Weekly Release #1

Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, March 25 -- at Princeton with Brown (Princeton, N.J.)
Saturday, April 1 -- ACC/Big Ten Double Dual (Columbus, Ohio)

Michigan This Week
The No. 7-ranked Michigan women's rowing team kicks off its 2006 spring campaign this Saturday (March 25) when it faces host No. 1 Princeton and No. 6 Brown on Lake Carnegie in Princeton, N.J. Racing will commence at 9 a.m. The three teams will compete together in each race as opposed to head-to-head.

Schedule of Events

Second novice eight	9 a.m.
Second varsity four	9:20 a.m.
First varsity four	9:20 a.m.
First novice eight	10 a.m.
Second varsity eight	10:20 a.m.
First varsity eight	10:40 a.m.

Coach Mark Rothstein Says...
"We are really excited to start the spring season. This race will be a tremendoous challenge for us as we are racing two of the best programs in the nation in Brown and Princeton. We will certainly have a good sense of what kind of boat speed we have after racing against these crews this weekend. Princeton is ranked number one in the nation and Brown has won more national championships than any other program--so we will have our hands full."

Weather Forecast
The forecast for Saturday in Princeton, N.J., calls for a high of 49 degrees with possible rain. Slight winds are being predicted out of the northeast.

On Princeton
The No. 1-ranked Tigers are coached by Lori Dauphiny, who is in her ninth season. This weekend marks the opening event for Princeton's season. In 2005, Princeton took fifth place at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. The Tigers' first varsity eight was the runner-up in the grand final. The second varsity eight and first varsity four both took fifth place in the petite finals. Princeton on the Web: www.goprincetontigers.com.

On Brown
This weekend's regatta will also serve as the season opener for the No. 6-ranked Brown Bears. Head coach John Murphy is in his 22nd season directing Brown rowing. At the 2005 NCAA Championships, Brown placed second in the varsity four grand final, third in the second varsity eight grand final and first in the varsity eight petite final. Overall, the Bears placed third as a team. Brown on the Web: www.brownbears.com.

Experience Helps
Michigan's first varsity eight returns four rowers from its final 2005 crew. The veterans include seniors Stesha Carl (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson HS) and Janine Hanson (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary's Academy) and Cristin McCarty (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Bishop James Mahoney) and junior Emily Shea (Ashfield, Mass./Deerfield Academy).

Preseason Rankings
The Wolverines were slotted No. 7 in the country by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association when its preseason rankings were released on March 13. U-M finished the 2005 campaign in eighth place at the NCAA Championships. Around the Big Ten Conference, Ohio State is No. 4, Wisconsin is No. 8, Michigan State is No. 13 and Minnesota is No. 18.

Return Trip
West Windsor, N.J., which is the home of the 2006 NCAA Rowing Championships, is roughly five miles from the Princeton University campus in Princeton, N.J. On Jan. 19, 2006, Mercer Lake in West Windsor was announced as the host for this season's championship event, which will take place May 26-28. The Wolverines have participated in each of the last eight NCAA Championships.

Head Coach Mark Rothstein
Mark Rothstein is in his 10th year as the head coach of the Michigan rowing team. Rothstein, the only head coach in the program's history, has guided the Maize and Blue to the NCAA Championships for eight straight seasons. In 2003, Rothstein guided the first varsity eight to a runner-up finish, its best ever showing, at the NCAA Championships en route to a fourth-place team finish. At the 2001 NCAA Championships, U-M had a school-best second-place finish, highlighted by a national boat title by the second varsity eight. He has led the team to four of the six Big Ten Conference championships (2000, '01, '03, '04). In 2000, '01 and '04 he was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year. He was the Central Region Coach of the Year in 2000 and '01. For his efforts during the 2001 season, he was selected as the National Coach of the Year.

Probable Lineups

First Varsity Eight -- Julia Dalzell (coxswain), Stesha Carl, Ellen Tomek, Janine Hanson, Emily Shea, Cristin McCarty, Annie Hildebrand, Ashley Jones, Cate Trumble.