Wolverines Announce 2021 Spring Schedule
1/28/2021 10:00:00 AM | Rowing
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan rowing program announced its 2021 spring schedule on Thursday (Jan. 28), and the defending Big Ten Champions will travel to a few familiar destinations while also hosting two regattas during the course of the season. Overall, the Wolverines will have six competition weekends before beginning the postseason in mid-May.
"The team is really excited about our schedule this spring," said head coach Mark Rothstein. "We have a mix of seeing Big Ten teams along with some of the top programs nationally, and our team is eager to get out on the water and get back to racing. There will be opportunities up and down our roster throughout the year, and we're thankful our administration has helped us put together such a competitive slate."
"We are also glad to be hosting events on Belleville Lake," said Rothstein. "We have a top team visiting us in Texas, and our annual Senior Day brings very competitive Iowa and Louisville teams. Our team is looking forward to the year ahead."
Michigan will begin at Louisville's Cardinal Invitational (March 13-14) before trips to Columbus, Ohio, in March and April. A trip to Cincinnati (April 17-18) will provide a glimpse of conference opponents with the Big Ten Invitational. The Big Ten Championship (May 16) is back in Baraboo, Wis., where U-M won the 2019 title, and the NCAA Championships (May 28-30) are in Sarasota, Fla.
U-M also hosts two events this spring. Texas finished as the 2019 national runner-up when the Wolverines were third, and the Longhorns will visit Michigan on Saturday, April 10. On U-M's Senior Day (Sunday, May 2), the Wolverines will host Big Ten foe Iowa along with Louisville.
Like U-M, Texas has had national success in recent years. Since 2015, the Longhorns finished top-10 at the NCAA Championships each season with improving finishes in four straight years and three podium finishes in the last three seasons. Michigan has been top-10 each year since 2014 with podium finishes in 2017 and 2019.
Always a formidable opponent at the Big Ten Championships, Iowa returns athletes from the 2019 bronze medal-winning 1V8 boat. It is the team's fourth time rowing at U-M since 2015. The Cardinals' trip to Belleville Lake is tradition. The team has been part of U-M's Senior Day event since 2014.
The Wolverines' entire 2020 spring campaign was canceled, and with no fall competitions during the current season, they are eager to get out on the water.
The roster returns 14 of 23 athletes from the 2019 NCAA Championship roster, when U-M placed third for its second podium finish in three seasons. Michigan's seniors number 17, including two returning Pocock All-Americans in coxswain Charlotte Powers (first team) and port/starboard Madison Byrd.
Nine true freshmen will try their best to crack a lineup that returns 28 athletes from the 2019 Big Ten Championship team, including 18 from the five varsity boats.
