Michigan Advances All Boats to Big Ten Grand Finals

Saturday, May 17

Indianapolis, Ind.

8:00 AM

Michigan

Big Ten Championships

(Courtesy Big Ten)

5/17/2025 11:31:00 AM | Rowing

By: Chad Shepard, Devin Wiles

Site: Indianapolis, Ind. (Eagle Creek Park)
Event: Big Ten Championship
First Varsity Eight Finish: 6:30.17 (2nd of 5), Qualified for Grand Final
Next U-M Event: Sunday, May 18 -- at Big Ten Championship - Day 2 (Indianapolis, Ind.), 9 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan rowing program finished in the top three of all its races during day one heats at the Big Ten Championship on Saturday (May 17), enough to qualify for all grand finals on Sunday. The Wolverines, which had a suite of second place finishes, fell short to No. 7 Rutgers throughout the day but showcased competitive times and earned a shot at a third straight Big Ten title.

Saturday's action began in the early morning with a temperature of 62 degrees and a light crosswind pushing boats towards their port side throughout the day. The 1V8 boats were off the water first to open the day with qualifiers for what will be Sunday's highest scoring races.

In heat two, Michigan's first eight rowed bow for bow with Rutgers through the first 500 meters. The Scarlet Knights took two seats and less than one second of time by the midway point before taking more length as the teams moved into the latter half of the event. The Wolverines finished strong and in second place (-3.41), enough to qualify for Sunday's 1V8 grand final.

The 2V8 race started similarly, with Michigan and Rutgers rowing stroke for stroke through the first quarter of the race, before the Scarlet Knights pulled away for a three-second lead at the 1,000-meter mark. The Wolverines held on to the stern of Rutgers during the second 1,000 but failed to regain seats and finished second.

Next was the 1V4 event, where U-M lost two seats to Rutgers in the early going. Around the 1,000, Rutgers found open water on the Wolverines and never let up. Michigan held a steady second place throughout the race with an early boat length on Indiana and UCLA.

Eagle Creek's crosswind strengthened in the later morning, in time for a close race in the 2V4 between the Wolverines and Scarlet Knights. Through the first three quarters of the race, Rutgers would take a small lead before a Michigan response. It wasn't until the final 500-meter stretch that Rutgers started to pull away to take victory over U-M by less than three seconds.

The 3V4, 1N8 and 2N8 races all showcased similar results, as Michigan rowed into second place finishes and grand final qualifiers.

With all of Michigan's boats finishing in the top three of their heats, the Wolverines will race in all grand finals on Sunday (May 18). All championship races will be broadcast via Big Ten Network starting at 9 a.m.

Results

First Varsity Eight
1. Rutgers -- 6:26.76
2. MICHIGAN -- 6:30.17
3. Michigan State -- 6:35.55
4. Minnesota -- 6:42.91
5. USC -- 6:46.13

Second Varsity Eight
1. Rutgers -- 6:35.16
2. MICHIGAN -- 6:39.85
3. USC -- 6:48.55
4. Ohio State -- 6:49.18
5. Iowa -- 7:06.31

First Varsity Four
1. Rutgers -- 7:21.25
2. MICHIGAN -- 7:27.20
3. Indiana -- 7:35.75
4. UCLA -- 7:40.07
5. Iowa -- 7:45.01

Second Varsity Four
1. Rutgers -- 7:29.00
2. MICHIGAN -- 7:31.91
3. USC -- 7:38.17
4. Indiana -- 8:03.00
5. Wisconsin -- 8:23.99

Third Varsity Four
1. Rutgers -- 7:32.64
2. MICHIGAN -- 7:40.62
3. Indiana -- 8:13.69
4. UCLA -- 8:28.96
5. Iowa -- 8:34.05

First Novice Eight
1. Washington -- 7:01.59
2. MICHIGAN -- 7:09.90
3. Michigan State -- 7:19.79
4. USC -- 7:23.85
5. Wisconsin -- 7:26.28
6. Indiana -- 7:42.99

Second Novice Eight
1. Ohio State -- 7:13.47
2. MICHIGAN -- 7:32.64
3. Michigan State -- 7:38.58
4. Wisconsin -- 7:44.82
5. Iowa -- 7:47.86

Michigan Lineups

1V8: Logan Roeder (coxswain), Leia Till, Gabrielle Graves, Katie Easton, Amy Newton, Sara Houben, Jana Peachey, Carla Russell, Autumn Crowe