LAKE NATOMA, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots women's rowing team concluded the 2019 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships by racing four boats in the Grand Finals, which took place on Sunday at the Sacramento State Aquatics Center on Lake Natoma. The regatta spread across two days, and four of Portland's five boats racing during the weekend qualified for the final day.
 
"The last time we competed at the WIRA Championships was in 2015," said Portland head coach Pasha Spencer. "Although it's a challenging time of the academic year for the team, lining up on our championships course with three weeks to go was a valuable experience. The boats made the grand finals and are focused on the weeks ahead."
 
The varsity eight was the first to hit the water, and the crew finished just behind LMU for sixth place. The Pilots, who were coxed by Miranda Reyes and had Lauren Jesse rowing stroke, posted a time of 6:51.779, which was only two seconds back of the Lions. Stanford finished on top of the field, with San Diego in second.
 
The second eight, with a time of 7:08.740, also placed sixth, and that race was won by San Diego State. The Pilots were nine seconds faster than on Saturday, and the crew had Emma Papenhausen as the coxswain and Megan Del Pozzi at stroke.
 
In the varsity four grand final, the Pilots claimed fourth place with a time of 7:49.613. With Meredith Marcinko rowing stroke and Allison Palazzotto in the coxswain seat, Portland finished ahead of Sacramento State, Stanford, and Saint Mary's. San Diego State had the fastest time to finish first.
 
The novice four concluded the day with a fifth-place finish. The Pilots covered the course in a time of 8:05.723, and they had Katie Bayford rowing stroke and Joselene Piedra Rodriguez as the coxswain. LMU edged San Diego by less than a second to finish first.
 
The Pilots have one remaining event on the schedule, which is the 2019 West Coast Conference Championships in three weeks (May 18). The WCC's will also take place on Lake Natoma.
 
2019 WIRA Championships Day Two Results – Lake Natoma
Varsity Eight
Grand Final
1. Stanford Lightweight, 6:32.577
2. San Diego, 6:37.957
3. San Diego State, 6:40.899
4. Sacramento State, 6:43.575
5. Loyola Marymount, 6:49.093
6. Portland, 6:51.779
 
Second Eight
Grand Final
1. San Diego State, 6:46.176
2. Sacramento State, 6:47.398
3. Loyola Marymount, 6:48.809
4. San Diego, 6:54.520
5. Stanford Lightweight, 6:59.336
6. Portland, 7:08.740
 
Varsity Four
Grand Final
1. San Diego State, 7:26.851
2. San Diego, 7:30.013
3. Loyola Marymount, 7:32.907
4. Portland, 7:49.613
5. Sacramento State, 7:51.579
6. Stanford Lightweight, 8:13.965
7. Saint Mary's, 8:20.947
 
Novice Four
Grand Final
1. Loyola Marymount, 7:40.935
2. San Diego, 7:41.013
3. Seattle Pacific, 7:49.476
4. Pacific Lutheran, 7:51.646
5. Portland, 8:05.723
6. Arizona State, 8:10.723
7. Puget Sound, 8:36.076
 
Portland's Line-ups
Varsity Eight: Miranda Reyes (coxswain), Lauren Jesse, Catherine Watson, Desi Petrova, Veronica Nicacio, Avery Romano, Brooklin Gomez, Tess Pritchett, Jacquelyn Bass
 
Second Eight: Emma Papenhausen (coxswain), Megan Del Pozzi, Brianne Zbylicki, Megan Medalia, Lilly Landers, Reeca Bardon, Acacia Welsford, Audrey Shellum-Gonzalez, Karen Gonzalez-Yanez
 
Varsity Four: Allison Palazzotto (coxswain), Meredith Marcinko, Mollie Rutz, Lauren Yee, Amanda Hernandez Michalski
 
Novice Four: Joselene Piedra Rodriguez (coxswain), Katie Bayford, Katelyn Barney, Maddie Olson, Sage Iona