Michigan Loses Challenge Cup Point to Michigan State

Saturday, April 17

East Lansing, Mich.

11:00 AM

Michigan

Michigan State

4/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Lake Ovid)
Event: #8 Michigan at #10 Michigan State
Pontiac Challenge Cup Scoring: Michigan State 17, Michigan 6
Next U-M Event: Saturday, May 1 -- at Big Ten Championships (Iowa City, Iowa), 8 a.m. CDT

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked Michigan women's rowing team fell 17-6 to No. 10-ranked Michigan State on Saturday (April 17) with losses in five of the six races being scored for the Pontiac Challenge Cup point that was up for grabs for the two rivals. U-M's second varsity eight received the only point-bearing win for the Wolverines as the Spartans dominated the racing on Lake Ovid. U-M's third varsity four also had a victory.

The Spartans outscored the Wolverines by earning nine points for the first varsity eight win, three points apiece for wins by the first varsity four and first novice eight and one point apiece for the second varsity four and second novice eight triumphs. The U-M second varsity eight victory was worth six points. With MSU taking the Pontiac Challenge Cup point for rowing the Spartans have a 1.5-1.0 overall lead in the rivalry's spring season.

U-M's first varsity eight battled with MSU throughout its race but could not stay with the Spartans in the end as it lost by open water, 6:42.10 to 6:47.67. The second varsity eight earned a slim victory by clocking a time of 6:52.80. Michigan State quickly followed with a finish in 6:53.85.

The Maize and Blue first varsity four had its three-race winning streak ended when MSU crossed the finish line in 7:42.00, 3.59 seconds ahead of the Wolverines. The second varsity four suffered a loss by nearly two boat lengths as Michigan State finished in 7:51.31 and U-M in 7:58.31. The third varsity four managed Michigan's second win on the day with a time of 8:01.50. MSU clocked in at 8:10.82.

The Spartans wrapped up the day with wins by their first and second novice eights by open water.

The Wolverines have next weekend off before they head to Iowa City, Iowa, for the Big Ten Championships on May 1.

RESULTS

First Varsity Eight 1. Michigan State 6:42.10 (9 points) 2. Michigan 6:47.67 Second Varsity Eight 1. Michigan 6:52.80 (6 points) 2. Michigan State 6:53.85 First Varsity Four 1. Michigan State 7:42.00 (3 points) 2. Michigan 7:45.59 Second Varsity Four 1. Michigan State 7:51.31 (1 point) 2. Michigan 7:58.31 Third Varsity Four 1. Michigan 8:01.50 (non-scoring) 2. Michigan State 8:10.82
 First Novice Eight 1. Michigan State 7:06.90 (3 points) 2. Michigan 7:29.94 Second Novice Eight 1. Michigan State 7:26.00 (1 point) 2. Michigan 7:42.39

QUOTES

Michigan Head Coach Mark Rothstein
On what changes will be made for the Big Ten Championships ... "We just need to regroup. There are areas where we can get faster and we need to get our confidence back. We have a good team that is still capable of a great season. We aren't fast right now and we need to make changes."

On Michigan State ... "I was impressed with Michigan State. Their first varsity eight was fast and showed determination in its race and we were unable to counter that. We lost to a very good team. We need to find a way to get on par with the teams beating us. The nice thing is that we're going to see the teams that have beaten us -- Michigan State, Ohio State and Virginia -- again. We have a lot of work to do."

Michigan Lineups

First Varsity Eight -- Tara Medina (coxswain), Leah Ketcheson, Stesha Carl, Crystal Culp, Cristin McCarty, Heather Mandoli, Amy Coughlin, Janine Hanson, Katie Reynolds.