PETALUMA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's women's rowing team couldn't have asked for a better start to the 2012-13 season as the Gaels dominated both races they competed in at the Wine Country Classic in Petaluma on Sunday.

Racing at Shollenberger Park, Saint Mary's got the day started by placing the top two boats in the Collegiate 8+ event.

The team of Coxswain Bennett Collier, Haley Adams, Michelle Felmlee-Gartner, Nicolette Pierantoni, Maryann Concannon, Meagan Scott, Julia Turner, Sharyl Koenig and Kylene Gilmore stopped the clock in 20 minutes, 38 seconds to win the race. Right behind was another group of Gaels, as the team of Coxswain Natalie Livingston, Christina Bennett, Stacey Boss, Dana Cook, Katie Wahl, Rachel Alvarez, Nathalie Lambrecht, Tessa Cunha and Rebecca Beutler finished in 20:38. Two teams from Sonoma State followed Saint Mary's to the finish line.

Next up was the Collegiate 4+ race, and the Gaels were just as impressive in taking the three top spots, followed by Chico State and Sonoma State. The team of Livingston (coxswain), Cook, Concannon, Scott and Koenig placed first with a time of 22 minutes, 32 seconds. A second Saint Mary's team of Collier (coxswain), Adams, Boss, Bennett and Felmlee-Gartner finished in 22:47. The foursome of Gilmore (coxswain), Cunha, Wahl, Alvarez and Beutler stopped the clock in 24:29 to round out the top-three finish.

"It was a good first outing for us," Saint Mary's coach Nicole Younts said. "It's always fun to win, but we know there are things we can get better at over the next three weeks."

The Saint Mary's rowing team will next be in action on land rather than in the water. The team will host a "Jog for Jill" 5-kilometer walk/run on Oct. 13 to benefit cancer research. To learn more about the event, visit http://jogforjillstmarys2012.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1036570