Weekly Release #6
4/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Upcoming Schedule
Sunday, April 19 -- vs. Indiana, vs. Ohio State (East Lansing, Mich.)
Saturday, May 3 -- at Big Ten Championships (Columbus, Ohio)
Michigan This Week
The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan rowing team will wrap up its regular season this weekend with races against Indiana and No. 11 Ohio State on Saturday (April 19) in East Lansing, Mich. The Wolverines will begin their day on Lake Ovid at 10:30 a.m. against the Hoosiers. In the afternoon session, U-M will take on rival OSU starting at 2:30 p.m. Michigan will be looking to extend its streak of three wins by the first varsity eight, second varsity eight, and first varsity four. The first varsity eight race between Michigan and Ohio State will feature the reigning Big Ten Boats of the Week. The two crews split the honor for their weekend performances at the ACC/Big Ten Double Dual.
| Michigan vs. Indiana | first varsity four | 10:30 a.m. |
| | second varsity eight | 11:00 a.m. |
| | first varsity eight | 11:30 a.m. |
| Michigan vs. Ohio State | first varsity four | 2:30 p.m. |
| | second varsity eight | 3:00 p.m. |
| | first varsity eight | 3:30 p.m. |
Scouting the Opponents
Indiana -- The unranked Hoosiers were in Camden, N.J., at the Knecht Cup Regatta last weekend (April 12-13). The first varsity eight failed to qualify for the finals of the regatta while the second eight did not attend the event. The first varsity four finished in seventh place as it placed first in the petite finals.
Ohio State -- The No. 11 Buckeyes hosted the ACC/Big Ten Double Dual last weekend (April 12) and performed equally as well as Michigan, sweeping Duke and No. 10 Virginia in the varsity races. OSU's first varsity eight posted the fastest time of the day by any team with 6:17.5. For their efforts, the Buckeyes earned co-Big Ten Boat of the Week accolades along with U-M on April 14.
Forecast
The forecast in East Lansing, Mich., calls for a high of 54 degrees with showers and winds from the southeast traveling 8 mph.
Big Ten Co-Boat of the Week
Michigan's first varsity eight boat shared the Big Ten Conference Boat of the Week honor on April 14 for its efforts on April 12 vs. No. 10 Virginia and Duke. The crew split the weekly accolade with Ohio State's first varsity eight. Both crews swept their races against Virginia and Duke at the ACC/Big Ten Double Dual in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan, with a time of 6:21.7, defeated Virginia's boat by open water (6:26.8). Later in the day, the Wolverines crossed the finish line in 6:21.2, which was 12.6 seconds faster than the trailing Blue Devils. The Michigan first varsity eight boat has now won back-to-back Big Ten Boat of the Week awards; U-M won the award April 7 after beating No. 9 Michigan State and Eastern Michigan on April 6. The boat was comprised of coxswain Helen Dalis (Augusta, Ga./Davidson Fine Arts), and rowers Erin Kopicki (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child HS), Crystal Culp (Fonthill, Ontario/E.L. Crossley SS), Stesha Carl (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson HS), Heather Mandoli (Kelowna, B.C./KLO SS), Leah Ketcheson (Belleville, Ontario/Bayside SS), Brett Sickler (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos HS), Kate Maxim (St. Helena, S.C./Langley HS) and Katie Reynolds (Saint John, N.B./Saint John SS).
Top Five
Michigan's first varsity eight has been ranked No. 5 nationally by US Rowing (www.usrowing.org) for two consecutive weeks. The first poll came out on April 2. Typically, updated rankings are posted every Wednesday afternoon.
Big Ten Championships
The Big Ten Championships will take place on May 3 in Columbus, Ohio. The Scioto River, which Michigan had the opportunity to row on last weekend (April12), will serve as the specific venue. In 2002, the Buckeyes earned first place with the Wolverines finishing a close second. No. 5 Michigan, No. 9 Michigan State, No. 11 Ohio State and No. 16 Iowa appear to be in position to take runs at the conference title this year. Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin will also be competing in the regatta.
Last Weekend Against Virginia and Duke at the ACC/Big Ten Double Dual
No. 5-ranked Michigan put together two very successful meets at the ACC/Big Ten Double Dual on Saturday (April 12) in Columbus, Ohio. The Wolverines swept all four varsity races against both No. 10 Virginia and Duke. In the morning session against Virginia, the first varsity eight gained first place in 6:21.7 while UVA finished in 6:26.8. In the second varsity eight race Michigan won 6:31.3 to 6:31.5. The first varsity four won by a boat length with a time of 7:20.2 compared to the Cavaliers' 7:24.6. The second varsity four edged Virginia by a few seats in the last race, 7:32.4 to 7:33.9. The first and second novice eights placed second and third place, respectively, in their sprints.
Later in the day against Duke, the first eight eased past Duke, 6:21.2 to 6:33.8. The second eight crossed the line in 6:33.9 to beat the Blue Devils (6:41.3). U-M's first varsity four (7:17.9) stroked to a first-place finish by beating Duke by nearly three boat lengths (7:29.7). The second varsity four wrapped up the sweep with a time of 7:37.9 while the Blue Devils had a time of 7:38.8. The first novice eight won its first race of the day and the second novice eight again finished in third position.
Welcome to the Spring Season
In the fall, crews race in "head" races, a class of regattas generally three miles in length where the boats race against themselves and the clock. However, in the spring season, the teams compete in 2,000-meter "sprints." It takes an eight approximately six and one-half minutes to finish a race.
Head Coach Mark Rothstein
Mark Rothstein is in his seventh year as the head coach of the Michigan rowing team. Rothstein, the only head coach in the program's history, has led the program from its conservative beginning to a second-place finish at the 2001 NCAA Rowing Championships, including a national championship by the second varsity eight. He guided the team to consecutive Big Ten championships (2000, 01) and has been named the Big Ten and Midwest Region Coach of the Year. For his efforts in the 2001 season, he was selected as the National Coach of the Year.
Probable Lineups
First Varsity Eight coxswain: Helen Dalis 8-seat: Erin Kopicki 7-seat: Crystal Culp 6-seat: Stesha Carl 5-seat: Heather Mandoli 4-seat: Leah Ketcheson 3-seat: Brett Sickler 2-seat: Kate Maxim 1-seat: Katie Reynolds Second Varsity Eight coxswain: Tara Medina 8-seat: Elizabeth Godek 7-seat: Janine Hanson 6-seat: Sarah Trowbridge 5-seat: Heather DeHainaut 4-seat: Laura Drongowski 3-seat: Elizabeth Kreger 2-seat: Amy Coughlin 1-seat: Emily Goodwin Varsity Four coxswain: Louisa DiLeone 4-seat: Emke Bury 3-seat: Christina Ceo 2-seat: Christin Plunkett 1-seat: Stephanie Shapiro
Up Next: Big Ten Championships
The Big Ten Championships will take place on May 3 in Columbus, Ohio. The Scioto River, on which Michigan had the opportunity to row last weekend (April 12), will serve as the venue. In 2002, the Buckeyes earned first place with the Wolverines finishing a close second.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
