PETALUMA, Calif. – The Santa Clara University men's crew team began its 2011-12 campaign strong, winning the Wine Country Classic held on the Petaluma River on Sunday, Oct. 23.

Led by head coach Wieslaw Kujda and senior team captain Daniel Calvillo, the Broncos top boat of Calvillo, Mark Bluth, Andrew Norell, Toban Platt, Connor Moakley, Nate Garvey, Howard Limburg, Brent Michael Harvey Jr. and Katie McAuliffe claimed a decisive win in the 5K event over Sonoma State and Sacramento State. It was the first race of the 2011-12 season for SCU.

"Good rowing and good form from the guys," said Kujda about Sunday's effort. "The conditions were rough, the water was choppy. But this was a good step forward for us and our future."

As they did in Petaluma, Santa Clara will send two boats to next weekend's Head of the American Regatta in Sacramento, Calif. The event will be much bigger, as over 25 schools and 30 boats are expected to compete in the eights.