April 4, 2002
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This Week
After a week away from competition for spring break, the San Diego State rowing team returns to action on Saturday and Sunday at the world famous Crew Classic to be held on Mission Bay. The classic is considered the nation's premier early-season regatta, with crews from the East Coast and Midwest making the trip West. This year's event will feature a record number of rowers (3,240) in a record number of races (96).
The Schedule
This year's regatta will featured 53 events on Saturday alone. SDSU is set to compete in heat "A" of the Cal Cup (varsity eight), the junior varsity eight "B" heat and the novice eight's "C" heat. The preliminary heats will take place at 7:30 a.m., 10:10 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively. On Sunday, 43 events are scheduled, featuring the petite and grand finals. The top qualifiers from Saturday's competition will compete in the grand finals, while the second selection of top times will compete in the petite finals. Sunday's events begin at 7:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. For a full schedule of events and results visit www.crewclassic.com
In Good Company
The regatta will feature several of the nation's top collegiate teams, with top-ranked Washington, sixth-ranked Virginia, ninth-ranked Southern California and 11th-ranked California on the short list of those making an appearance.
Last Year At The Classic
The Aztecs clocked in at 7:21.41, good for third in the petite final of the Jessop-Whittier Cup (varsity eight) race. SDSU also crossed the line third (7:23.52) in the petite final of the novice eight.
Looking Ahead
The team is schedule to compete at the San Diego City Championships on April 13 and the WIRA Championships on May 4-5. The squad closes out the season on May 18-19 at the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships.
Recapping Southern California
The Aztecs took home three first-place finishes from its competition on Saturday against Southern California at the USC Boathouse on the Port of Los Angeles. The morning began with a novice eight "A" and a novice eight "B" race. SDSU crossed the finish line first in each, winning by four seconds (7:32.4) in the "A" race and 22 seconds (7:49.6) in the "B" race. SDSU went on to win the varsity four race in a time of 8:31.5, while USC trailed at 9:28.5. The Trojans were ahead by a length in the second varsity eight race, but SDSU was able to pull even and finish neck-and-neck at 7:23.6. USC's only win of the day came in the varsity eight event. The Trojans finished in 6:45.3 and the Aztecs in 7:16.6.
First Novice Eight
1. San Diego State - 7:32.4 2. USC - 7:36.5
Second Varsity Eight
1t. San Diego State - 7:23.6 1t. USC - 7:23.6
Second Novice Eight
1. San Diego State - 7:49.6 2. USC - 8:11.1
Varsity Eight
1. USC - 6:45.3 2. San Diego State - 7:16.6
Varsity Four
1. San Diego State - 8:31.5 2. USC - 9:28.5
Aztec Coaching Staff
SDSU is led by fifth-year head coach Scott Steckel. Steckel is assisted by Kevin Waldick, who is in his fourth year with the Aztec program and first-year assistant Meredith Johnson. 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. Johnson is also a graduate of SDSU and was an All-American rower for the Aztecs in 2000.