Michigan
Notre Dame, Clemson, Eastern Michigan
Wolverines Open Spring Season with Four Varsity Wins
3/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
BELLEVILLE, Mich. -- The No. 2 ranked Michigan women's rowing team started off its 2004 campaign with a great showing against Michigan State, Notre Dame, Clemson and Eastern Michigan on Saturday (March 27) on Belleville Lake. Both the first and second varsity eights won their sprints by open water, and the second and third varsity four crews had easy victories. All races took place on a 1,950-meter course.
The first varsity eight performed admirably and clocked in at 6:19.2 to earn the victory. Michigan's top boat was initially down to both Clemson and Notre Dame but battled back between 1,000 and 1,500 meters to take a lead it would not relinquish. The Wolverines ended up over a boat length ahead of second-place Notre Dame (6:25.0). Clemson (6:34.3) and Eastern Michigan (6:40.2) finished third and fourth, respectively.
In the second varsity eight race the Maize and Blue dominated from start to finish and had a time of 6:35.0. The runner-up was Clemson (6:48.0), which finished more than three boat lengths back. Notre Dame (6:49.7) lost to Clemson by a few seats and EMU (6:56.3) brought up the rear.
The first varsity four was unable to pull out the sweep for U-M, but the crew was in contention throughout the whole course in what was the tightest race of the day. The Fighting Irish earned the victory with a time of 7:14.8. MSU then came in at 7:17.2 and the Wolverines hit the line in 7:19.9. Clemson (7:36.1) took fourth place and Eastern Michigan (8:02.0) was fifth.
Against the likes of Notre Dame and Michigan State, the second varsity four earned a time of 7:17.3 as it benefited from a gusting tailwind. The Spartans were second at 7:23.7 and the Irish were third at 7:36.9.
The third varsity four had Michigan's fourth victory of the day, winning with a time of 7:30.0. U-M beat out one of Notre Dame's entries in the event by more than two boat lengths (7:39.8). UND's second boat finished fourth (7:52.1) as Michigan State took third place (7:44.5).
Michigan's first novice eight took fourth place with a finishing time of 7:10.3. Michigan State (6:47.0), Clemson (6:51.2) and Notre Dame (7:01.3) finished in front of U-M. The Eagles took fifth place in 7:35.8.
The second novice eight's time of 7:21.0 was bested by Michigan State (7:02.3) in a dual race.
The Wolverines will head to Columbus, Ohio, next Saturday (April 3) to compete in a dual event with No. 9 Ohio State.
RESULTS
First Varsity Eight 1. Michigan 6:19.2 2. Notre Dame 6:25.0 3. Clemson 6:34.3 4. Eastern Michigan 6:40.2 Second Varsity Eight 1. Michigan 6:35.0 2. Clemson 6:48.0 3. Notre Dame 6:49.7 4. Eastern Michigan 6:56.3 First Varsity Four 1. Notre Dame 7:14.8 2. Michigan State 7:17.2 3. Michigan 7:19.9 4. Clemson 7:36.1 5. Eastern Michigan 8:02.0 Second Varsity Four 1. Michigan 7:17.3 2. Michigan State 7:23.7 3. Notre Dame 7:36.9 Third Varsity Four 1. Michigan 7:30.0 2. Notre Dame 'A' 7:39.8 3. Michigan State 7:44.5 4. Notre Dame 'B' 7:52.1 First Novice Eight 1. Michigan State 6:47.0 2. Clemson 6:51.2 3. Notre Dame 7:01.3 4. Michigan 7:10.3 5. Eastern Michigan 7:35.8 Second Novice Eight 1. Michigan State 7:02.3 2. Michigan 7:21.0
Michigan Lineups
First Varsity Eight -- Tara Medina (coxswain), Brett Sickler, Crystal Culp, Stesha Carl , Leah Ketcheson, Cristin McCarty, Heather Mandoli, Katie Reynolds, Janine Hanson.
Second Varsity Eight -- Julia Dalzell (coxswain), Amy Coughlin, Tara Kass, Sarah Trowbridge, Christin Plunkett, Katie Polanic, Heather DeHainaut, Elizabeth Godek, Jourdan Lawlor.
First Varsity Four -- Louisa DiLeone (coxswain), Stephanie Shapiro, Ellen Tomek, Carla Bezold, Margot Woolley.
Second Varsity Four -- Sarah O'Brien (coxswain), Emily Goodwin, Emily Shea, Meredith Nichols, Chelsea MacMullan. Q U O T E S On what needs to happen next ... "We need to get better. We're maybe 85 percent of where we need to be. We need to keep bumping that up a little bit each week. I'm more concerned with our development than I am with the results right now. These results, in the long run, really aren't that meaningful. It's nice to see that we're starting at a high level." On Ohio State ... "Ohio State is outstanding. They may be the best team in the country right now. They beat the No. 1 team (Brown) today, as well as No. 3 Princeton. We're going to have our hands full with Ohio State. But again, we'll see them three more times. Whether we beat them or they beat us it's not the end of the story either way." Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
Third Varsity Four -- Jessica Shanahan (coxswain), Vanessa Reid, Amanda Kemnic, Amanda Martin, Hillary Van Duyne.
Head Coach Mark Rothstein
On the races ... "I think we had some really good competition that came to race us. We won four out of the five varsity events, I'm pleased with that. What I told the team last night was that this is the start of a long season, but we need to set the bar high for where we're starting so we can build off of it."
Players Mentioned
