First Varsity Eight Sweeps Trio in Double Dual

Saturday, April 11

Belleville, Mich.

9:00 AM

Michigan

Iowa, Louisville

4/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Rowing

Site: Belleville, Mich. (Belleville Lake)
First Varsity Eight: 1st Place of 3 Teams (6:34.58); 1st Place of 3 Teams (6:40.25)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., April 18-19 -- vs. Bucknell, Oregon State, Washington State (Columbus, Ohio)

Photo Gallery

BELLEVILLE, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan women's rowing first varsity eight posted a pair of wins in a double dual on Saturday (April 11) on Belleville Lake. U-M earned a morning triumph over No. 20 Louisville and Iowa, followed by an afternoon victory over No. 8 Wisconsin and UL. Combined, Michigan's boats won 11-of-12 events. The second varsity eight, first varsity four and first and second novice eights won both of their races.

In the morning, the first varsity eight established a six-seat lead on Iowa in the first 500 meters, with Louisville a seat back of the Hawkeyes. UL and Iowa moved back into U-M at 1,000 meters with all three crews rowing at 35 strokes per minute. The Wolverines took their move over the next 250 meters, stretching their lead to a full length. U-M finished with the win by just over open water on Iowa in a time of 6:34.58.

In the afternoon, the first 1,000 meters were tightly contested between all three teams -- Michigan, Louisville and Wisconsin. The Wolverines entered the second half of the race with a five-seat lead on UL and UW, which were even for second place. In the third 500, the Cardinals began to move on Michigan, leaving Wisconsin clearly in third place. U-M reacted to the challenge favorably and went on to win by close to full length thanks to a strong final 500 meters. Michigan hit the finish line in 6:40.25, Louisville was second in 6:43.30 and Wisconsin was third in 6:48.32.

The morning second varsity eight race went to the Wolverines in a time of 6:54.43. U-M was up half a length on UL just 250 meters in, but the Cardinals cut the deficit to three seats as the teams approached the 1,000-meter buoy. Michigan countered the challenge and pulled out to a full length lead over the next few hundred meters. U-M cruised to a 4.66-second advantage over Iowa, with Louisville finishing 5.15 back of the Maize and Blue.

The second varsity eight's second win of the day was more difficult. Michigan led the Badgers by seven seats at 500 meters and just over a length at the halfway point. UW responded with a big move in the third 500, closing its deficit to four seats. U-M outlasted the challenge, however, and won by half a length in a time of 6:37.00, 1.82 second in front of Wisconsin. Louisville was third in 6:59.05.

The Wolverine first varsity four dominated its morning race in a time of 7:50.66. U-M got a half-length lead on Iowa in the opening 500 meters and increased that span to three lengths by the midway point of the race. Iowa and Louisville were second and third, respectively.

U-M's afternoon race against UW and UL was more challenging, yet the Wolverines prevailed again. Michigan held a three-quarter length lead at 750 meters and opened up to an open-water advantage by 1,250 meters. Michigan won comfortably in 7:42.16, 8.98 seconds in front of the Badgers.

Michigan had two entries in the morning second varsity four race. U-M's 'B' entry surged past Iowa and then U-M's 'A' boat in the final 500 meters to capture first in 7:56.09. Iowa and U-M's 'A' boat were 2.40 and 3.85 seconds back, respectively. Louisville was 19 seconds off the winning pace.

U-M had just one entry in the afternoon second varsity four race after an injury knocked out its 'A' boat. Wisconsin took advantage and won the race in 7:34.16. U-M's 'B' boat was 12.66 seconds back, followed by Louisville.

Michigan's first and second novice eights won their morning races by open water. The first varsity eight (7:07.79) defeated Iowa by 8.80 seconds as well as Louisville by 85 seconds. The second novice eight (7:35.05) eased past Iowa by 11.74 seconds.

U-M's novices also swept the afternoon races. The first novice eight overcame the Badgers' four-seat lead and wound up winning by 20 seconds after UW caught a crab in the sprint. The second novice eight edged out Wisconsin by a margin of 1.05 second.

Michigan heads to Columbus, Ohio, next weekend (April 18-19) to race Bucknell, Oregon State and Washington State.

MORNING RESULTS

 First Varsity Eight 1. Michigan 6:34.58 2. Iowa 6:37.90 3. Louisville 6:40.46 1. Michigan State 6:43.66 2. Wisconsin 6:50.22 Second Varsity Eight 1. Michigan 6:54.43 2. Iowa 6:59.09 3. Louisville 6:59.58 1. Wisconsin 6:49.31 2. Michigan State 6:51.65 First Varsity Four 1. Michigan 7:50.66 2. Iowa 8:11.75 3. Louisville 8:20.90 1. Wisconsin 7:37.35 2. Michigan State 7:37.75 Second Varsity Four 1. Michigan 'B' 7:56.09 2. Iowa 7:58.49 3. Michigan 'A' 7:59.94 4. Louisville 8:15.41 1. Wisconsin 7:49.25 2. MSU 'A' 8:06.63 3. MSU 'B' 8:38.14 First Novice Eight 1. Michigan 7:07.79 2. Iowa 7:16.59 3. Louisville 8:33.38 1. Wisconsin 7:08.38 2. Michigan State 7:11.67 Second Novice Eight 1. Michigan 7:35.05 2. Iowa 7:46.79 1. Michigan State 7:27.62 2. Wisconsin 7:28.07

AFTERNOON RESULTS

 First Varsity Eight 1. Michigan 6:40.25 2. Louisville 6:43.30 3. Wisconsin 6:48.32 1. Michigan State 6:43.45 2. Iowa 6:49.07 Second Varsity Eight 1. Michigan 6:37.00 2. Wisconsin 6:38.82 3. Louisville 6:59.05 1. Michigan State 6:45.41 2. Iowa 6:53.28 First Varsity Four 1. Michigan 7:42.16 2. Wisconsin 7:51.14 3. Louisville 8:23.74 1. Iowa 7:33.39 2. Michigan State 7:54.07 Second Varsity Four 1. Wisconsin 7:34.16 2. Michigan 'B' 7:46.82 3. Louisville 7:57.22 Michigan 'A' did not race 1. Iowa 7:55.71 2. MSU 'A' 8:14.01 3. MSU 'B' 8:21.96 First Novice Eight 1. Michigan 6:47.48 2. Wisconsin 7:08.01 3. Louisville 8:07.79 1. Michigan State 7:02.67 2. Iowa 7:06.74 Second Novice Eight 1. Michigan 7:14.75 2. Wisconsin 7:15.80 1. Michigan State 7:28.79 2. Iowa 7:35.50

LINEUPS

First Varsity Eight -- Laura Dunn (coxswain), Melisa Ongun, Cate Trumble, Adrienne Mecham, Ashley Kroll, Cristina Felix, Karen Colwell, Felice Mueller, Emily Eiffert.

Second Varsity Eight -- Erica Macke (coxswain), Liz McCannell, Maggie Cooper, Sarah Gribler, Ashley Jones, Brittany Poston, Casey Timmons, Kate Strzalkowski, Michela Musto.

First Varsity Four -- Margaret Deinek (coxswain), Julia Nelson, Natalie Eisermann, Jordan Peek, Suzanne Maddamma.

Second Varsity Four 'A' -- Jen Entin (coxswain), Nellie Ruedig, Lauren Schneider, Kristen Henkels, Maureen Kelly.

Second Varsity Four 'B' -- Taylor Day (coxswain), Rachel Fullmer, Robin Weber, April Newberry, Colette McAfee.

First Novice Eight -- Sarah Adams (coxswain), Ariel Piotter, Olivia Klipa, Jeanise Dobski, Julia Darnton, Nicole Dressler, Jill Szydloski, Lindsey Healy, Sarah Kempa.

Second Novice Eight -- Abby Landis (coxswain), Nikki Braverman, Julia Sittig, Paige Heil, Emily Smalligan, Jessica Brouwer, Allie Styke, Celia Upton, Kelly Bradford.

Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423