Sports News Southwest

New Port Beach, California - The San Diego State rowing team won all five races in its spring debut Sunday morning at the Parker Cup Regatta. It was the second consecutive year the Aztecs swept all events they entered.

 

“It was a great start for our first official race,” head coach Jennifer Zebroski said. “I am proud of our team and how we are coming together. I am really looking forward to getting stronger as the season goes along.”

 

In varsity competition, the varsity eight boat rallied from an early deficit to defeat Loyola Marymount. After getting off to a slow start which continued through the 1,000-meter mark, the Aztecs’ boat made a late move over the last 500 meters to cross the line with a time of 6 minutes, 59.4 seconds, almost a full six seconds ahead of the Lions’ boat (7:05.1). San Diego State’s time was also the second-fastest at the event over the last six years, trailing only the 2005’s clocking of 6:58.7 by under a second.

 

“This year’s race was similar to last year’s in that we came from behind to win,” Zebroski said. “Our boat knew what they had to do and had confidence in our race plan. We were being outstroked early, but struck to our race plan and pulled out the win.”

 

The second varsity eight boat also won its race with an impressive time of 7:03.17, easily outdistancing second place LMU (7:17.6). Only the 2006 second varsity eight boat (7:00.8) rowed to a faster time at this event over past six years.

 

“I was happy with the (second varsity eight),” Zebroski said. “They didn’t feel like they had a wonderful race and could have done better. But they pulled out the victory and now we know what we need to work on.”

 

The surprise of the day might have been the Aztecs’ varsity four boat, which came out on top of the three-boat race with a time of 8:21.7. UC Irvine (8:27.7) and SDSU’s “B” boat (8:27.86) followed closely behind.

 

“I thought the varsity four boat performed exceptionally well,” Zebroski said. “They beat UC Irvine, which was made up of all JV eight rowers. The best part was that our boat was made up of four walk-ons. To beat varsity-caliber rowers is great for our program.”

 

Both novice boats continued their dominance at the Parker Cup Regatta. The first novice eight boat rowed to a time of 7:07.4, the fastest time of its five previous Parker Cup appearances and its fifth straight victory. In fact, the next fastest time over the last five years was 2005, which had its boat win with a time of 7:20.3. UC Irvine was second in 7:38.0.

 

In the second novice four race, SDSU took first with huge Parker Cup Regatta improvement time of 7:34.4; way ahead of UC Irvine’s 7:55.6. The clocking was a 20-second improvement of the 2003 boat’s time of 7:54.8. The win was also the fifth straight victory in the boat’s last five appearances (2003-05, 2007).

 

“The novices had a great start to the season and a fantastic weekend,” Zebroski said. “I am excited to watch them improve as the season goes along.”

 

The Aztecs will be back in action on March 15 when they make the short drive north to take on Pac-10 power UCLA.

 

Parker Cup Regatta

Newport Beach, Calif.

March 2, 2008

 

Women’s Varsity Eight

1. SDSU – 6:59.4

2. LMU – 7:05.1

 

Women’s Second Varsity Eight

1. SDSU – 7:03.17

2. LMU – 7:17.6

 

Women’s Varsity Four

1. SDSU – 8:21.7

2. UC Irvine – 8:27.7

3. SDSU “B” – 8:27.86

 

Women’s Novice Eight

1. SDSU – 7:07.4

2. UC Irvine – 7:38.0

 

Women’s Second Novice Eight

1. SDSU – 7:34.4