Rowing: Orange Coast flexes crew muscles

COSTA MESA - The Orange Coast College men’s and women’s crew went

racing shell to racing shell with several four-year colleges Sunday at

the 2001 Avaya Championship Regatta at Lake Lanier, Ga., site of the 1996

Atlanta Olympic Games.

Orange Coast, the lone community college in the competition, enjoyed

excellent finishes against the likes of Michigan, Georgetown and Ohio

State.

“It was a great event,” OCC Coach Dave Grant said. “All three of the

Orange Coast College crews -- men’s varsity eight, men’s novice eight and

women’s junior varsity eight -- made it through the opening heats and to

the finals in the afternoon.”

The OCC women’s JV eight, coached by Linda Moeller, finished second in

the 12-shell championship heat in 7:02.4 behind Williams College

(6:45.7).

The Pirates’ JV boat, coxed by Jenna DuBois, featured Megan Nichols,

Sarah Daum, Brooke Albiston, Malin Gustavsson, Lot Keijzer, Nikki Koning,

Jessica Griffin and Michele Hensley.

The OCC men’s varsity eight (6:13.5) placed fourth in an 18-crew

championship final behind Georgetown, Michigan and Trinity, after

qualifying out of two heats. The top two finishers in each heat advanced.

Grant’s Pirates also rowed their new eight-oared shell from Empacher,

Germany, which they had never seen before, much less rowed. “It is a

wonderful boat and we’re very pleased with it,” Grant said.

In the men’s novice eight, Orange Coast placed fifth in an 18-crew

championship final, won by Georgetown in 6:04. Orange Coast posted a

6:13.7 along 2,000 meters at scenic Lake Lanier.

“It’s a huge lake, surrounded by giant trees,” Grant said. “The

regatta was very well-organized and (officials) were glad to have some

West Coast crews there. There were lots of thunderstorms in the days

preceding the regatta, but very good water and weather on race day.”