NW Briefs: UW's fleet rows into championship finals

CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Washington's entire four-boat fleet qualified for today's grand finals, including the varsity eight crew that Friday posted the second-fastest time for the second straight day, at the men's Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) championships on the Cooper River.

UW's three other crews, the second varsity eight, freshman eight and open four, will also make grand final appearances.

The Huskies broke from a tightly-packed group early in their varsity eight semifinal and led most of the race before Princeton began to close the gap. The Huskies finished in second place at 5:44.18.

"So much of it is just chemistry. These guys are race dogs," said Washington coach Bob Ernst. "We train all year long and this is the ultimate goal every year, to see how we are going to do at the national championships. All that other stuff, everything until Saturday, is a prelim."

UW's second varsity remained in contention for its third consecutive IRA championship after beating California, a crew it lost against twice during this season, with a time of 5:56.33.

The men's freshman eight semifinals were delayed three hours due to flood-control operations on the Cooper River. But the delay didn't bother the Huskies, who went wire-to-wire to beat Harvard with a time of 5:49.72.

The open four did not compete Friday after earning a berth to the championship race with a win on Thursday.

WSU-Baylor tickets

on sale Monday

Tickets for the Sept. 16 Washington State-Baylor football game at Qwest Field will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m.

Tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 206-628-0888 or online at www.ticketmaster.com, as well as through the WSU ticket office at 800-GO-COUGS, or at wsucougars.com.

Ticket prices range from $7 to $50. Game time for the Cougars' fifth straight appearance at Qwest Field has yet to be determined.

UW's Mackenzie

tapped for Curtis Cup

Washington senior golfer Paige Mackenzie has been named a member of the U.S. team to play at the 2006 Curtis Cup Match, which will be played July 29-30 in Bandon, Ore.

Mackenzie, a Yakima native, finished tied for 13th at the 2005 U.S. Women's Open. She earned NGCA second-team All-America honors for 2005-06 after finishing eighth at the 2006 NCAA Division I Championship. She also won both the 2006 NCAA West Regional and the Pac-10 Championship.

Notes

• About 144 rhythmic gymnasts with about 40 club teams are competing this weekend in the Junior Olympic Championships at Edmonds Community College. Gymnasts ages 6-17 continue competition today and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Washington pitcher Tim Lincecum was named to the Louisville Slugger All-America first team, and Huskies outfielder Matt Hague was selected to the third team. Washington State outfielder Jay Miller was also named to the third team.

• Two Washington softball players, junior Dominique Lastrapes and sophomore Ashley Charters, were named to the NFCA Division I All-America third team.

• Silvertips forward Matt Meropoulis and Thunderbirds goalie Andrew Pinsent were selected by the WHL's newest team, the Chilliwack Bruins, in Friday's expansion draft.

• Washington junior Martin Bingisser was named to the ESPN the Magazine District VIII All-Academic Track and Field first team. He and 10 others will be on the ballot for the magazine's Academic All-American team, to be selected by a member panel.

Compiled from sports-information reports and other sources.