The WSU rowing team opened its season with a victory against Gonzaga University on Saturday at Wawawai Landing on the Snake River.

Despite the rain and wind, WSU won the pairs and fours races. For the pairs, WSU ended with the fastest time overall as senior Rosalina Torcivia and junior Jessica Norris paired up to finish with a time of 15:57. Caitlin Donaldson and Kateryna Maistrenko finished second with a time of 16:05. 

“The wind was quite strong today, so we had a nice headwind going into it,” Norris said. “It was exciting having Gonzaga here.”

Kamila Ondrackova and Isabella Cristelli finished third in the pairs with a time 16:17. The pair of Samatha Schmidt and Renee Kemp finished fourth of the pairs with a time of 16:35.

Gonzaga’s top pair of Maren Johnson and Zoe Calambokidis finished fifth in the pairs race with a time of 16:55.

WSU assistant coach Sam Clifford said she thinks the race went well even with the poor weather conditions. 

“We’ve been trying to get in a lot of miles but also work in various conditions, so I think today was a good testament to that,” Clifford said. 

For the fours, junior Ony Chigozie, junior Abigail Linnenkohl, sophomore Kyra Parker and freshman Cierra Bird finished first with a time of 15:46.

WSU’s next race is the Burnaby Lake 4K TT on Saturday in Burnaby, Canada. Gonzaga returns to the water for the Head of the Spokane against WSU on Oct. 19 in Spokane, Washington.