OCC, UCI rowers stay in shape

UC Irvine and Orange Coast College continued to prepare for the

men’s and women’s crew seasons ahead and developed more chemistry

among themselves at the Newport Sprints Saturday morning in North

Lido Channel.

There were no times kept in the races of 1,200 meters, as the

rowers mainly focused on technique and becoming familiar with others

in the boat. Orange Coast Coach Larry Moore said the event was

informal, yet he had hoped to get more accomplished. A crew member

became ill during a race and there were some other crew members

absent from the event.

“I’m glad it wasn’t a race day,” Moore said. “We had a number of

problems. We were still ahead of the UCI boats, but down to USC. But

I wasn’t concerned with the outcome, just more with the performance.”

The OCC men’s varsity boat consisted of Nick D’Antoni, Ryan

Costelloe, Chris Lentini, John Zeiser, Will Harris, Tobias Wacker,

Tom Redoutey, Brian Moore and coxswain Stephanie Story.

The UCI men’s eight was comprised of Gabe Jacobsen, Matt Wallman,

Craig Shipman, Brad Cohn, Daniel Gromis, Stephen Kelly, Mike Maxwell,

Doug Barbour and coxswain Austin Chu.

In the women’s varsity eight race, the UCI women’s crew won by a

slight margin over Long Beach State and Orange Coast, both of which

tied for second.

Orange Coast won the novice eight race and Long Beach State won

the second novice race.

“This was just a real casual, fun sprint race for the athletes’

experience,” Orange Coast women’s crew coach Linda Moeller said.

“There was a lot of good learning that took place. We got a lot done.

It was the first time for them to be racing side by side. It was

really exciting for them.”

The Pirates’ women’s eight was made up of Julia Hernandez, Tawny

Harris, Lonya Bounds, Amy Glassmoyer, Alexis Walters, Ashley Tyson,

Jessica Cimmarrusti, Liane Velin and coxswain Lauren Durston.

Moeller said Orange Coast will celebrate the women’s program’s

10-year anniversary in March. The Pirates plan to have alumni events

March 15 and 16, when they will christen a new boat in honor of the

program’s first decade.

“This is a big year for the Coast women,” Moeller said.

The UCI women’s eight consisted of Amy Yoon, Elizabeth Barrett,

Heather Sirag, Alysa Vanderweerd, Sydney Suttie, Kaylen Amos, Nadia

Moya, Erin Sully and coxswain Erica Dunbar.

UCI opens its men’s and women’s seasons March 2, hosting UC San

Diego in Newport Beach.

OCC is schedule to open its season March 22, hosting UCLA, before

venturing to the San Diego Crew Classic, April 5-6, on Mission Bay.