University of California Berkeley

Lightweight women’s rowing

 Fall racing highlights-2004

 Once again the women’s lightweight team had a successful fall season.  The fall racing season began in boston at the head of the charles regatta.  On the day of the race the team had the pleasure of meeting alumnus and gold medal winner pete cipollone, coxswain for the men’s Olympic eight.  Pete was also nice enough to let the girls hold his gold medal from Athens.  Thanks pete! 

 On the day of the race, the course was shorten to 3500 meters due to high winds at the start line. The golden bears were 7^th off the line in a very competitive field of 16 boats.  The girls were very focused and raced with lots of determination and passion the entire race.  The team finished a solid 11^th but the best news of the day was that the eight was only 10 seconds behind Stanford’s eight compared to 50 seconds the year before.  The girls knew then it was only a matter of time before they beat Stanford’s varsity 8 for the first time ever.  They would get that opportunity the following weekend at the head of the American in sacramento.

 With basically perfect racing conditions the stage was set at the head of the American for the varsity 8 to close the door on Stanford! Racing in the open eight event the bears started two boats in front of Stanford and that would be all the motivation the team would need. With this years Stanford’s eight loaded with with lots of talented and experienced rowers, Stanford raced very strong, but in the end the bears would be victorious by 12 seconds and beat Stanford’s varsity 8 for the first time.  In a field of 17 boats the varsity a boat came in 10^th and the varsity b boat took 17^th. 

 The head of the American would also be the first race for the novice team.  With this years novice team comprised of over 24 very dedicated and focused rowers, the bears would race two boats in the novice 8 event.  In a very competitive race with11 boats the novice a boat took 4^th and the novice b boat came in 8^th. This was a very good start to what will become yet another good novice team come spring. 

 Up next would be the Newport fall regatta and the last fall race for 2004.  this time the varsity would race in the open 8 race, the jv 8 in the lightweight 8 race and the novice team would again race two boats in the novice 8 race.  In the open 8 race there were 23 boats entered.  In a very hard fought race the bears finished 13^th.  In the novice 8 race there were 26 boats that raced.  The novices coming off a very good race the weekend before, saw the novice a boat finish 10^th and the novice b boat finish 20th .  in the lightweight 8 race the jv 8 came in 4^th in a race with 7 boats.

 The entire team and coaching staff would like to thank the parents and friends of cal lightweight rowing for all there continued support! 

Go bears!