State Colleges Report | Western crew has East roots

BELLINGHAM — Most of the women on the top-ranked varsity eight crew in NCAA Division II from Western Washington are accustomed to the region's lush forests and abundant waters. But for three of the top rowers in the boat, this terrain is far from home.

Senior Lindsay Mann-King , junior Samantha Marikis and junior Lila Scaife all grew up in Eastern Washington towns with populations of less than 5,000. Moving across the Cascade Mountains to Whatcom County provided the women with several surprises and opportunities — including rowing, which none had done previously.

Mann-King, who grew up in Colville, said she had rarely been in a boat before coming to WWU.

"I was in good shape and I felt like I had the background to work as hard as the coach wanted me to," she said.

Western coach John Fuchs said that work ethic is sometimes more important than experience.

"Even if they didn't do any sports in high school, if they have the right mentality they can do well," Fuchs said.

Marikis grew up in Republic, and played three prep sports.

"My mom and my high-school principal said they thought I had buff arms, so I should try out for the crew team," said Marikis, who quickly learned that leg strength counted most.

Scaife, from Zillah in the Yakima Valley, was another three-sport prep standout who gave college crew a shot.

Although the trio of women came to Western with no rowing experience, they are now a vital part of the two-time defending national champion team aiming for its fourth consecutive NCAA II West Regional title Saturday on Lake Natoma, Calif.

Marikis said they formed an immediate bond, forming an intramural basketball team of crew members from Eastern Washington and participated in the Bloomsday Run in Spokane.

When out on the lake each morning, sometimes the culture shock still sets in.

"I definitely stop and think, 'How did I end up here?' " Marikis said. "But, sometimes it's too early to think about anything."

Also at WWU

Softball: Freshman third baseman Meghan Flem (Hood River, Ore.) has hit a school-record nine homers, three off the Vikings' career record of 12. The Vikings (34-20) won their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference title (15-5) and meet Cal State Stanislaus at the NCAA II West Regional in Turlock, Calif., Thursday.

Track and field: Sophomore Anthony Tomsich (Fairbanks, Alaska) and senior Tyler Thornbrue (Shelton) each set meet records at the GNAC Championships on Saturday. Tomsich won the 1,500 meters in 3:50.25, and Thornbrue added the outdoor pole-vault crown to his GNAC Indoor title with a meet-record 15-9-¾.

Seattle Pacific

Track and field: After winning in women's track, SPU has won seven GNAC team championships in 2006-07.

Rowing: To earn an at-large NCAA II berth for its women's varsity eight, SPU needs to close the gap on Western Washington and UC San Diego in Saturday's West Regional in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Seattle U.

Softball: The four Redhawks voted first-team All-GNAC are the most in the program's six years in the conference. Seven Redhawks earned a conference postseason honor, tying the number in 2002 and 2006.

Track and field: Four school records were set at the GNAC Championships on Saturday, two by freshman Daniel Sullivan (Foster of Tukwila). Sullivan broke his mark in the 400-meter hurdles (53.80) and led off the record-setting 400 relay (42.83).

Washington

Men's golf: At the NCAA West Regional on May 17-19 in Tempe, Ariz., junior Zach Bixler (Richland) will take aim at his school-best third-place finish in 2006 for the No. 35 Huskies.

Men's tennis: No. 32 UW (16-6) enters Friday's first-round NCAA Regional matchup against No. 38 Wisconsin (15-10) with the most road victories (10) of any school in the first and second rounds since 1999. The Huskies will play at 11 a.m. in South Bend, Ind. The winner faces No. 5 Notre Dame or Butler on Saturday.

Baseball: UW (23-21 overall, 8-7 Pac-10) heads into the final three weeks in fourth place. The Huskies are four games behind first-place UCLA (12-3) with nine league games to play — three each vs. Stanford, Arizona and California.

Softball: No. 11 Washington (34-14, 11-7 Pac-10), which closes its regular season on the road at Arizona State on Thursday and Arizona State on Friday and Saturday, learns if it will make its 14th NCAA trip in 15 years Sunday.

Track and field: Washington, which competes Saturday and Sunday at the Pac-10 Championships at Stanford, has had at least one Pac-10 champion for seven consecutive seasons, with 14 titles in that span.

Washington St.

Baseball: Sophomore left-hander Ross Humes (Decatur of Federal Way) became WSU's season saves leader with 11. Humes recorded saves in both of WSU's victories last weekend against Stanford. Humes, who recorded saves in 11 of 12 opportunities, is third on WSU's career saves list with 12.

Track and field: The Cougars women are tied for No. 14 in the Trackwire Online Top 25. WSU will send 50 to the Pac-10 Championships.

Other colleges

Central Washington: The softball team's 24 wins were a school record, but the Wildcats missed the NCAA II West Regional.

Eastern Washington: Sophomore tennis standout Pannhara Mam (Salem, Ore.) will attend the NCAA National Leadership Conference, May 27-31 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Evergreen State: The Geoducks send nine to the Cascade Conference Track and Field Championships in La Grande, Ore., Friday and Saturday, but will miss two key runners. Senior Jason McConnell (Montesano), fifth in the 10,000 and national qualifier in the marathon, suffered a broken toe last month. Junior Miguel Pineda (Tumwater), seventh in last year's 800, has an ankle injury.

Northwest: Midfielder Zach Weismann (Carson City, Nev.) has committed to play on the men's soccer team. Outside hitter Lauren Holtz (Inglemoor of Kenmore) has signed to play volleyball.

Pacific Lutheran: Senior pitcher Joe DiPietro (Eisenhower of Yakima) was named Man of the Year in Sports and senior tennis player Nicole Petrzelka (Burlington-Edison) was named Woman of the Year at PLU's All Sports Dessert. The baseball team, which won the program's first conference title in 53 years, won the first Team of the Year Award.

Puget Sound: For the first time in school history, the Loggers women's golf team competes in the NCAA III Championships, held this week in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

Saint Martin's: All 17 Saints competing at the GNAC Championships last weekend scored points. Sophomore John Riak (North Thurston of Lacey) retained his title in the men's 10,000, establishing a meet record of 31:11.98 and was third in the 5,000.

Whitworth: Despite a school-record 30-6 mark, the softball team did not receive an at-large bid to the 59-team NCAA III tournament.

Elsewhere: Junior first baseman Geneva Hale (Shorecrest of Shoreline) tied a Willamette record with seven home runs. ... Fordham freshman infielder Erin Fisher (Woodinville) was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie softball team and was Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week twice this season.

Sports information directors

contributed to this notebook.