U-M Sweeps Louisville for Senior Day Celebration

Sunday, April 30

Belleville, Mich.

9:00 AM

Michigan

Louisville

(Michigan Photography)

4/30/2023 11:00:00 AM | Rowing

Photo Gallery

By: Chad Shepard

Site: Belleville Lake (Belleville, Mich.)
Event: #11 Michigan vs. Louisville
First Varsity Eight Finish: 6:22.01 (1st of 2)
Next U-M Event: May 14 -- at Big Ten Championships (Indianapolis, Ind.), 9 a.m.

• Photo Gallery

BELLEVILLE, Mich. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan rowing program enjoyed a clean sweep during its Senior Day regatta on Sunday (April 30) on Belleville Lake. The Wolverines defeated the Louisville Cardinals in four events, including head-to-head varsity eight battles, before celebrating a six-person senior class after races concluded.

Temperatures were mid-40s by the time races ended, and colder earlier in the morning. Overcast skies gave way to intermittent light rain, which stopped after the first race. Winds were not a factor until the final two events when a minor cross-tail was present.

The 1V8 finished off the day's schedule and completed a perfect sweep of the Cardinals with a fast performance. The boat led early and put open water on the Cardinals' eight. In front of a crowd on hand to take in the day of racing and Senior Day activities, the Wolverines put together an impressive race. Michigan crossed 18.79 seconds in front of Louisville.

The 2V8 race included a pair of Michigan novice boats as well. The Wolverines' 2V wasted little time getting up several boat lengths with U-M's 1N8 moving into second. It was a strong performance by both novice boats with the 2N sitting only a few seats behind Louisville midway through the race. Michigan finished one-two-four in the event with the 2V collecting a win of 6:27.9 over the 1N.

In the first of two varsity four races, U-M had two boats in the water (2V4, 3V4). The Maize and Blue 2V4 won the event after getting out to a fast start with an open-water lead of multiple boat lengths by the halfway point. The Wolverines' 3V4 also built a significant lead on Louisville throughout the race, finishing second (+19.33). The winning time was 7:23.25.

The second race of the day was a head-to-head between U-M and Louisville's 1V4s. Similarly, the Wolverines got out ahead quickly and never looked back. Michigan crossed the finish line with a time of 7:24.7

After races ended, the program recognized and honored six seniors who earned their U-M degrees this year: Julia Casey, Annaka Draaisma, Aubrey Fitts, Olivia McMullen, Sophie McSpedon, Ariana Shokoohi, and Kathryn Ward.

U-M will have one week off before the postseason begins on Sunday, May 14, with the Big Ten Championships regatta. The conference event will be held at Eagle Creek Park near Indianapolis, Ind., for the 11th time in 12 championship events since 2010.

RESULTS
First Varsity Eight
1. MICHIGAN -- 6:22.01
2. Louisville -- 6:40.08

Second Varsity Eight/Novice Eight
1. MICHIGAN -- 6:27.09
2. MICHIGAN 1N8 -- 6:40.06
3. Louisville -- 6:55.94
4. MICHIGAN 2N8 -- 7:07.03

First Varsity Four
1. MICHIGAN 1V4 -- 7:24.7
2. Louisville -- 8:01.03

Second Varsity Four
1. MICHIGAN -- 7:23.25
2. MICHIGAN 3V4-- 7:42.58
3. Louisville -- 8:13.41

MICHIGAN LINEUP
1V8: Logan Roeder (coxswain), Abigail Dent, Gabrielle Graves, Zara Collisson, Katie Easton, Sarah McKay, Abby Hathaway, Aubrey Fitts, Annaka Draaisma