts SDSU against Santa Clara, Chapman, UC Santa Barbara, Oregon and Portland. The top three finishers in each heat advance to the grand final at 2:40 p.m.
Sunday's Schedule
SDSU's varsity four, novice eight, junior varsity eight and varsity eight will compete in the Pac-10 championships. The Aztecs will race in the second heat of the varsity four at 8:10 a.m, the second heat of the novice eight at 9:10 a.m., the first heat of the junior varsity eight at 9:20 a.m. and the third heat of the varsity eight at 10 a.m. Grand finals will be held in the afternoon starting with the varsity four at 12:10 p.m., novice eight at 1:20 p.m., junior varsity eight at 1:40 p.m. and the varsity eight at 2:40 p.m.
Last Week
The Aztecs' varsity four squad extended its win streak to two after racing to a first-place finish in last Saturday's Opening Day Windermere Cup Regatta in Seattle. SDSU completed the 2,000-meter course in 7:25.83 ahead of the Washington "A" boat that clocked in at 7:26.65. Washington State (7:28.57) took third-place honors followed by Seattle Pacific (7:36.81) and the Washington "B" team (7:37.96). The Aztec win came on the heels of a top finish at the WIRA championships on Lake Natoma on April 28.
At Last Year's Pac-10 Championships
Highlighting the team's performance at last year's Pac-10 regatta was its first-place finish by the novice eight. SDSU's varsity eight finished fifth in the petite final with the Aztecs racing to a time of 7:00.9 and holding off Colorado (7:09.6). The Aztecs' second varsity eight placed sixth in the grand final with a time of 8:14.0.
At Last Year's Pacific Coast Rowing Championships
SDSU's lightweight four raced to a time of 7:17.3, good for third place in the Pacific Coast Rowing championships. The Aztecs finished fifth (8:16.8) in the novice four.
Coaching Staff
SDSU is led by third-year head coach Scott Steckel. Steckel is assisted by Kevin Waldick, in his third year with the program, and Helen Bentancourt in her first year.
Looking Ahead
The NCAA championships will be held May 25-27 on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga. The championship field is made up of 10 teams selected at-large by the rowing committee. In addition, nine eight-woman boats from schools not represented in the 10 will also be picked. Selection day is May 15.