Weekly Release #6

4/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, May 1 -- at Big Ten Championships (Iowa City, Iowa)
Sat-Sun., May 15-16 -- at Central Region Championships (Oak Ridge, Tenn.)

Michigan This Week
The No. 10-ranked Michigan rowing team begins its postseason at the Big Ten Conference Women's Rowing Championships Saturday (May 1) on Lake MacBride in Iowa City, Iowa. The regatta will begin at 8 a.m. and will include No. 1-ranked Ohio State, No. 7 Michigan State, No. 13 Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and host Iowa. Michigan has won three of the four Big Ten Championships since the conference began sponsoring the sport in 2000. The Maize and Blue won the first two crowns in 2000 and 2001 and, after finishing second to Ohio State in 2002, returned to the top of the podium again in 2003.

Schedule of Events

8:00 a.m.	II Novice Eight, Heat 1	U-M lane 5
8:30 a.m.	I Novice Eight, Heat 1
8:45 a.m.	I Novice Eight, Heat 2	U-M lane 1
9:00 a.m.	II Varsity Four, Heat 1	U-M lane 1
9:15 a.m.	II Varsity Four, Heat 2
9:30 a.m.	I Varsity Four, Heat 1
9:45 a.m.	I Varsity Four, Heat 2	U-M lane 3
10:00 a.m.	II Varsity Eight, Heat 1
10:15 a.m.	II Varsity Eight, Heat 2	U-M lane 2
10:30 a.m.	I Varsity Eight, Heat 1	U-M lane 3
10:45 a.m.	I Varsity Eight, Heat 2

12:15 p.m.	II Novice Eight, Grand Final
12:30 p.m.	I Novice Eight, Petite Final
12:45 p.m.	I Novice Eight, Grand Final
1:00 p.m.	II Varsity Four, Petite Final
1:15 p.m.	II Varsity Four, Grand Final
1:30 p.m.	I Varsity Four, Petite Final
1:45 p.m.	I Varsity Four, Grand Final
2:00 p.m.	II Varsity Eight, Petite Final
2:15 p.m.	II Varsity Eight, Grand Final
2:30 p.m.	I Varsity Eight, Petite Final
2:45 p.m.	I Varsity Eight, Grand Final
4:00 p.m.	Awards Presentation

Coach Mark Rothstein Says ...
"We are just hoping to see some improvement from earlier in the year. Michigan State and Ohio State are by far the two favorites. It is going to be somewhat of a fight for third place. Wisconsin and Minnesota are both strong. Minnesota's first varsity eight is impressive. I think we could have a hard time making the final in the first varsity eight. Regardless, I think we will be ready to go and will race hard."

Live Results
Iowa will be providing live scoring and team total updates on its website, www.hawkeyesports.com. Final results and award winners will also be posted following the regatta.

Championship Format
Up to six boats race for each team at the Big Ten Championships: first varsity eight, second varsity eight, first varsity four, second varsity four, first novice eight and second novice eight. The set of boats are split into two heats in the morning session. The top four teams advance to the grand final in the afternoon while the remaining teams finish the day in the petite final. Each boat earns points for its team based on its finish (see chart below).

Place-Points

Race	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
IV8	63	54	45	36	27	18	9
IIV8	42	36	30	24	18	12	6
IV4	21	18	15	12	9	6	3
IIV4	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
IN8	14	12	10	8	6	4	2
IIN8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1

Matt the Meteorologist
The forecast for Iowa City, Iowa, calls for a high of 56 degrees with wind from the northwest at 12 mph. Also, there is a 30 percent chance of rain.

Last Week for the Maize and Blue
Then No. 8 Michigan was beaten by then No. 10 Michigan State on April 17 on Lake Ovid in East Lansing, Mich. With a 17-6 victory over the Wolverines the Spartans earned the Pontiac Challenge Cup point for women's rowing. Points were awarded on an all-or-nothing basis. MSU's first varsity eight earned nine points for its victory in 6:42.10. U-M finished in 6:47.67. Michigan's lone victory came in the second varsity eight race when it edged the Spartans 6:52.80 to 6:53.85 to earn six points. MSU swept the fours to earn four total points. The MSU first varsity four won 7:42.00 to 7:45.59 for three points. The second varsity four for Michigan State won by two boat lengths in a time of 7:51.31 for one point. The Spartan third varsity four won by open water in a time of 8:01.50. Michigan State wrapped up its successful day with a sweep of the first novice eight (3 points) and second novice eight (1 point) races.

Last Year at the Big Ten Championships
At the 2003 Big Ten Championships in Columbus, Ohio, the Wolverines earned their third (2000, 2001, 2003) Big Ten title in four years. As usual, the Big Ten crown came down to a first varsity eight battle in the last race of the day. U-M trailed Michigan State and needed to finish two places ahead of the Spartans in order to earn enough points to create a tie. Also, Michigan had to finish ahead of Ohio State or else the Buckeyes could finish first. The Maize and Blue first varsity eight took care of its end of the deal by finishing first and then received help from the Buckeyes, who edged the Spartans for second place. After points were awarded for finishes the Wolverines and Spartans each had 123 points, but Michigan was awarded the team championship based on the first varsity eight tiebreaker. Ohio State finished third overall with 107 points. Michigan's first varsity four finished first in its event to give the Wolverines two Big Ten boat championships to go along with the team title.

Postseason Continues
Following the Big Ten Championships, the Maize and Blue moves on to the Central Region Championships on May 15-16 in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Wolverines won five consecutive Central Region titles from 1998-2002 before finishing second to Ohio State in 2003. The NCAA Championships run May 28-30 in Sacramento, Calif.

Probable Lineups

First Varsity Eight coxswain: Tara Medina 8-seat: Stesha Carl 7-seat: Crystal Culp 6-seat: Katie Reynolds 5-seat: Heather Mandoli 4-seat: Leah Ketcheson 3-seat: Cristin McCarty 2-seat: Janine Hanson 1-seat: Emily Goodwin Second Varsity Eight coxswain: Julia Dalzell 8-seat: Tara Kass 7-seat: Sarah Trowbridge 6-seat: Emily Shea 5-seat: Elizabeth Godek 4-seat: Ellen Tomek 3-seat: Amy Coughlin 2-seat: Jourdan Lawlor 1-seat: Carla Bezold First Varsity Four coxswain: Louisa DiLeone 4-seat: Margot Woolley 3-seat: Heather DeHainaut 2-seat: Katie Polanic 1-seat: Christin Plunkett Second Varsity Four coxswain: Sarah O'Brien 4-seat: Vanessa Reid 3-seat: Chelsea MacMullan 2-seat: Stephanie Shapiro 1-seat: Hillary Van Duyne