The Aggies aren’t ones to make excuses. They go out and handle their business regardless of the situation.
The UC Davis rowing team competed this past weekend knowing this might be its last event for the program.
For the Aggies, it was just one more statement race showing that cutting the rowing program was a mistake.
The Aggies took home three medals in the WIRA Championships on Sunday while demonstrating that youth in competition isn’t a big deal.
“We had a great weekend,” said coach Carissa Adams. “I think we are still a young team and we finished where we expected. That’s exactly where we are with our maturity.”
The varsity eight team finished second in the preliminary race to advance to the final day with a time of six minutes and 46 seconds. San Diego took first place with a mark of six minutes and 42.5 seconds.
“It gave them confidence going into the final,” Adams said.
The team, however, overcame the stiff competition and ended the final race in first with a mark of six minutes 56.5 seconds.
The varsity four had the best performance of any Aggie team. It took the silver medal with a time of seven minutes and 47 seconds. The squad fell to UC San Diego, the eventual WIRA champions, by approximately five seconds.
Adams thought it was an impressive feat considering the team isn’t constructed until after the midway point of the year.
“The varsity four lineup is determined toward the end of the season,” Adams said. “They did a great job of molding together and competing well.”
The two bronze medals came from the second novice eight and second varsity eight teams. The second novice eight took third in the medal race with a time of seven minutes and 51.9 seconds. The second varsity competed well to earn a third-place medal with a six-minute and 42.9-second mark.
The overall team points, however, decided which of the 30 competing teams would take the WIRA title. UC San Diego claimed first with a score of 392. Sacramento State took second with 382 points and the Aggies finished behind with 347 points.
Despite the fact that the rowing program was cut, Adams said the approach to WIRA did not change.
What she was most proud of was that her team set aside the recent distractions and just competed for one final event.
“It demonstrates great character,” Adams said. “They’re still fighting for what they think is right.”
MARCOS RODRIGUEZ can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.
