• 2019 PLU INVITATIONAL RESULTS

LAKEWOOD, Wash. – Seattle Pacific women's crews crossed the finish line first in all six races Saturday in successful start to the 2019 spring rowing season at the PLU Invitational on American Lake.
 
Seven opposing boats were left in their wake as the Falcons three eight-oared boats each registered a pair of open-water victories.
 
"I'm really proud of the team, top to bottom. They did a great job of carrying themselves well and professionally and with a sense of purpose," said Coach Andy Derrick, who begins his third season as SPU's head coach.
 
"They got to enjoy the result of that with the pieces they had and the results that they saw on the water. It's particularly rewarding for them to get to see the product of all their hard work finally start to come to fruition."
 
The meet format featured dual racing with a third entry in selected events.
 
Varsity Eight
The Falcons top boat labored in its first race of the day, eventually pulling away from host Pacific Lutheran to win by just over a boat length. They covered the 2,000-meter course in 7-minutes, 16.3-seconds and the Lutes crossed in 7:21.7.
 
Derrick praised the varsity eight's performance in their second outing, less than two hours later.
 
"Our varsity eight's second race was great. They were our only boat that struggled in their first piece. Our second varsity and third varsity did a really nice job on both pieces, coming out and really taking care of business.
 
"Our varsity struggled a bit more on their very first piece, but they bounced back really well on the second one and were a little bit closer to showing what they're capable of."
 
Into much stronger headwinds than the first race, SPU clocked a time of 7:25.3 to defeat Puget Sound by 19 seconds. The Loggers finished in 7:44.1.
 
Six crew members return from last season's varsity eight, including junior coxswain Jacqueline Kemp. The five veteran rowers are Chloe Remley, Gillian Edgar, Suzanne Stafford, Megan Chalfant and Kaitlin Dickinson.
 
Second Varsity Eight
The second varsity eight crew made a pre-planned change of coxswains between races. That yielded the same result -- a convincing victory.
 
Cecilia Krause directed the crew to a 21-second win over Pacific Lutheran in the early session. The Falcons time was 7:36.5 and PLU's was 7:57.5.
 
Roxy Ruther took the helm for the next race and Seattle Pacific crossed the finish line 25 seconds in front of Puget Sound. The Falcons winning time was 7:55.4 and UPS finished in 8:20.9.
 
SPU's second varsity eight features five returning rowers and three novices. Amanda Larsen stroked the crew that included veterans Samantha Kimmel, Talia Ferguson, Haley Thompson and Gracie Hoidal.
 
Third Varsity Eight
For the first time under Coach Derrick, the Falcons fielded a third varsity eight boat. He began building depth in the program during his previous two years and the result is the largest roster in his tenure with 34 student-athletes.
 
"The depth is really encouraging. We're really trying teach every person on the team that it's their job to be their best so that they push upwards and everyone has to be better to hold onto or to earn that seat," Derrick described. "We're really excited about the fact that we can put three eights on the water and be competitive.
 
"A lot of our success this year will be attributable to the third varsity. Even if we make the NCAA Championships, and they don't get to race at it, we couldn't have done it by just having 12 rowers on the roster."
 
The third varsity crew also switched coxswains between races, giving two freshman a chance to steer the boat in their respective maiden voyages.
 
LeeAnn Arrington coxed the early race against two other crews. SPU recorded a winning time of 7:36.8 followed by Pacific Lutheran in 7:54.6 and Puget Sound in 9:02.5.
 
The afternoon featured another matchup with UPS, and another victory. Keely Long directed the Falcons to a lopsided victory as they crossed in 8:21.9, well ahead of the Loggers, who finished in 9:14.5.
 
The racing wins will both boost confidence and enable the coaches to coax even more out of their crews, according to Derrick.
 
"This really validates the training and how hard we're asking them to work. It really helps with the buy-in and allows us to continue to push them when they see the encouraging results. It gives us a little bit more credit to use to push them just a little bit harder and see if we can't get them to step up to that next level."
 
Next Regatta
The Falcons take a week off from competition before visiting Spokane, Wash. on March 24 for the Gonzaga Invitational. Racing takes place on Silver Lake.
 
 
NCAA Women's Rowing
PLU Invitational
Saturday, March 9, 2019
American Lake / Lakewood, Wash.
(all races 2,000 meters, only SPU events listed)
 
Varsity Eights
First session – 1, Seattle Pacific, 7:16.3; 2, Pacific Lutheran, 7:21.7.
 
Second session – 1, Seattle Pacific, 7:25.3; 2, Puget Sound, 7:44.1.
 
     SPU lineup: cox-Jacqueline Kemp, stroke-Megan Chalfant, 7-Gillian Edgar, 6-Julienne Renne, 5-Suzanne Stafford, 4-Chloe Remley, 3-Shelby Janes, 2-Brooklyn Liberato, bow-Kaitlin Dickinson.
 
 
Second Varsity Eights
First session – 1, Seattle Pacific, 7:36.5; 2, Pacific Lutheran, 7:57.5.
 
     SPU lineup: cox-Cecilia Krause, stroke-Amanda Larsen, 7-Samantha Kimmel, 6-Jennifer Hoag, 5-Talia Ferguson, 4-Tamyra Clark-Hoogstrate, 3-Katy Beth Smith, 2-Haley Thompson, bow-Gracie Hoidal.
 
Second session – 1, Seattle Pacific, 7:55.4; 2, Puget Sound, 8:20.9.
 
     SPU lineup: cox-Roxy Ruther, stroke-Amanda Larsen, 7-Samantha Kimmel, 6-Jennifer Hoag, 5-Talia Ferguson, 4-Tamyra Clark-Hoogstrate, 3-Katy Beth Smith, 2-Haley Thompson, bow-Gracie Hoidal.
 
 
Third Varsity Eights
First session – 1, Seattle Pacific, 7:36.8; 2, Pacific Lutheran, 7:54.6; 3, Puget Sound, 9:02.5.
 
     SPU lineup: cox-LeeAnn Arrington, stroke-Madison Simmons, 7-Katy Graham, 6-Anna White, 5-Lakyn Coppedge, 4-Larissa Schuermyer, 3-Clara Ingraham, 2-Danielle Johnson, bow-Avalon Tarbet-Mendoza.
 
Second session – 1, Seattle Pacific, 8:21.9; 2, Puget Sound, 9:14.5.
 
     SPU lineup: cox-Keely Long, stroke-Madison Simmons, 7-Katy Graham, 6-Anna White, 5-Lakyn Coppedge, 4-Larissa Schuermyer, 3-Emily Geringer, 2-Danielle Johnson, bow-Avalon Tarbet-Mendoza.