Welcome to the Sonoma State Rowing Club website. Here you will find team and regatta information, pictures and results.

If you would like more information on anything involving Sonoma State Rowing please feel free to email someone listed under the contacts page.

Sonoma Men’s Crew Records Best Season in Team History

(Philadelphia, PA) - “Insane. Period,” Those were the words used by Sonoma State oarsman Bryan Rengel as he described crossing the finish line in the Novice Men’s Four with Coxswain event in third place at the Dad Vail Regatta, held annually every year in Philadelphia. The young Sonoma crew finished ahead of over 50 other universities at the largest collegiate regatta in the country, and capped an unbelievably successful season for the team. After the varsity lightweights earned the team’s first ever win in a Dad Vail heat, the novice men pulled off a win in the semi finals to qualify for the grand final. There, they finished less than two seconds behind the winner and ahead of Colgate, who had beaten them in the heats the previous day, to win the first Dad Vail medal in the history of the rowing team. Just the weekend before, Sonoma State claimed three medals at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association conference championship, with a bronze in the Men’s Novice Four, silver in the Men’s Lightweight Varsity Eight, and a gold medal and conference championship in the Men’s Novice Lightweight Four for their first championship in the team’s history. The team was able to qualify for the grad final in every race it entered at the regatta and varsity oarsman Michael Vuksich earned second team all-conference honors. Sonoma State also returned for one more race, the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships, the weekend after returning from Philadelphia. There, the team finished first in the Novice Lightweight Four, first in the Second Novice Eight, third in the Novice Open Four, and third in the Varsity Novice Four. The medal haul capped off the most successful season the Sonoma State men have ever had. Next year, Sonoma State returns as a hungry, almost all-sophomore, varsity squad that’s looking for three more years of winning. “More gold medals. More tanks. That’s all we want,” says bowman Jason Villeggiante, with a look of fiery passion in his eyes. For more information about the team, or to learn how you can get involved, donate, or join, contact recruiter Jason Villeggiante at villaggj@sonoma.edu or Men’s Coach Khoua Moua at khoua_moua@yahoo.com.

SSU Men Haul in Medals at Western Rowing Championships

(Rancho Cordova, CA) - After one of the most difficult and bizarre seasons that a team from any sport might experience, the Sonoma State Men’s rowing team turned in their best ever championship performance in the team’s short five year history. In the middle of the fall, the team lost its head coach and, along with him, many team members. As a student-run and student-funded team, they were short on funds, without a coach, and desperate to regain control of their season. At the time, it seemed that there was a very good chance the team would actually fold. However, five upperclassmen decided to continue, the freshman team stayed on, and the interim head coaching job eventually fell to former Sonoma State coxswain Khoua Moua, who was coaching the freshman team at the time. Under the leadership of Moua and the upperclassmen, the team was able to enter five boats in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) championships and turn in their best-ever championship performance. On the first day of the two-day championship regatta, Sonoma State qualified for four grand finals races on Sunday, and captured its first ever men’s conference championship medal, a silver in the Varsity Lightweight 8, losing only to top-seeded California and beating UC Davis and Washington State in the final. On Sunday, the results were even more surprising. The Novice (freshman) Heavyweight 8+ finished in sixth place, higher than any other club team in the event. The Varsity Lightweight 4+ finished in fourth, just one place back from a medal. In the Novice (freshman) Heavyweight 4+, Sonoma State captured a bronze, the second conference medal in the history of the program. That same day, Sonoma’s Novice (freshman) Lightweight 4+ found themselves down to California and Washington State halfway through the grand final race. At that point in the race, coxswain Molly McGarvey called for one desperation attempt to move into first place - what the team calls a “Rocky.” The “Rocky” is what is known in rowing as a “mid-start,” a risky sequence of quick, choppy strokes intended to give one massive burst of speed. The “Rocky” that was used by the Sonoma boat was three ¾ length strokes, followed by ten full strokes with as much power as each oarsman could muster. The “Rocky” move catapulted the boat through both Washington State and California, and gave the Novice Lightweight 4+ the first WIRA gold medal in the history of the program. Asked later about the move, bowman Jason Villeggiante commented that “We were down the whole race up to that point. I thought we were in trouble. But then Molly called the ‘Rocky’ and we moved up every single stroke in the race from that point on. It was a great race and a great day for the program.” At the medal ceremony, Sonoma celebrated its best-ever WIRA performance of three medals and varsity oarsman Michael Vuksich received second team all-WIRA honors. For more information about the team, or to learn how you can get involved, donate, or join, contact Coach Khoua Moua at khoua_moua@yahoo.com.

In Petite Final, Sonoma Men Claim Huge Finish

(San Diego, CA) - Lining up her men’s novice eight at the start line was of little difficulty for coxswain Molly McGarvey on the first day of the San Diego Crew Classic, the first nationally attended regatta of the season, and the largest on the West Coast. But for the others in the boat, a loose tension coursed through their bodies as each sat poised at the catch prepared to explode through their start. Although lined up in their heat against last year’s national nos. 1 and 2, Stanford and Washington, respectively, and conference no. 1, Orange Coast, the Sonoma men were able to pace perennial conference powerhouses UC Davis, Colorado, and Washington State through the first half of the race and crush the field in the second half to qualify for the petite (2nd) final. That race saw them matched against a diverse and talented field, including no. 1 Orange Coast, UCLA, UCSD, Notre Dame, and their rivals at Santa Clara. Their efforts put them just a quarter of a second behind Notre Dame to finish in 10th place overall. The final finish order was Washington, California, Stanford, Oregon State, Penn, San Diego, Orange Coast, UCSD, Notre Dame, Sonoma, Santa Clara, UCLA, Colorado, UC Davis, UC Irvine, Washington State, St. Mary’s. Loyola, Pacific, Cal Maritime Academy, and San Diego State. The results of the Crew Classic should land Sonoma State a top five seed at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association conference championships in May. This is the first time since 2005 that a Sonoma State men’s crew has gone into the WIRA Championships with such high expectations. What makes this even more remarkable is that Sonoma’s crew continues to operate as a relatively new club crew, competing with longer-established, well-funded, and better-supported crews. Sonoma’s novice team has only one oarsman with any rowing experience prior to this season, and is made up purely of walk-ons. Also, the novice lightweight four challenged the varsity lightweight four to football and lost 7-2. They had a good day though. If you are interested in finding out how you can support Sonoma State Crew or how you can become a part of Sonoma’s newest winning tradition, contact Director of Rowing Mike Villeggiante at villeggm@sonoma.edu or visit www.sonoma.edu/clubs/crew.

Sonoma Rowing Adds “The Winnona” to Fleet

(Petaluma, CA) - At the end of the first semester of the 2007-2008 academic year, the Sonoma State rowing team packed up for a short winter break and a long training camp after completing a very successful first semester.  The novice men and women won and placed in multiple regattas, including a recent victory by the novice men against rival Sacramento State, and the varsity crews frequently placed as well.  The fall results suggest the possibility of a large medal haul during the spring championship season.
            Shortly after arriving for their winter training in early January, Sonoma will receive the newest addition to their fleet.  The Winnona is a columbia blue, four-man, midweight shell, built by Resolute Racing Shells.  Donated by Dia and Michael Rianda, it will be christened upon its arrival at the team’s Petaluma boatyard and will see action in the team’s first race, the Davis Invitational Rowing Tournament at the Port of Sacramento.
            New racing shells are an expensive investment for any rowing team, and represent an important step in the growth of the young Sonoma crew, which was founded in 2003.  The Winnona is the first brand new shell acquired in the team’s short history, and will replace the team’s 2001 four-man shell as its top racing four. 
            For information about the rowing club, or to inquire about joining the team, or donation or sponsorship opportunities, contact Media Coordinator Mike Villeggiante at villeggm@sonoma.edu.

Sonoma Rowing Makes Loud Statement at Head of the American Regatta

(Sacramento, CA) - As the sun set on the Sacramento State Aquatic Center and the annual Head of the American, it was not yet clear who the dominant players would be in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) conference.  However, what was clear by the end of the day was that the oarsmen and oarswomen of Sonoma State will be near the top of the conference and contending for multiple titles at the WIRA Championships in May.  The Head of the American attracts multiple WIRA and Pac-10 crews, and is widely considered to be the first comparative look of the season at the crews of the WIRA conference.
            The first Sonoma State crew to make a statement this weekend was the Men’s Lightweight 4+, which posted a time of 19:47, pacing the rest of the lightweight field by nearly a full minute, and besting over half of the heavyweight field as well.  Composed of brothers Peter and Mike Vuksich, Matt Waite-McGough, Michael Villeggiante, and coxswain Will Morthole, the Sonoma lightweights look to be one of the top four man crews in the conference, and to challenge for a national title at the Dad Vail Regatta in spring.
            Perhaps the most remarkable results of the day, however, belonged to Sonoma State’s novice crews.  Led by coxswain Molly McGarvey, the men were the first to head down the starting chute in the Novice 8+, and were forced to deal with a great deal of adversity during the course of the race.  More than one incidence of equipment breakage marked Sonoma’s race piece, forcing Sonoma to row with only seven oarsmen for much of the course.  Most notably, freshman Jonathan Millard snapped an oar in two.  Millard’s partner in the bow pair, Jason Villeggiante, commented that “Jon’s one of the strongest guys on the team.  He’s almost as meaty as I am.”  Nonetheless, they posted a time of 18:53, only three seconds off of third place, and just behind Sacramento State, the California Lightweights, and USC, and defeating crews from Pacific, Humboldt State, Long Beach State, St. Mary‘s, and the Cal Maritime Academy.
            The novice women’s eight also performed particularly well.  Turning in a time of 22:22, they were able to defeat all of the WIRA entries with the exception of perennial division I powerhouse Sacramento State.  The women were well ahead of Long Beach State, St. Mary’s, Pacific, and the California Lightweights, and were able to set the pace for all division II, III, and club teams in the field.  “It was a good learning experience for us,” said stroke seat Amy Cerel, “and it was good to beat so many teams from our conference.”
            With only one regatta remaining for Sonoma in the Fall - The Head of the Foster City Lagoon - Sonoma is beginning to prepare for the championship sprint season which begins in March.  So far, it looks as though there will be a push for multiple WIRA titles, and perhaps more.  For information about the rowing club, or to inquire about joining the team, contact Media Coordinator Mike Villeggiante at villeggm@sonoma.edu.

Sonoma Rowers Bring Back National Gold From the East Coast

Philadelphia, PA - Although Philadelphia is quite the distance from Sonoma State, it is also the epicenter of the rowing world.   “When it comes to elite level, competitive rowing, there is no other region that can touch Philadelphia in terms of the depth in the sport, both in the number and the quality of the competitors who row here,” explains Olympic gold medalist and legendary rowing coach Ted Nash.

This summer, three Sonoma State oarsmen put their skills to the test in Philadelphia - captain Mike Vuksich and Mike Villeggiante rowed for Penn Athletic Club (Penn AC) while Sonoma alum Jason Caldwell rowed for Vesper Boat Club.

Vuksich and Villeggiante, returning this year for their final campaign with Sonoma’s varsity men’s crew, joined rowers from such notable schools from around the country such as Georgia Tech, Princeton, UC Davis, and Georgetown, among others, in assembling Penn AC’s lightweight team.  Under ten-time national team member and world champion John Riley, the team trained twice daily throughout the summer in the infamous Philadelphia humidity and raced in the USRowing Club National Championship and Royal Canadian Henley Regatta at the end of summer.  At the national championship, Sonoma’s best brought back three medals.  Both oarsmen took home a gold medal in the Lightweight 8+ event, and Vuksich was also in the Lightweight 4+ which took silver.  Both look for that success to carry over into the 2007-2008 collegiate season.  “This year we have the potential to take home some very big championships at both the varsity and novice levels, and in both lightweight and heavyweight weight classes,” says Villeggiante, “With the right work ethic we should be very fast.”

The Sonoma State Rowing Team was founded in 2003 and is currently one of the fastest growing, successful young teams in the country.  They are a member of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) conference, and compete all year long against teams from around the country, from nearby rivals Sacramento State and UC Davis to large Division I schools such as Stanford, UCLA, Cal, Wisconsin, and USC.  They are currently recruiting for the 2007-2008 season.  No experience is necessary to join.  For more information, contact Recruiter William Morthole at morthole@sonoma.edu.

2007-2008 Season comes to a close. Keep checking back for updates for next year!