June 1, 2008
Recap
GOLD RIVER, Calif. -
Here are additional quotes from three Cal rowers on Sunday's final day of competition at the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships:
Cal Senior and Varsity Eight Stroke Candice Rediger
On the Outcome of Sunday's Varsity Eight Grand Final
"I can't imagine that race going any differently for us. I definitely feel we put our best effort forward, and if there's another crew that's faster for us, it happens. It's good for them, and it pushes the whole collegiate rowing program faster."
On Facing Yale and Brown for the First Time This Season at the NCAA Championships
"We expected them to be good. They're strong every year. While we didn't race them during the regular season, we fully expect them to give a really good race come nationals They were just faster today."
On Ending her College Career
"It hasn't quite fully sunk in yet. It hasn't really hit me. I've been kind of emotional. I cried a little bit already. I guess tomorrow will be the first day I'll wake up and feel like a college graduate."
Cal Senior and Varsity Eight Rower Onna Poeter
On the Cal Varsity Eight's Season, Including a No. 1 Ranking and Unbeaten Record Entering NCAA Championships
"There have been a lot of other years that teams have been undefeated. We don't race East Coast schools that often. With the coaches' poll and being undefeated, you really can't tell what can happen. Yale is a strong crew. They won last year as a varsity boat. Brown is strong and won the team championship last year. They're strong crews. We went out there and put out a really good race, raced really hard, and I think we should be really proud of what we did."
On Cal's Third-Place Team Finish
"It wasn't our team goal, but third place is really good and we worked really hard this season. All in all it was a very good year. Third place - we should be proud of that."
Cal Junior and Varsity Four Stroke Melissa Herman
On the Varsity Four's performance in Sunday's grand final
"I thought it was great. I thought we went out there and we attacked the whole time. Moving from sixth to fourth place was a huge thing for us, and walking through Michigan State through that last 500 meters was great. We gave it our all. Yesterday, we were able to walk through Brown. Today they were able to put up a really good fight the last 500 meters. I thought it was great. The boat was improving all the time."
On Cal's Third-Place Team Finish
"We definitely have high aspirations. It's tough, but at the same time our team did a great job. I'm very proud of our team. I know all the girls on the team are very proud. It's a little bittersweet, because I think every boat went out there and raced very hard. It's definitely tough not to come in first place, but we're looking forward to next year."
