Michigan
NCAA Finals
Wolverines Finish Second at NCAA Championships
5/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Site:Â Gainesville, Ga. (Lake Lanier)
Event:Â #2 Michigan at NCAA Championships
U-M Team Finish:Â 2nd place
Results:Â First Varsity Eight -- 3rd Place; Second Varsity Eight -- 1st Place; First Varsity Four -- 2nd Place
Next U-M Event:Â Season completed
GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- Heading into the final race of the day Saturday (May 26) at the 2001 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships, it was the University of Michigan and Washington battling for first and second in the team standings. Despite a strong effort and some of the best racing of the day, the Wolverines finished third in the Grande Final of the First Varsity Eight to finish second (53 points) to the Huskies (58) in the final team standings.
While the team title was the goal on everyone's mind, the Wolverines still rewrote their record books with the solid performances by all three boats at the championships. The second varsity eight became the first boat in the five-year history of the program to capture a national title, by winning the Grande Final of their event. The varsity four was second and the first varsity eight was third in their respective Grande Finals, the highest finishes by the boats in four trips to the NCAA Championships. The second-place team finish was also the best finish by the rowers at the championships, and ties the best finish by any U-M women's team at a national championship.
Up by a point heading into the Grande Final, Michigan was looking to improve on yesterday's slow start and battle Washington for the team title. A stiff headwind made for choppy conditions, but the wind was straight down the course and created fair conditions for all crews. In typical Michigan fashion, the Wolverines started strong but sat just back from the leader of the race until the 750-meter mark. At that point, Brown had the lead and Michigan was in fourth. The crew was moving and took over third place by the 1,250-meter mark. Brown was in the lead and Washington was second, but Michigan took a big move on the Huskies to battle for second. With 500 meters to go, Washington responded and walked past the Wolverines and through Brown into first place. With the Huskies moving ahead, Michigan was looking to keep Southern California in fourth and move on second-place Brown. At the finish line, Michigan was third, unable to catch second-place Brown and national champion Washington.
First Varsity Eight
Down by just one point in the team standings after the Varsity Four race, The Wolverines needed a strong performance in the Second Varsity Eight Grande Final to keep themselves in the running for the team championship. With a boat that has been fast all season, Michigan went out and did just that. After starting slow, Michigan worked its way into second behind Brown at the 500-meter mark. However, there was still just six feet between Brown and third-place Washington. By the 1,000-meter mark, Michigan had caught up with Brown to share the lead, while Washington was falling off. At this point, a big push by the Wolverines gave them the lead over the Bears. In just 250 meters, Michigan's lead was up to five seats. As Michigan pulled away, the Huskies were rowing through Brown to take second. From this point on, the race was all Michigan. The Wolverines continued to extend their lead to win by open water over second-place Washington. Michigan earned 20 points for the win, which gave them a one-point lead in the team standing over Washington.
In the Grande Final of the Varsity Four, Michigan's first race of the day, the Wolverines held off Iowa to finish second to Washington. The outcome was about as close as it gets in rowing, as the surge of the Wolverines' boat was all that separated Michigan from the Hawkeyes at the finish line. The second-place finish was crucial, as the Wolverines earned nine points to the Huskies' 10 points.
In the race, Washington led from the start. The Huskies had a good jump off the start and led the race until the finish. Michigan was challenging for the lead most of the race but could never reduce the lead to less than one-half of a boat-length. This led to a battle for second with Brown and Iowa. At the halfway point of the race, both the Hawkeyes and the Bears were right with Michigan. Over the next 500 meters, Brown trailed off, and it was left to Michigan and Iowa to battle for second. With 500 meters remaining, Michigan held a slight lead, but the distance back to the Hawkeyes was merely inches. After trading second and third depending on which boat was at the peak of its surge, Michigan moved a few inches ahead of the Hawkeyes and was able to take second at the finish line.
Varsity Four
The championships wrap up a record-setting season for the Wolverines. Michigan captured its second consecutive Big Ten championship and fourth consecutive Central Region championship, and the Wolverines rowed to a program-best second-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Final Team Standings
Place, Team Points 1. Washington 58 2. MICHIGAN 53 3. Brown 49 4. Ohio State 37 5. Princeton 33 6. California 23 7. Virginia 22 8. Harvard 20 9. Iowa 18 10. Boston University 17
Saturday Results (Finals)
First Varsity Eight (Grande Final) 1. Washington 7:04.03 1st 30 pts. 2. Brown 7:05.34 2nd 27 3. MICHIGAN 7:08.45 3rd 24 4. Southern California 7:09.09 4th -- 5. Princeton 7:10.12 5th 21 6. Syracuse 7:19.56 6th -- First Varsity Eight (Petite Final) 1. Ohio State 6:44.87 7th 18 pts. 2. California 6:48.14 8th 15 3. Boston University 6:49.59 9th 12 4. Michigan State 6:50.52 10th -- 5. Yale 6:51.56 11th -- 6. Harvard 6:53.29 12th 9 Second Varsity Eight (Grande Final) 1. MICHIGAN 6:43.34 1st 20 pts. 2. Washington 6:48.52 2nd 18 3. Brown 6:50.53 3rd 16 4. Virginia 6:52.13 4th 14 5. Ohio State 6:53.27 5th 12 6. Harvard 6:55.31 6th 10 Second Varsity Eight (Petite Final) 1. Princeton 6:52.14 7th 8 pts. 2. California 6:53.59 8th 6 3. Iowa 7:02.10 9th 4 4. Boston University 7:03.44 10th 2 Varsity Four (Grande Final) 1. Washington 7:32.69 1st 10 pts. 2. MICHIGAN 7:35.31 2nd 9 3. Iowa 7:35.97 3rd 8 4. Ohio State 7:38.41 4th 7 5. Brown 7:42.06 5th 6 6. Virginia 7:44.93 6th 5 Varsity Four (Petite Final) 1. Princeton 7:40.84 7th 4 pts. 2. Boston University 7:42.08 8th 3 3. California 7:43.48 9th 2 4. Harvard 7:52.38 10th 1
Michigan Lineups
First Varsity Eight
Coxswain Helen Dalis, Kate Johnson, Laurel Donnell-Fink, Alison Hickey, Christina Meyer, Jenny Bryant, Bernadette Marten, Tami McBratney and Kate Maxim
Second Varsity Eight
Coxswain Corinn Cunningham, Melanie Duncan, Petra Juzwishin, Sera Coppolino, Sophie Roberge, Liz Nelson, Julie Brescoll, Kristine Johns and Katie Reynolds.
Varsity Four
Coxswain Carissa Bragg, Elizabeth Glenn, Erin Kopicki, Heather Mandoli and Christina Ceo
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Mark Rothstein
On the second-place finish ... "I am really proud of this group of athletes. They raced hard and raced well. Finishing second is a great step for this program. We are losing a great group of seniors. They are the main reason we finished as well as we did today."
On each boat's race ... "The varsity four is a young group of rowers. There are four sophomores and a freshman in that boat. Finishing second at the national championships is a great accomplishment.
"The second varsity eight just showed how great they really are. To win by open water at the NCAA Championships is an amazing feat. They have been great all year and really proved it today.
"The first varsity eight didn't have their best race, but on the other hand, Washington is a very deserving crew. We ran into some very fast crews today."
Senior Melanie Duncan (second varsity eight, stroke seat)
On winning a national title ... "It is just an amazing feeling. As the race went on, it just felt better and better. We started off well, but then at the 750-meter mark just started taking a lead and never looked back. It was just incredible."
On the rewards of the winter training schedule ... "It all paid off. There were times in the winter when I was questioning myself and why I was doing this, but it all paid off today."
On the progress of the program over the last four years ... "Each year we have finished fifth, so it is so rewarding to finish second. This year, we totally re-did our training and practice schedule, and it has really made a difference."
Players Mentioned
