SAN BRUNO, Calif. - San Diego has been selected as the favorite to win the West Coast Conference women's rowing championship in a preseason poll of the WCC's seven head coaches. The Toreros received four first place votes in the poll and Gonzaga received three (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team). Gonzaga and San Diego have multiple selections on the Preseason All-WCC Team.

San Diego seniors Michelle Geesman, Stephanie Jegat and Hannah Patrick were selected to the preseason all-conference team. Patrick was named to the 2011 All-Conference team at the conclusion of the rowing championships, where the Toreros topped Gonzaga 36 to 30 in the final points standings.

Gonzaga was picked to finish second as voted on by the WCC rowing coaches. After spending the last four years as the head coach at Georgetown, the Bulldogs return Glenn Putyrae as the women's rowing head coach. Putyrae was the Zags' coach from 1999 to 2007. Zags' Senior Teddi McGuire was named to the all-conference team.

Saint Mary's was picked to finish third in the WCC coaches poll. Senior Chelsea Serrano was selected to the preseason all-WCC team. Serrano took part in the I Four Race for the Gaels in last year's WCC Championship. 

Rounding out the preseason coaches poll are Creighton, Santa Clara and Portland. Bluejays' senior Christine Koehler along with sophomores Rachel Donohoe of Santa Clara and Mia Tarte from Portland were also named to the preseason all-West Coast Conference team.

The 2012 WCC Rowing Championships will take place on May 12 at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif.

The complete 2012 West Coast Conference Women's Rowing preseason poll and all-conference team follows.

Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
(1) San Diego (4)
(2) Gonzaga (3)
(3) Saint Mary's
(4) Loyola Marymount
(5) Creighton
(6) Santa Clara
(7) Portland

-Names listed alphabetically