Nov. 27, 2001
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This Week
The San Diego State rowing team conlcudes its 2001 fall season on Sunday when it competes in the 34th annual Bill Lockyear Christmas Regatta. The event will be held at Marine Stadium in Long Beach. The event is hosted by the Long Beach Rowing Association. SDSU last competed on Nov. 11 at the San Diego Fall Classic in Mission Bay.
Last Year In Long Beach
SDSU won four of the five events it entered at last season's Long Beach Christmas Regatta. The Aztecs won gold medals in the novice eight, novice four, open pair and open eight events and placed second and fourth in the open four. The highlight of competition came in the open pair race. The pair, stroked by Sarah Snider and Stina Karlsson, started the race off by steering a snake of a course and trailed the lead crew by three boat lengths once they were able to straighten out. The team flew into the last 10 strokes only one length behind and made the final push to take the race. The outing was also key for the freshman novice team which wrapped up an undefeated fall season.
Recapping the San Diego Fall Classic
The Aztecs defended its crown at the San Diego Fall Classic, placing first in the regatta's varsity eight race for the third consecutive year. It was the Aztecs' "A" team that earned the top spot in the varsity eight, racing to a time of 22:26 - 11 seconds faster than its closest competitor. The squad's "B" team finished fifth with a time of 23:12. SDSU also posted wins in the open four and novice eight portion of competition. The Aztecs' "A" boat finished the open four in a time of 24:34. The SDSU Alumni team helped claim a 1-2 sweep in the event with a 25:05 second-place clocking. It was the team's "C" boat that took top honors in the novice eight, crossing the finish line in 24:12. The "A" and "B" teams finished third (24:37) and fifth (24:59), respectively. SDSU also competed in the novice four event where it placed second (24:59).
SDSU This Season
Prior to the San Diego Fall Classic, SDSU was in Newport, Calif., for the Autumn Rowing Festival. The Aztecs came away from that event with four top-five finishes. The team's varsity eight "A" team finished in fifth place in a 22-team field with a time of 16:56. In the day's novice eight event, the SDSU "B" team's time of 18:02 helped it secure second place out of 25 teams. The Aztecs scored a 3-4 finish in the open-four event, with the "A" team finishing in 18:49 and the "B" team in 18:51. The SDSU alumni team, made up of last year's graduates, finished second in the competition with a time of 18:27.
Aztec Coaching Staff
SDSU is led by fifth-year head coach Scott Steckel. Steckel is assisted by Kevin Waldick, in his fourth year with the Aztec program. Steckel is a 1994 graduate of San Diego State and has coached the program since 1993 when it was a club sport. Waldick is also an SDSU alum and rowed on the school's men's club team from 1992-96.
Looking Ahead
SDSU will be in Lake Tahoe, Nev. from Jan. 14-20 for its winter rowing camp. The team is scheduled to scrimmage with Orange Coast College and USD on Feb. 23 in Mission Bay.