MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's women's rowing team is gearing up to compete at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships held this Saturday and Sunday April 28-29 at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

The Gaels will be competing in four races: the varsity-8, second varsity-8, varsity-4 and novice-4 boats will all take to the water for Saint Mary's this weekend. 

A total of eight schools will challenge for this year's Div. I varsity eight championship, consisting of No. 1 seed Loyola Marymount, No. 2 Saint Mary's, No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 4 Sacramento State, No. 5 Stanford Lightweights, No. 6 UC Davis, No. 7 San Diego State and No. 8 Santa Clara. Two heats of four boats will compete at 10:20 and 10:30 a.m., on Saturday with the top three finishers from each race competing in the grand final on Sunday at noon.

The novice-4 boat will be completing on 8:40 a.m., and will be competing against Mills College, Long Beach State, UC San Diego, and Western Washington.  With the top two finishers advancing to the grand finale, 3-4 to the petite finale, 5-6 to the third final.

The lineups for this weekend are: V8: Chelsea Serrano (Coxswain), Haley Adams (stroke), Michelle Felmlee-Gartner, Dana Cook, Maryann Concannon, Deanna Estes, Stacey Boss, Christina Bennett, Savina Brown
2V8: Natalie Livingston (Coxswain), Brandy Cho (stroke), Nathalie Lambrecht, Kira Paulin, Caitlin Evans, Allison McKenzie, Katie Wahl, Tessa Cunha, Alex Iwaszewicz.

Varsity-4: Bennett Collier (Coxswain), Nicolette Pierantoni (stroke), Julia Turner, Rachel Alvarez, Becca Beutler.

Novice-4: Jessica Sin (Coxswain), Katie McCollam (stroke), Mari Irby, Lynette Sandoval, Kylene Gilmore.

Grand Finals are on Sunday
8:10am - WV4+ Final: Sacramento State, Gonzaga, LMU, SMC, San Diego State, Stanford light weights.
8:20am - WN4+ Final: from heats
10:50am - W2V8+ Final: SAC, GU, LMU, SMC, SDSU.
11:50am - WV8 Final: from heats

More info at sacstateaquaticcenter.com
Address for the racecourse is 1901 Hazel Avenue, Gold River, CA