The Oakland Strokes Novice Women crews returned to San Francisco’s Lake Merced on Saturday, March 9, 2002 after a commanding performance the previous Saturday against novice crews from throughout the state. Pacific Rowing Club hosted the Strokes, Marin Rowing Association, and Stockton in an all day meet. For the second week in a row the weather conditions were great for most of the races over the 1,500 meter course. Displaying the strength of their program, the Novice Women entered a remarkable six eights in the various races. The Novice A eight, two Women’s Novice Freshman eights, and the Novice B, C, and D eights all raced. A Novice four with coxswain also raced.

The Strokes Novice Women’s first victory came in the first eight’s race of the day. Both the Novice B and C boats beat the Marin Rowing Association entry and the Novice D boat finished behind Marin and Pacific Rowing Club. Freshman Amelia Pillsbury of Piedmont High School (PHS) coxed the winning boat. Junior Ellen Compton of Bishop O’Dowd (BOD) stroked the boat. Oarsmen Tory Kaso (Fr. Holy Names), Amelia Swenson (So. BOD), Samantha Dobrowolski (So. BOD), Hannah Gallup (So. Holy Names), Lauren Finston (Fr. French American (FA)), Haley Fish (So. Monte Vista), and Emily Ratcliffe (So. PHS) powered the boat to a winning time of 5:33.2.

The Novice Women entered two boats in the freshman eight race. The Novice Women’s A entry was again coxed by Amelia Pillsbury of PHS. Victoria Peckham (PHS) stroked the boat with Tory Kaso (Holy Names), Ashley Jones (Fr. Millenium), Lauren Finston ( FA), Lauren Hofmayer (Miramonte), Sarah Moore (PHS), Laura Gerhardt (PHS), and Rebekah Kharrazi (Arthur Anderson) combining to pull a time of 5:30.2. The Novice Strokes Freshman B entry finished a close third when they were narrowly beaten by Pacific’s entry. The B entry was coxed by Caroline Hertel (PHS) and stroked by Jackie Espana (PHS) with rowers Kimberly Lewis (Campolindo), Sonia Gorzkowski (Dame), Kyle Cannon (Sacred Heart), Samantha Setterbo, Elisabeth Michaels (Head Royce), Julia Batavia (PHS) and Allie Clayton (PHS).

The Women=s Novice A boat once again dominated arch rival Marin—with over a boat length of open water separation at the finish as they left Marin, Pacific Rowing Club, and Stockton far astern. The boat was coxed by BOD senior Ania Wagner and stroked by PHS freshman Victoria Peckham. Freshmen Sarah Moore of PHS, Ashley Jones of Millennium, Rebekah Kharrazi of Alameda=s Arthur Anderson, and Lauren Hofmayer of Miramonte worked with sophomore Emilee Johnson of Heritage Family and seniors Malia Vella and Rani Hamann-Nazaroff both of Bishop O’Dowd in powering the winning boat to a time of 5:24.5.

PHS= Jessica Grossman coxed the Novice 4 to a third place finish. Erica McCuaig (So. Miramonte) stroked and was joined by Simone Price (So. Campolindo), Catherine Meunier (So. Acalanes) and Adia Harrison (Jr. Skyline) in the boat. Piedmont’s Sarah Miller ( Fr. cox) and Lauren Kunze (So.), Campolindo’s Amy Clogher (Jr.), Miramonte’s Julia Black, Alameda’s Angela Little, and Monte Vista’s Austen Rose Lyons also participated for the Novice Strokes.

After the races, Novice Coach Beth Anderson commented, "The results were great! They are learning more every week, and we are hoping they will get faster each week." Assistant Coach Amanda Herbert echoed those sentiments and both coaches thought the Novice Women had really enjoyed the races. It appear that the Stokes Novice Women are showing themselves to be one of the novice teams to beat as the spring season unfolds. Next Saturday the Novice Women travel to Los Gatos for a meet with Los Gatos and the River City Rowing Club from Sacramento.