The Barometer Online

Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cory Reed One of Oregon State's 8+ boats practices on the Willamette River. Oregon State will race at the varsity, junior varsity and novice levels in the San Diego Crew Classic.

The Oregon State women's crew will say goodbye to its frigid friend, the Willamette River, in favor of the more tropical waters of San Diego's Mission Bay this weekend.

The team will travel down to Southern California to compete in the fifth annual San Diego Crew Classic. The two-day Crew Classic pins the No. 18 Beavers against some of the fiercest competition throughout the country.

The last time the Beavers traveled south to compete was in 2005 for the inaugural running of the San Diego Crew Classic. The varsity team came out stifled by the change in climate and posted a 7:04.87 in its initial heat. Refusing to use the weather as an excuse, the women battled back to a first place finish in the consolation bracket with a time of 6:57.90.

It will be a good test to see how Oregon State women's crew stacks up to its competition at all levels. The Varsity 8+ and Junior Varsity 8+ have been running really well through their first two competitions with victories over University of Victoria and Gonzaga.

Over the break, many students took the opportunity to unwind, but the women kept up their daily practice schedule in order to be in tip-top shape for this regatta.

"There are no distractions," said senior Jane Ivey of remaining in Corvallis for spring break.

The New Zealand native and member of the team since 2004 looks to bring her "A-game" to the Varsity 8+ Race Saturday.

Varsity will be competing for the privilege of taking home the Jessop-Whittier Cup. Running the course across Mission Bay, the ladies of Oregon State will meet 2008 varsity winner Washington, along with Michigan, Iowa, Notre Dame and UC-Davis.

Should OSU finish with a top-six time between the two heats, the 8+ would advance to the Women's Varsity Final that runs on Sunday during the second day of the Classic. USC, Wisconsin, Washington State, UCLA and Miami round out the entirety of the remaining varsity squads competing.

Later in the day, junior varsity will compete for the Jackie Ann Sitt Hungness Trophy. Hoping to take the reins throughout the entire regatta, OSU's JV women look to take their energy to the water and post a time rivaling many of the varsity crews.

Finally, the novice group will take on a nebula of California schools in the competition for Laurel Korholz Perpetual Trophy. Coach Ford is looking for a solid performance from the entire team.

"Our strength is in depth," junior coxswain Celia Magistrale said. "The team is pretty adaptable."

Setting the tone early and often is the theme this weekend. A multi-day event like the San Diego Crew Classic allows our young Beavers to feel the heat of tough competition.

"This will be a pretty tough regatta," Magistrale said. "We are training hard, just sticking together as a team."

As a team, these girls have taken nothing for granted and should have a great showing in their many races. With the hard work compiled over the break and the confidence endowed from great depth in its ranks, the women's crew is assured of a sunny forecast for this weekend's San Diego Crew Classic.

Mark Pedersen, sports writer

sport@dailybarometer.com

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