SDSU will open its 2013 racing season on Saturday in Mission Bay.

March 8, 2013

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State rowing team will open its 2013 spring season by taking on crosstown rivals, UC San Diego and University of San Diego on Saturday. The season-opening race will take place on the Aztecs home 2K course along Fiesta Island in Mission Bay with the first race set for 6:45 am PT.

"We did multiple race simulation pieces against both of these teams in our February scrimmage where we tested out various line-ups," said head rowing coach Alison Abrams. "The team has worked extremely hard to improve their technique and fitness levels over the past few weeks, so it will be exciting to see how we stack up on the 2K course."

The first event of the morning will be the Varsity 8 with only SDSU and UCSD competing and will begin at 6:45 am. The Aztecs' boat entered in the race will have a crew consisting of Jennifer Miller (coxswain), Chelsee Brewster (stroke), Vivianna Smith (seven), Julia Brockherde (six), Vera Brockherde (five), Romaine Desclos (four), Mariah Sullivan (three), Kaitlyn Goss (two) and Elizabeth West (bow).

At 6:55 am, the Novice 8 race will get underway, with all three schools competing. San Diego State's boat will carry Gina Navarro (coxswain), Annalisa Duarte (stroke), Jessica Haggard (seven), Campbell Oreglia (six), Melissa Scholz (five), Brooke Dye (four), Haley Burton (three), Katherine Carrasco (two) and Allison Litzinger (bow).

Next up at 7:05 am will be the Second Varsity 8 race with only Triton and Aztec boats entered. The SDSU boat will consist of Courtney Siemsen (coxswain), Rae Backens (stroke), Alex Accornero (seven), Sarah Hultin (six), Mackenzie Morgan (five), Cassie Wilson (four), Miranda Orsinelli-Rivers (three), Michaela Gentosi (two) and Samantha Flores (bow).

In the Second Novice 8 race, set for a start time of 7:15 am, only San Diego State and USD will compete. Racing for the Aztecs will be Kendall Lyng (coxswain), Molly Jacobs (stroke), Kelsey Meksto (seven), Devon Cason (six), Tricia Gabbard (five), Ashley Bermudez (four), Heidi Vettel (three), Jennie Ann Imbsen (two) and Bianca Pires (bow).

At 7:25 am, the Varsity 4 race is set to begin, with SDSU and UCSD entered. The San Diego State boat will have Stephanie Norviel (coxswain), Veronica McLean (stroke), Lindsey Hillman (seven), Sophie Poser (six) and Brittany Harris (five).

The final race of the morning will be the Novice 4, once again consisting only of the Aztecs and the Tritons, beginning at 7:35 am. Rowing for SDSU will be Kaitlyn True (coxswain), Lise Arnesen (stroke), Marissa Twite (seven), Phoebe Morris (six) and Camille Dehne (five).

Any spectators interested in checking out the first race of the 2013 season can watch the race from the western shores of Fiesta Island.