SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara women's rowing squad finished its 2013 campaign after competing at the West Coast Conference Championship on May 18 in Gold River, Calif. At the WCC Championship, the conference named two Broncos to the 2013 WCC All-Conference Team.

Carina Brocato and Margret Mendenhall both received All-Conference honors for being instrumental to their crews. Brocato, a second-year rower and varsity seven seat was proud of the accomplishment.

"It's a great honor to be named to the All-Conference team and it is a big stepping stone in my career as a rower and a honor to represent my fellow rowers," said Brocato. "I know that everyone of my teammates deserves this just as much as I do because each of them bring something different to the table. Without their hard work and commitment to this program, I wouldn't be able to wake up early and put in the work necessary to progress."

Mendenhall, who is also a member of the Varsity Eight, spent the 2011-12 season as a member of the Second Eight lineup, but worked her way to the varsity at the beginning of this season.

Santa Clara head coach John Wojtkiewicz believes both Brocato and Mendenhall will be instrumental leaders moving forward.

"Carina and Margret are both going to be future team leaders, said Wojtkiewicz.  "In many ways they are completely different kinds of athletes…but in either case they perform on the water and my hope is that they will influence the younger members of the team and help us continue to raise standards of performance."

On the water, the Broncos competed with six other crews for the conference's automatic qualifying bid to represent the WCC at NCAA's. Gonzaga went home with the crown after winning both the Varsity Eight I and the Varsity Eight II events.

"It was an awesome regatta the conference really stepped it up this year," said Wojtkiewicz.  "My guess is that we had about 500 people on the shore watching, and congrats to Gonzaga for winning the [automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA's]. My best to them and representing the conference at the NCAA National Championships. It was a tough regatta for us. Injuries really crippled us and made it hard to show what we're capable of."

There was a three-way tie for third with Portland, Saint Mary's and LMU finishing with 23 points. The Broncos, who have been battling injury, finished seventh with six points.

 Final Standings 

1. Gonzaga – 41 

2. San Diego – 37

3. Loyola Marymount – 23 
    Portland – 23
    Saint Mary's – 23

6. Creighton (WCC Women's Rowing Affiliate) – 15

7. Santa Clara – 6

Santa Clara, 9:19.7 
(cox: Brenda Arellano; Bianca Garcia; Michileen Oberst; Laura Thompson; Ariel Ross)

Gonzaga pulled out one of its two wins in the II Eight Race with a time of 6:51.6. Santa Clara finished with a mark of 8:00.3 consisting of the following crew:

II Eight Race Official Results 1. Gonzaga, 6:51.6
(cox: Jordan

Santa Clara 8:00.3 
(cox: Stacey Urauchi; Michlle Castro; Blair Mithcell; Katherine Kilmer; Mary Smith; Briana Wise; Samantha Nitz; Rachel Donohoe; Megan Alferness)

In the I Eight race, Gonzaga pulled out its second win with a time of 6:39. Santa Clara finished in 7:43.0 with the a crew consisting of:

Santa Clara 7:43.0
(cox: Ana Burgos-Solis; Adrienne Lohe; Carina Brocato; Veronica Herr; Margret Mendenhall; Katie Bond; Daphne Cottrell; Molly Walker; Melissa Giorgi)