LAKEWOOD, Wash. --- The Portland Pilots rowing team collected four first place finishes as they opened the Spring season Saturday morning at the Pacific Lutheran University Invite. Portland had three wins come at the varsity level, with the varsity eights recording the fastest time at 06:58.2 on American Lake.
 
"(The) team did well for a season opener," said head coach Pasha Spencer. "We handled the conditions well when the weather picked up in the second round of the day."
 
The varsity fours' cruised to a first-place finish with a time of 08:12.5, which was well ahead of Seattle's second-place finish 08:25.8. They were coxed by Sage Iona and featured Lauren Yee at stroke. The second varsity eight squad featured Allison Palazzotto as coxswain, as well as Avery Romano at stroke. They finished with a time of 07:07.3, 19 seconds ahead of the next boat, belonging to Seattle (07:26.5).

Portland's largest margin of victory went to the junior fours', who recorded a time of 07:22.5 during the second portion of the racing event. Once again, Seattle finished second in the race with a time of 08:51.6.
 
The Pilots' second and third novice eight's ran the race in 07:54.9 and 08:09.5, respectively.

Portland returns to action next weekend, competing in the Sacramento State Invite on March 14^th on Lake Natoma, California.

PLU Invite Results – American Lake
First Round

Varsity Eight
1. Portland, 6:58.2
2. Seattle, 7:05.3
3. Pacific Lutheran, 7:19.4

Second Varsity Eight
1. Seattle Pacific, 7:26.4
2. Puget Sound, 7:36.1
3. Portland (Novice), 7:54.9

Second Varsity Eight
1. Portland 7:07.3
2. Seattle 7:26.5
3. Pacific Lutheran 7:55.4

Varsity Four
1. Portland 8:12.5
2. Seattle 8:25.8
3. Pacific Lutheran 9:07.9

Second Round
Varsity Eight
1. Seattle Pacific, 6:50.9
2. Portland, 7:00.8
3. Puget Sound, 7:01.4

Varsity Eight
1. Seattle Pacific, 7:13.2
2. Portland, 7:16.7
3. Puget Sound, 7:36.4

Third Varsity Eight
1. Seattle Pacific, 7:33.3
2. Puget Sound, 8:01.8
3. Portland (Novice), 8:09.5

Varsity Four
1. Portland, 7:22.5
2. Seattle, 8:51.6
3. Pacific Lutheran (Novice) 9:32.4

PORTLAND'S LINE-UPS
Varsity Eight (First & Second Races): Emma Papenhausen (coxswain), Jacquelyn Bass, Emmalee Dolcini, Desi Petrova, Lilly Landers, Tess Pritchett, Eva Lammers, Meredith Marcinko, Brooklyn Gomez.
 
Second Eight (First Race): Allison Palazzotto (coxswain), Avery Romano, Catherine Watson, Maddie Olson, Olivia Zilavy-Pailthorp, Katelyn Barney, Audrey Shellum-Gonzalez, Marissa Frazzini, Joselene Piedra Rodriguez.

Second Eight (Second Race): Allison Palazzotto (coxswain), Avery Romano, Catherine Watson, Joselene Piedra Rodriguez, Olivia Zilavy-Pailthorp, Katelyn Barney, Audrey Shellum-Gonzalez, Marissa Frazzini, Amanda Hernandez Michalski.
 
Varsity Four: Sage Iona (coxswain), Lauren Yee, Amanda Hernandez Michalski, Katie Bayford, Alondra Quiroga-Bernal.
 
Second Four: Lauren Yee (coxswain), Katie Bayford, Alondra Quiroga-Bernal, Sydney Gardner.

Novice Eights' (First Race): Mia Lindsay (coxswain), Mari Mitchell, Tami Dean, Vienne Morales, Quinn McElroy-Fuchs, Mary Astalis, Lexi Turner, Colleen Cushing, Cristy Lopez.

Novice Eights' (Second Race): Mia Lindsay (coxswain), Quinn McElroy-Fuchs, Christy Lopez, Lindsey Warren, Mary Astalis, Lexi Turner, Colleen Cushing, Tami Dean, Mari Mitchell.