Weekly Release #1

3/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, March 31 -- ACC/Big Ten Double Dual (Charlottesville, Va.)
    vs. Virginia (9 a.m.); vs. Duke (1 p.m.)
Saturday, April 7 -- at Ohio State, vs. Tennessee (Columbus, Ohio)

Michigan This Week
The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team will take part in the ACC/Big Ten Double Dual this Saturday (March 31) on Lake Monticello in Charlottesville, Va. U-M will begin the day at 9 a.m. with racing against No. 2 Virginia. The afternoon races scheduled with Duke are slated to begin at 1 p.m.

Schedule of Events

Michigan, Virginia	First Novice Eight	9 a.m.
Michigan, Virginia	Second Varsity Four	9:30 a.m.
Michigan, Virginia	First Varsity Four	10 a.m.
Michigan, Virginia	Second Varsity Eight	10:30 a.m.
Michigan, Virginia	First Varsity Eight	11 a.m.

Michigan, Duke	First Novice Eight	1:15 p.m.
Michigan, Duke	First Varsity Four	1:45 p.m.
Michigan, Duke	Second Varsity Eight	2:15 p.m.
Michigan, Duke	First Varsity Eight	2:45 p.m.

Weather Forecast
The forecast for Saturday in Charlottesville, Va., calls for a high of 70 degrees. Wind is expected from the southwest at 10 mph.

On Virginia
The No. 2-ranked Virginia Cavaliers are coached by Kevin Sauer, now in his 11th season. The Cavaliers have yet to compete in the spring season. Virginia on the Web: www.virginiasports.com.

On Duke
The Blue Devils, coached by Robyn Horner, were off last weekend but competed two weeks ago (March 16-18) at the Longhorn Invitational. The first varsity eight earned ACC Boat of the Week by defeating Kansas State, Miami and Texas. The second varsity eight lost all four of its races. Duke on the Web: www.goduke.com.

Last Week
The Wolverines hosted No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 14 Michigan State and Clemson in the season opener on Belleville Lake last Saturday (March 24). The first varsity eight placed fourth, seven seconds off the winning pace set by Clemson. The second varsity eight fared better with a second-place finish behind just MSU. The first varsity four took third behind Notre Dame and Michigan State. Clemson did not race a four.

Trial by Fire
Michigan's first varsity eight returns its coxswain, senior Julia Dalzell (Berkeley, Calif./Miramonte), and just two rowers -- sophomores Ashley Jones (Oakland, Calif./Skyline) and Cate Trumble (Dalkeith, Western Australia/Presbyterian Ladies' College) -- from its final boat lineup in 2006. As an entire team, 24 of the 33 Wolverines are underclassmen.

Welcome Aboard
Three new assistant coaches joined the Maize and Blue late last summer. Veronika Platzer spent four previous seasons as an assistant coach at Virginia. She oversees the majority of U-M's recruiting efforts. Bernadette Teeley is a U-M alumna who helped the Wolverines capture the 2001 Big Ten championship and finish second at the NCAA Championships. Teeley earned all-Big Ten first team, all-Central Region first team and was a CRCA National Scholar Athlete. Molly Gutilla was an assistant coach at Williams College for two seasons before coming to Ann Arbor. Gutilla is in charge of directing the U-M novice program.

Head Coach Mark Rothstein
Mark Rothstein is in his 11th 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 eight times. 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 seven 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.

Last Week's Lineups

First Varsity Eight -- Julia Dalzell (coxswain), Julia Nelson, Lori Gordon, Karen Colwell, Annie Hildebrand, Sarah Gribler, Cate Trumble, Ashley Jones, Liz McCannell.

Second Varsity Eight -- Laura Dunn (coxswain), Carla Bezold, Ashley Kroll, Maggie Cooper, Kari Stenbakken, Marin McCabe, Rebecca Shapiro, Casey Timmons, Michela Musto.

First Varsity Four -- Margaret Deinek (coxswain), Jordan Peek, Meredith Nichols, Liz Padalino, Margaret Czerwienski.

Second Varsity Four -- Sydney Koch (coxswain), Erin Cikanek, Caitlin McAllister, Phebe Brenne, Rachel Fullmer.