Michigan Earns Sixth Straight NCAA Championships Bid

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing team has received a bid to compete in the 2003 NCAA Rowing Championships. The Wolverines will be appearing in their sixth straight national championship in the program's seven-year history. This year's events will take place Friday through Sunday, May 30-June 1, on Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis, Ind.

The NCAA championships are divided up among Division I, Division II and Division III institutions. In Division I, 12 teams are awarded team bids, which include a first varsity eight, a second varsity eight and a first varsity four. The three boats from each school can win individual national titles while attempting to earn points for the team title. Additionally, four at-large first varsity eight boats are invited to the regatta. These four crews only compete in the first varsity eight races and do not garner points for the team championship.

This year's crop of teams includes Brown, California, Harvard, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Princeton, Stanford, Virginia, Washington, Washington State and Yale. The four schools that will bring solely first varsity eight boats are Boston University, Southern California, Tennessee and Texas.

Michigan will be seeking its first team national title. In 2001, the second varsity eight won an individual boat national title when U-M posted a program-high second-place overall finish. Michigan's other national finishes include fifth place on three occasions (1998, 1999, 2000), and eighth place once (2002).

The Wolverines have had a successful season thus far in 2003, highlighted by earning their third Big Ten Conference title in four years. Although unable to secure the Central Region crown last weekend, the first varsity eight and first varsity four boats had each held winning streaks of nine races before the final events at the competition.

For the fifth straight year three Big Ten teams have reached the NCAA Championships. Michigan State and Ohio State will each be making their fourth appearances at the NCAA Championships as they join the Wolverines.

Brown and Washington are prominent teams in the field as they have combined to earn every team national championship in the six years that the NCAA has sponsored women's rowing. In 2002, Brown won the team national title and Washington earned first-pace honors in the first varsity eight competition.

Indiana University and the United States Rowing Association (USRowing) are the co-hosts for the championships. For ticket information, call the Indiana University ticket office at 866-IUSPORTS (866-487-7678).

Championships Sites: NCAA | Indiana

Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423

University of Michigan Athletics

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