Crew: OCC, NAC rowers sparkle

SAN DIEGO - Orange Coast College men’s crew qualified three boats

into the grand finals of the San Diego Crew Classic Sunday at Mission

Bay.

The Pirates’ open eight finished fifth (6:44) in its final, while the

OCC collegiate novice eight was fourth (6:47) and the OCC collegiate

junior varsity eight was sixth (6:35).

OCC Coach Dave Grant said OCC drew lanes that put them in the roughest

water conditions in the finals, which proved too much to overcome.

“Considering who we were racing and where we were racing, the outcome

was very positive,” Grant said. “I believe we can win every race we

enter, now.”

The Newport Aquatic Center junior team also competed in San Diego. The

NAC varsity women’s eight finished third, as did the NAC junior varsity

women’s eight.

The NAC varsity boat included Anne Kircher, Karissa Rode, Lindsey

Serrins, Devon McCalla, Lindsey Hurban, Hilary Ellis, Ariel Jacobs,

stroke Kate Mead and coxswain Robyn Bissonnette.

The NAC junior varsity boat included Jean Geddes, Sara Walles, Lauren

May, Alisia Ford, Lindsey Payne, Olivia St. Clair, Shannon Packer, stroke

Emily McKay and coxswain Lauren Loman.

The NAC will compete next at the Long Beach Invitational, April 21.