WSU Rowing will compete in two events this weekend.

On Saturday, the top 16 athletes will compete at the Head of the American at Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. On Sunday, other members of WSU’s rowing team will compete in the Portland Fall Classic at Vancouver Lake in Portland, Oregon.

WSU’s last meet was the Head of the Spokane. The event took place in Spokane, Washington on Saturday as the Cougars faced Gonzaga.

WSU led the way in this meet as the varsity B team placed first with a time of 17:03.6 while the varsity A team placed second with a time of 17:04.7.

Head coach Jane LaRiviere said she was pleased with the way her rowers executed exactly what they practiced in the Head of Spokane, as that is something she preaches to the athletes during the season.

“They achieved what I was hoping,” LaRiviere said. “They set a powerful rhythm, they pushed themselves and they worked really hard and consistently for the whole race. When they crossed the line, they were going as high and as hard as they possibly could.”

Senior Rosalina Torcivia will be competing in the Head of the American on Saturday. She said one of the keys going into the race will be working faster, yet more efficiently as a team to feel they did their best work.

“When we look back on it, no matter what the result is, we want to think that we put our best foot forward,” Torcivia said. “Hopefully the result will take care of itself if we feel like we did everything we could for the race.”

She said with an upcoming trip to California, it is easy for the rowers to be excited about the nice weather they are expecting, especially after a rather cold month here in Pullman. One of the key parts of preparation is to cancel that out of their minds and focus strictly on the race.

Senior Kamila Ondrackova said she takes the leadership role she has fulfills as a senior rower seriously.

LaRiviere said that she is impressed with the way seniors have stepped up to lead everyone, especially the fourteen freshmen rowers.

“I think we are really in good hands. We have got really good senior leadership,” Lariviere said. “This is a group of seniors that lead by example.”

As far as what will define success going into the race on Saturday, Ondrackova said consistency is a necessity.

“Success is pushing through those times and staying strong,” Ondrackova said. “Success is being consistent through the ups and downs.”

The Head of the American will begin Saturday at Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. The Portland Fall Classic will begin the following day at Vancouver Lake in Portland Oregon.