College crew: Pirates prevail

NEWPORT BEACH - Orange Coast College crew won the men’s varsity

eight and the women’s varsity eight races Saturday at it’s own three-way

regatta on Newport Harbor.

The men completed the 2,000-meter course in 6:12, six seconds ahead of

Long Beach State and 26 seconds ahead of UCI. Members of that boat were:

Todd Seligman, Mike McGuiness, Jeff Larson, Junsik Hyun, Dan Toth, Aaron

Clousing, Luke Wright, Tyson Hellmich and coxswain Sam Yost.

The OCC women’s varsity posted a time of 7:11, topping UCI (7:15) and

Long Beach State (7:20). The winning team, coached by Linda Moeller,

consisted of former Costa Mesa High basketball standout Evelyn Powers,

Amber Decker, Le Ann Nguyen, Stephanie Boyer, Jessica Griffin, Veronica

Karpinski, Shannon Lyle, Kellie Wilder and coxswain Sarah Hill.

The women’s victory earned OCC the Collins Cup. It’s the first time in

three years OCC claimed the perpetual trophy.

OCC was second in the novice men’s eight (6:17), just two seconds behind

victorious UCI.

In the women’s novice race, won by UCI, OCC finished third (7:21.9).

“The varsity (men) continue to gain speed and maturity and we’re looking

forward to racing next week in Sacramento at the Western Intercollegiate

Rowing Association Championships,” Coach Jim Jorgensen said.