GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The Stanford men’s rowing team competes in the inaugural Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships on Saturday and Sunday on Lake Natoma.
The MPSF consists of eight programs, including all four from last year’s Pac-12 Conference – current No. 7 Stanford, No. 1 Washington, No. 2 California, and No. 19 Oregon State. Also competing are Gonzaga, San Diego, Santa Clara, and UC San Diego. Washington is the defending IRA national champion.
Stanford has placed third in the varsity eight race the past 10 seasons in the Pac-12, and has 19 consecutive top-three finishes, going back to 2005 in the Pac-10.
In the team standings, Stanford is coming off four consecutive fourth places.
The Cardinal 1V8+ boat is 7-3 this season and the 2V8+ is 6-4. In matchups against MPSF foes this year, the Stanford 1V8+ and 2V8+ each are 3-2.
Five individuals have rowed in every race for the varsity eight: senior James Fetter, freshman Gabriel George, graduate student Adrien Richez, graduate student Max Shakespeare, and sophomore Luke Smith. In addition, sophomore Tom Corbett and freshman Elliott Donovan-Davies have been fixtures on the 1V8+ and especially vital.
Lake Natoma is a section of the American River, and home of the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, where the course is based.
On Saturday, the 1V8+ heats begin at 12:30 p.m., with the 2V8+ heats at 12:50 p.m.
On Sunday, the varsity grand final is at 10:12 a.m. The second varsity grand final is at 9:48 a.m.