University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Rowing Sweeps Competition at Home
4/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Second Novice Eight team kicked off the day with a win over Kansas. Minnesota's shell of coxswain Kaja Tally, Megan Goodman, Chelsea Kania, Shauna Frank, Liz Ponder, Angela Reesman, Meredith Thompson, Julia Herman and Emily Groene won the race with a time of 8:06.8. The Jayhawks finished in 8:30.01.
Remaining undefeated in the spring season, Minnesota's First Novice Eight won the race with a time of 7:34.9 to Kansas' 7:46.41. Minnesota's boat had Carla Ballecer as the coxswain, Tracey Tallman, Rachel Hotkowski, Heidi Bechtel, Berit Tomten, Margaret Armstrong, Kiira Siitari, Megan Geraets and Mary Shannon Stanley.
The Gophers also swept the varsity competition. Minnesota had two boats in the Varsity Four race. The Minnesota A team of Leah Gross, Colleen Brown, Caitlin Dowden, Katie Engel and Megan Stuhlfaut earned a winning time of 8:27.0. SMU placed second with a time of 8:37.29, Minnesota B placed third with a time of 8:42.15 and Kansas finished fourth in 9:09.16. Minnesota's B team had Erica Gordon as the coxswain, Shelby Williams, Jackie Oeth, Anja Kroll and Ashford Kroll.
Minnesota won the Second Varsity Eight race with a time of 7:32.4, while Kansas added a time of 7:50.33. Minnesota had Kristi Branigan as the coxswain, Jenna Buskohl, Cheryl Wick, Jillian Casey, Sarah Reed, Lida Storch, Katie Biese, Lora Sweezy and Mariel Gartner in the 2V8 race.
Minnesota completed the sweep with a win in the First Varsity Eight. The Gophers started the first 500 meters in a close race against Kansas and SMU, but Minnesota turned it up a notch for the remaining 1500 meters. The Maroon and Gold team of Katherine Nelson, Jackie Gagner, Melissa Roche, Heidi Rose, Vilma Strageyta, Beth Ratterman, Andrea Pierce, Sam Wangsgard and Jill Peters won the race with a time of 7:19.32. Kansas followed in second (7:30.13), while SMU finished third (7:37.26).
The Golden Gophers will compete in the Big Ten Championships May 1 in Iowa City, Iowa. The Gophers finished last year's championships in sixth place.
Second Novice Eight Team Split Time Finish Time Minnesota 8:06.8 Kansas 23.53 8:30.01 First Novice Eight Team Split Time Finish Time Minnesota 7:34.9 Kansas 11.51 7:46.41 Varsity Four Team Split Time Finish Time Minn. A 8:27.0 SMU 10.29 8:37.29 Minn. B 15.15 8:42.15 Kansas 42.16 9:09.16 Second Varsity Eight Team Split Time Finish Time Minnesota 7:32.4 Kansas 17.93 7:50.33 First Varsity Eight Team Split Time Finish Time Minnesota 7:19.32 Kansas 10.81 7:30.13 Kansas 17.94 7:37.26
