ROWING : UCLA Women Break Records and Gain Titles

SACRAMENTO — The UCLA women’s varsity and junior varsity eights set course records in victories at the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships Sunday on Lake Natoma, but the men’s varsity eight, which had won in 1987, ’88 and ‘89, fell to the University of Washington for the second year in a row.

The varsity women broke faster than planned and established open-water dominance early.

“Once we got out we weren’t going to let anybody catch up,” said varsity women’s captain Beth Mathiowetz of UCLA’s second consecutive victory over California and Washington.

The women’s varsity winning time was 6:44.4 to 6:52.7 for Cal and 6:57.6 for Washington in smooth racing conditions.

The women’s JV boat held off Washington, which moved up fast in a sprint at 200 meters to go.

“We don’t have a great sprint,” said JV crew member Dawn Brown of Ojai. “It’s something we have to work on. But gold is gold.”

The JV women’s time was 6:57.8 to 6:58.4 for Washington and 7:10.9 for Cal over the 2,000 meter course.

The varsity men, coming into the grand final with the fastest heat time, were surprised by Washington’s start. “Washington really shot out,” said Bruin oarsman Brad Marquardt. “It was tough to get into a racing rhythm because they jumped out so fast. We got it together by the last 500, but then it was too late.”

UCLA men’s Coach Zenon Babraj conceded the fastest boat won. “There were psychological factors at play,” he said. “The Huskies were better today at three o’clock.”

The winning time was 5:48 to UCLA’s 5:51.1. Cal placed third in 5:53.2.

One of the psychological factors at play was the end of a program. Athletic Director Peter Dalis announced March 8 that men’s and women’s crew, as well as men’s water polo, will be dropped as varsity sports to save money.

“It’s been a pretty traumatic year with the program being cut,” Mathiowetz said. “Ours was a meaningful victory, but it was mostly for us. I want to hold up the trophy to them (the athletic department) and say, ‘You guys really made a mistake.’ ”

A blown-up copy of a letter from Dalis to his Cal counterpart Dave Maggard inviting the Cal staff to recruit members of UCLA teams being lost was greeted with disdain at the UCLA booster tent.

Women’s crew Coach Kelly Salonites, trying to keep her team’s attention on the national hampionships in Cincinnati in June, is dismayed by such action. “Athletics is about integrity,” she said. “I try to respect the AD and set a good example for them. It’s difficult when they don’t do the same.”