Pirates know their way around water

Since Orange Coast College is the only community college with a rowing team, they face nothing but NCAA Division I, II and III teams. So even though the team is a David among Goliaths, hardly an underdog.

Take the women’s team: First-year Coach Laura Behr has led the Pirates to a victory they haven’t had in five years. They’re also set to compete in this weekend’s Western Intercollegiate Rowing Assn. championships in Sacramento. And the girls know a thing or two in the classrooms, pulling together a 3.2 grade-point average, one of the highest at the school.

And the men’s team?

All it’s done is defeat 27 of the last 28 teams it has faced, earning a No. 2 seed at this year’s WIRA competition. Not bad for the school that constantly has to give up its blossoming talent to four-year schools.

Men’s Coach Larry Moore says they find ways to work past that.

“We don’t have the opportunity of building year to year,” he said. “It’s tough, but we’ve done well out here. You just have to do everything a little better and finish a little faster than everyone else.”

Moore’s varsity eights team won the San Diego Crew Classic on April 4, topping second-place Colorado and third-place USC. His novice team also did well, taking third place over 19 teams. The team also has victories over UC Irvine, Long Beach State and Gonzaga.

In their only loss, the Pirates fell to UC Davis by inches at the Newport Regatta. But the men still have three races remaining, the Opening Day race against the University of Washington on May 6 and the East Coast Athletic Conference National Invitational, where not only do teams have to qualify, they have to be invited.

“It’s like playing Notre Dame in South Bend on St. Patrick’s Day,” Moore said of the talent they’re set to face.

Even though Orange Coast is the only community college team around, schools know the Pirates are a team to be reckoned with.

“If they look at the record book, they tend to see we do well,” Moore said.

And the women’s team seems to have no problem with that same underdog label.

“They know it’s big competition,” said Behr. “But when they have the chance to compete against the big schools, it gives them a greater sense of confidence.”

Behr’s team defeated host UC Irvine in the Collins Cup on April 8, clocking a 6:55 finish, a time Behr said “D-I schools are bringing in.”

“I got thrown in the water,” she said about the race OCC hadn’t captured in five tries before this year. “I think I would take that as being excited.”

Not only that, but six women rowers have earned scholarships to Division I schools, in part due to the team’s focus on education.

“I promote tutors and study groups,” said Behr. “It teaches them discipline, determination and responsibility.”dpt-crew30.IMGGraphicInfoU21QF1T820060429U21QF1T8No Captiondpt.29-crew-3-CPhotoInfoL41QF1MH20060429ixs4c2ncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)OCC’s men’s novice rowers, shown here at the Newport Regatta, will compete in this weekend’s Western Intercollegiate Rowing Assn. championships.