Weekly Release #5
4/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Saturday, April 28 -- host Big Ten Championships (Belleville, Mich.)
Sat-Sun., May 12-13 -- at Central Region Championship (Oak Ridge, Tenn.)
Michigan This Week
In the midst of its best season to date, the second-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team hosts the second annual Big Ten Conference Women's Rowing Championships this Saturday (April 28) at 8 a.m. on Belleville Lake in Belleville, Mich. The Wolverines are the defending Big Ten champions, having won the inaugural championship last season in Madison, Wis. So far this year, the Wolverines have won 23 of 24 races, including sweeping all 12 races at the Buckeye Invitational (April 14). At that regatta, the Wolverines downed then-No. 2 Southern California and moved into the second spot in the following poll. The No. 2 ranking is the best in the program's five-year history.
The Forecast
The forecast calls for a partly cloudy skies and a high of 73 degrees for the races on Saturday.
Open House
The 2001 Big Ten Championships will be the first regatta to feature U-M's new $1.2-million boathouse. The facility was completed last fall and christened at the annual Family Fun Row.
Welcome Home
This weekend's championship marks the first regatta at Belleville Lake since the team hosted Michigan State and Ohio State in May 1998. Michigan did not host a home meet in 1999, and the two home regattas last season were held on nearby Ford Lake.
Academic Honors
In addition to being the No. 2 team in the nation, the Wolverines are hard at work in the classroom. At last week's U-M awards banquet (April 16), 41 of 60 Michigan rowers received the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award. Of the 23 athletes in the three NCAA boats (first varsity eight, second varsity eight and first varsity four), 17 received the distinction.
In the Polls
Michigan moved into the No. 2 spot, the highest ranking in the program's history, and garnered two first-place votes in last week's USRowing/CRCA poll (April 18). Brown, the defending national champion, continues to hold the No. 1 spot and received 22 of 24 first-place votes. In addition to Michigan in the second spot, four other Big Ten teams are ranked among the top 20 in the nation - Ohio State is eighth, Michigan State is 12th, Iowa is 13th and Wisconsin is 18th. Indiana and Minnesota are not ranked.
Looking Ahead
Following the Big Ten Championships, the Wolverines will take a week off before competing in the Central Region Championships May 12-13 in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The season concludes at the NCAA Championships May 24-26 in Gainesville, Ga.
Probable Lineups
VARSITY EIGHT Coxswain Helen Dalis Stroke Kate Johnson Seat 7 Laurel Donnell-Fink Seat 6 Alison Hickey Seat 5 Jenny Bryant Seat 4 Christine Meyer Seat 3 Bernadette Marten Seat 2 Tamara McBratney Bow Kate Maxim 2nd VARSITY EIGHT Coxswain Corrin Cunningham Stroke Melanie Duncan Seat 7 Sera Coppolino Seat 6 Liz Nelson Seat 5 Sophie Roberge Seat 4 Katie Reynolds Seat 3 Julie Brescoll Seat 2 Kristine Johns Bow Petra Juzwishin VARSITY FOUR Coxswain Carissa Bragg Stroke Liz Glenn Seat 3 Erin Kopicki Seat 2 Heather Mandoli Bow Elizabeth Kreger 2nd VARSITY FOUR Coxswain Fazeela Siddiqui Stroke Caroline Gregory Seat 3 Angela Bierhuizen Seat 2 Amy Anstandig Bow Christina Ceo
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
