For the first time in program history, the second varsity squad from the Sacramento State women’s rowing team earned a gold medal at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.

This weekend at the CSUS Aquatic Center the women’s varsity eight also raced well taking the silver medal in their category. But the Hornets are no strangers to winning. After rebuilding last year, Sac State has once again returned to having not only one of the best rowing programs regionally, but a national one as well.

After this weekend’s results at the WIRA Championships, the Hornets’ first varsity eight is 7-1 at dual events this season, while the second varsity eight improved to 5-0.

So far this season, assistant coach Carrie Hagen has seen nothing but positives. “Just a great season,” Hagen said. “The effort and energy is always there from the entire squad. Even those on injured reserve, their intensity keeps the whole team focused. It’s ideal for a program to have depth and we have that.”

The varsity eight will travel to Philadelphia this weekend for the Dad Vail Regatta before heading back home to the friendly waters of Lake Natoma for the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships May 15 and the Pacific-10 Championships May 16.

Along with hosting these events, the program will host the 2004 Women’s Rowing National Championships, running May 28-30. It’s the third time the program will host the NCAA Championships and the program will play host again next year.

“We have key people in charge which makes the event much better,” Hagen said. “The NCAA (Championships) is an impressive event and we are very proud to be hosting it. (The CSUS Aquatic Center) is an awesome venue and it says a lot about the university. It’s great exposure.”

Qualifying for the NCAA Championships would be a great way to the end the year and Hagen feels that the competition the Hornets have faced has definitely helped them become a stronger team.

“We try to give ourselves the best competition possible for the tournaments at the end of the year,” Hagen said.

Although the program has enjoyed much success this season, it was tragically interrupted with the passing of junior and first-year rower Victoria Buitrago.

Buitrago was killed in February after being involved in a multi-car accident.

News of Buitrago’s death shook the university and the team was no exception. Hagen recalls that Buitrago was a wonderful teammate.

“She was a light,” Hagen said. “She had a great smile. She was a person who walked onto the team and made a difference.”

Hagen also said that the team will name the next Novice team’s shell after Buitrago. The team is currently doing fundraisers and taking donations in order to purchase the boat.

The CSUS men’s rowing team failed to make the Grand Final in the varsity eight but did take the gold medal in the varsity four category.

Coxswain Kimber Rice, who was named to the all-WIRA second team made the calls in the four as John Spaeth stroked, Adam Van Coops rowed the three seat, Mike Painter sat two and Matt McPhail rowed bow.

The Hornet men’s novice eight improved on their personal record by 15 seconds, clocking a time of 6:14.7 to take fourth in the category, only .7 out of medal contention.

Michael Young was in the coxswain seat, with Michael Curtin leading the crew at stroke, Brad Wilson at seven, Tyler Scott at six, Brian Russo at five, Nick Anderson at four, Crandon Kopriva at three, Matt Taylor at two and Michael Seegert in the bow.

“We dropped 15 seconds off of our time and it still wasn’t enough,” Curtin said, who is also captain of the novice team. “We have to dig deeper and just go harder if we want to win.”