University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Rowing 2005-06 Season Review
6/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
The University of Minnesota rowing team had its most successful year since the start of the program in 2000-01. The Golden Gophers finished second overall at the Big Ten Championships on April 29 at Minnesota’s own Lake Phalen in St. Paul, Minn. The Gophers capped off the season with their first NCAA Championship appearance in school history on May 26-28 in West Windsor, N.J. Minnesota’s First Varsity Eight received an at-large bid and finished eighth out of 16 qualifiers.
CHAMPIONSHIP BREAKDOWN
The Maroon and Gold were one of four teams selected as an at-large. With their eighth-place finish, Minnesota finished higher then any first-time at-large team in championship history. The Gophers advanced to the NCAA semifinals after finishing third in their respective heat on the first day of the championships. Princeton won the heat in an impressive time of 6:32.3224, while Michigan State came in second in 6:37.812 and Minnesota in third in a time of 6:39.324. The Gophers just missed the Grand Final when Washington State edged the Gophers in the semifinals. The Maroon and Gold drew both Princeton and Brown in their semi, who finished first and second. Washington State crossed the line 00:01.3 faster then the Gophers to earn a spot in the Grand Final. Minnesota held a time of 6:28.8190.
First Varsity Eight Competition
Grand Final
1 Princeton 6:36.8510
2 California 6:43.2600
3 Brown 6:43.5210
4 Washington State 6:48.0670;
5 Ohio State 6:49.3190;
6 Michigan State 6:51.2220
Petite Final
1 Notre Dame 6:47.5460
2 Minnesota 6:48.5280
3 Washington 6:49.1480
4 Yale 6:49.6690
5 Southern Cal. 6:51.1610
6 UCLA 6:56.3190
7 Stanford 7:02.3670
Not qualifying for finals
Boston University
Tennessee
Wisconsin
Gopher Competitors
Minnesota had nine compete at the NCAA Championships. The Gophers’ First Varsity Eight consisted of coxswain Megan Flannery, Cheryl Wick at stroke, Berit Tomten, Jillian Casey, Jennifer Barnes, Laura Jatautaite, Vilma Stragyte, Erika Bartkute and Katie Biese at bow. All will return from the 1V8 next year except Jillian Casey and Katie Biese, who graduated from the program.
BARNES NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Following the 2006 rowing season the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) announced that Jennifer Barnes earned first-team All-American honors. Barnes was one of three rowers named as an All-American from the Big Ten Conference. She also earned CRCA All-Central Region First Team honors prior to the NCAA Championships. Berit Tomten earned second-team All-Central Region honors as well. Barnes is the first person in school history to earn first-team All-America honors. Melissa Roche was a three-time All-American as a second-team All-America selection. Both Barnes and Tomten were members of First Varsity Eight boat the entire 2005-06 season. Barnes primarily held the No. 5 seat, while Tomten was seated in No. 7. Barnes and Tomten led the Gophers to an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, May 26-28 in West Windsor, N.J. The Gophers' 1V8 also finished third at the Big Ten Championships on Minnesota's own Lake Phalen on April 29th.
Players Mentioned
