PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women's rowing team travels south this weekend for the prominent San Diego Crew Classic, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday on Mission Bay. The Pilots will put three boats on the water, a varsity eight, a second eight, and a varsity four, and they'll be competing against a loaded field.
 
"Going to San Diego is an opportunity for the varsity eight to compete against nine schools ranging from the West Coast Conference to Kansas State and Canada," said Portland head coach Pasha Spencer. "The second varsity eight and the varsity four will compete in a larger field of PAC-12 schools. This will be our first appearance with three boats and will mark the half-way point in our spring racing."
 
The varsity eight crew will be Portland's first on the course on Saturday morning as they'll be racing in the first of two heats. The Pilots, with Miranda Reyes in the cox seat and Veronica Nicacio rowing stroke, will be competing against San Diego State, Loyola Marymount, the University of Victoria, and Saint Mary's. Sacramento State, Kansas State, SMU, and British Columbia will be racing in the second heat.
 
The top three boats in each heat will advance to Sunday's A final, while the four and five crews will move on to the B final.
 
Portland's second eight will be going after the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy, and their 10:24 a.m. heat includes boats from Cal, Oklahoma, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and San Diego. Texas, UCLA, Tennessee, Kansas State, LMU, and UC Santa Barbara comprise the second heat.
 
Emma Papenhausen is the second eight's coxswain, and Lauren Formigli is the stroke. The second eight competition includes a C final later in the day on Saturday, while the A and B finals are scheduled for Sunday.
 
Alice Chang will be in the cox seat for the Pilots when they put the varsity four boat in the water, and their heat in the Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup is set for 10:56 a.m. In Portland's heat are crews from Texas, UCLA, Kansas State, and Sacramento State. Cal, Oklahoma, Tennessee, San Diego, and SMU are also in the field.
 
The varsity four C final is scheduled for 4:18 p.m. on Saturday, and the A and B finals will take place on Sunday.
 
The Pilots follow the San Diego Crew Classic by traveling to Seattle, Wash., for next weekend's Husky Open.
 
San Diego Crew Classic Schedule
Saturday, March 24
Varsity 8 – Varsity Cal Cup
Heat 1: 8:40 a.m.
Heat 2: 8:48 a.m.
 
Second 8 – Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy
Heat 1: 10:24 a.m.
Heat 2: 10:32 a.m.
 
Varsity 4 – Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup
Heat 1: 10:48 a.m.
Heat 2: 10:56 a.m.
 
Second 8
C Final: 4:02 p.m.
 
Varsity 4
C Final: 4:18 p.m.
 
Sunday, March 25
Varsity 4 – Karen Plumleigh Cortney Cup Finals
B Final: 8:24 a.m.
A Final: 8:32 a.m.
 
Second 8 – Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy Finals
B Final: 9:45 a.m.
A Final: 9:52 a.m.
 
Varsity 8 – Varsity Cal Cup
A Final: 10:00 a.m.
B Final 10:08 a.m. 
 
Portland's Line-Ups
Varsity 8: Miranda Reyes (coxswain), Veronica Nicacio, Lauren Reid, Megan Del Pozzi, Sydne Jacoby, Megan Medalia, Acacia Welsford, Melanie Martinell, Lauren Jesse
 
Second 8: Emma Papenhausen (coxswain), Lauren Formigli, Catherine Watson, Grace Reily-Simmons, Avery Romano, Jacquelyn Bass, Karen Gonzalez-Yanez, Joselene Piedra, Kiva Goodman
 
Varsity 4: Alice Chang (coxswain), Courtney Schmidt, Reeca Bardon, Claire Hodge, Olivia Sanchez