Michigan
NCAA Semis/Repechage
NCAA Semifinal Win Puts First Varsity Eight in Grand Final
5/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Event: NCAA Championships (Day 2 of 3)
U-M Results: First Varsity Eight -- Advanced to Grand Final
Second Varsity Eight -- Advanced to Petite Final
First Varsity Four -- Advanced to Grand Final
Next U-M Event: Sunday, June 1 -- at NCAA Championships (Indianapolis, Ind.)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team's the first varsity eight boat garnered its second straight victory of the weekend to advance to the Grand Final at the NCAA Championships on Saturday (May 31). The first varsity eight has won its first two races at the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history. Additionally, Michigan's first varsity four advanced to its Grand Final, while the second varsity eight will participate in its Petite Final. The NCAA Championships will conclude tomorrow (Sunday, June 1) with races beginning at 9:45 a.m. EST/CDT.
U-M's first varsity eight began its race in fourth place as it was nearly nine seats behind the leader, No. 12 Southern Cal. Moving through the second part of competition, the Wolverines jumped USC, No. 4 Princeton and No. 5 Virginia to take over first place by barely one seat. At 1,500 meters, U-M had extended its lead to over half a boat length over No. 9 California. Virginia challenged Michigan in the final sprint, but U-M was able to cross the finish line in 6:19.29, just 0.82 seconds ahead of UVA and 1.99 seconds ahead of USC, the semifinal's final qualifier for the Grand Final.
The second varsity eight was relegated to the Petite Final as a result of a third-place finish in its repechage heat. U-M opened the first quarter of the race in fourth place, over one boat length behind pacesetting Washington. The Wolverines worked their way up to third place at the 1,000-meter mark by passing Yale. Between 1,000 and 1,500 meters, Michigan was passed by Ohio State while Stanford dropped back, leaving U-M still in third place. Down the stretch Michigan was unable to come from behind to gain the top-two finish that was needed to advance to the Grand Final. With a time of 6:36.19, Michigan trailed second-place OSU (6:31.97) by over a boat length at the finish line.
The first varsity four was the first U-M crew to get through to its Grand Final. After the first 500 meters the Wolverines trailed Yale by roughly six seats to stand in fourth place. A strong second leg of the race allowed U-M to overtake Michigan State and Washington and move into second. Heading into the final 500 meters, the four lengthened its lead over third-place Washington and finished in second place to Yale to qualify for the Grand Final. Michigan's late push gave Yale only a three-seat margin of victory (7:16.28 to 7:17.43).
The Wolverines will look for a strong finish at the NCAA Championships on Sunday (June 1). Harvard, the only team to place all three of its boats in the Grand Finals, is the front-runner, but two other teams -- Michigan (IV8 and IV4) and Washington (IV8 and IIV8) -- have their first varsity eights and a second boat in the Grand Finals. Racing will commence on Eagle Creek Reservoir at 9:45 a.m. EST/CDT, with the Grand Finals of the first varsity eight taking place at noon. Live results are available at Indiana's site.
RESULTS (Day 2)
First Varsity Eight Semifinal 1 1. MICHIGAN* 6:19.29 2. Virginia* 6:20.11 3. Southern Cal* 6:21.28 4. California 6:21.90 5. Princeton 6:27.05 6. Ohio State 6:37.96 Semifinal 2 1. Harvard* 6:20.05 2. Washington* 6:20.70 3. Stanford* 6:20.83 4. Brown 6:23.03 5. Yale 6:28.13 6. Texas 6:29.20 * Advanced to First Varsity Eight Grand Final First Varsity Eight (C Final) 1. Michigan State 6:22.99 -- 6 points 2. Boston University 6:27.61 3. Washington State 6:27.74 -- 3 points 4. Tennessee 6:32.44 Second Varsity Eight Repechage 1 1. Princeton* 6:29.98 2. Harvard* 6:31.03 3. Virginia 6:31.98 4. Michigan State 6:35.54 5. Washington State 6:42.71 Repechage 2 1. Washington* 6:30.80 2. Ohio State* 6:31.97 3. MICHIGAN 6:36.19 4. Yale 6:36.56 5. Stanford 6:39.53 * Advanced to Second Varsity Eight Grand Final First Varsity Four Repechage 1 1. Harvard* 7:17.44 2. Ohio State* 7:18.85 3. Princeton 7:21.54 4. Virginia 7:26.25 5. Stanford 7:34.81 Repechage 2 1. Yale* 7:16.28 2. MICHIGAN* 7:17.43 3. Washington 7:22.21 4. Washington State 7:22.80 5. Michigan State 7:27.98 * Advanced to First Varsity Four Grand Final
Day 1 Results
Michigan Lineups
First Varsity Eight -- Helen Dalis (coxswain), Erin Kopicki, Crystal Culp, Stesha Carl, Heather Mandoli, Leah Ketcheson, Brett Sickler, Kate Maxim, Katie Reynolds.
Second Varsity Eight -- Tara Medina (coxswain), Sarah Trowbridge, Emily Goodwin, Elizabeth Godek, Heather DeHainaut, Christin Plunkett, Laura Drongowski, Christina Ceo, Emke Bury.
First Varsity Four -- Louisa DiLeone (coxswain), Stephanie Shapiro, Elizabeth Kreger, Janine Hanson, Amy Coughlin.
N O T E S
The first varsity eight has won its first two races (preliminary heat and semifinal) for the first time in its six years at the NCAA Championships.
Michigan has advanced at least two boats to the Grand Finals in each of its six years at the NCAA Championships.
The tailwinds during the races reached up to 32 mph.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Mark Rothstein
On the first varsity eight's win today ... "I thought they had a good semifinal. They handled the conditions well. Obviously, I'm pleased to be in the Grand Final in that event."
On how tight the first varsity eight race will be tomorrow ... "I think it's going to be really good racing. I think probably any crew in that final is capable of winning."
On the team championship ... "That is totally wide open as well. I think there are still four or five teams that could win the team championship. Certainly, Harvard has the best chance right now."
Sophomore Leah Ketcheson (IV8, 4-seat)
On the windy race conditions ... "We were actually pretty prepared because we have been rowing in some pretty rough water all year. We were ready for it. It's more about knowing the right technique to get through the water as fast as we can. Today, it wasn't so much about power, but just finding the best way to handle the conditions."
On if the team is gaining momentum having won back-to-back races ... "It gives us the confidence that I think we need in order to do well tomorrow. Going in there, it could go any way. If we just prepare right we'll have a good race tomorrow."
On the competition in the Grand Final ... "I think the first varsity eight this year is so competitive. All of the boats in the Grand Final and the Petite Final are comparable to within a few seconds."
Junior Heather Mandoli (IV8, 5-seat)
On the competitiveness of the first varsity eight race ... "(Coming from behind) is our race strategy. We want to maintain consistency where other boats usually fall off in the second 1,000 meters. The boats that we were racing today in the semifinal could easily have been a Grand Final field in years past. There is just so much parity in the races that it's pretty exciting that we could have come from behind and finish in first place in the semifinal."
On the prospects for the Grand Final tomorrow ... "I think it's anyone's race. I think all six boats have a chance of finishing first. I think whoever shows up tomorrow will win. Hopefully, it will be us and I think we have as good a chance as anyone."
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
