Sharksandkiller whales step aside.After the pasttwo weekendperformances,the new queen ofthewater is the Aggie.
After the UC Davis women’s water polo team won a conference titlelast weekend,the women’s rowing team followed the trend.
The queens of the still water took home five medals and their first Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association team championship since1997.
“The coaching staff is very proud of everyone‘s efforts this weekend,” saidhead coachCarissa Adams. “We went in wanting to earn thepoints trophy and we came home with it.“
The novice four took home a goal medal with a dominating performance on the2,000-meter course,beating the second-place Western Washington boat by16.1seconds onSunday atLakeNatoma.
In the closest race of the day,second varsity eight fell to Gonzaga by less than two seconds with a second-placetime of7:01.8.
The top-seeded varsity eight had a very close race of its own,coming into the finish line third but within only three seconds of first-place Gonzaga.The boat finished with a time of7:00.64and had to settle with somethingless thana gold medal for the first time all spring.
The UC Davis second novice eight snagged the team’s only other silver medal,finishing eight seconds behind first-placeSan DiegoState and15seconds ahead ofPuget Sound.
Like the novice four and second varsity eight,the novice eight came into Sunday’s final winning Saturday’s preliminary heat.The boat took home the third bronze medal for the Aggies,falling to the first-place Aztecs and runner-up Bulldogs.
For the second year in a row,All-WIRA first-team honors were awarded to varsity eight membersseniorSunny Caldwell andjuniorVanessa Cuellar.SeniorMay Roberts received her first career first-team recognition while second varsity eight membersophomoreMegan Feeney earnedAll-WIRA second-team accolades.
The Aggies head toPhiladelphia for the Dad Vail Regattaon Friday and Saturday.
SAMMY BRASCH can be reached at sports@californiaaggie.com.
