University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Rowing Heads to Big Ten Championships
4/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Gophers Head to Big Tens
The University of Minnesota rowing team will head east to Madison, Wis. to compete at the Big Ten Championships, April 28, on Lake Wingra. Live results are located on the Wisconsin Badgers’ official website, www.uwbadgers.com.
Gopher Seedings
The University of Minnesota enters the Big Ten Championships with high seedings in every event. The Maroon and Gold are ranked in the top three in every race, including a top seed in both the Second Varsity Eight and the First Varsity Four. Minnesota’s First Varsity Eight, who is currently ranked eighth in the country, enters the championship with the No. 2 seeding in the 1V8. Minnesota’s Second Varsity Four is ranked third, while the First Novice Eight is ranked second. No seedings were determined for the Second Novice Eight. If the Gophers finish based off of their seedings, they would finish with a league-high 139 points.
Order of Events
Saturday’s events will start with a Second Novice Eight heat at 8:15 a.m., and will continue in 15-minute intervals until 10:45 a.m. The finals will begin at 12:15 p.m. and will conclude with the First Varsity Eight Grand Final at 2:45 p.m. Listed below are Saturday’s order of events.
Race
2nd Novice Eights: Heats 1 8:15, Grand: 12:15
1st Novice Eights: Heats 1 & 2, 8:30, 8:45, Petite: 12:30, Grand: 12:45
2nd Varsity Fours:Heats 1 & 2: 9:00, 9:15, Petite: 1:00, Grand: 1:15
1st Varsity Fours: Heats 1 & 2: 9:30, 9:45, Petite: 1:30, Grand: 1:45
2nd Varsity Eights: Heats 1 & 2: 10:00, 10:15, Petite: 2:00, Grand: 2:15
1st Varsity Eights: Heat 1 & 2, 10:30, 10:45, Petite: 2:30, Grand: 2:45
Big Ten Point System
The Big Ten Championship is based on a point system. Each team will earn points by their placing in an event. The First Varsity Eight shell will receive the most points. The winner of the 1V8 race will earn 63 points, followed by the second-place team with 54 points. The full breakdown of points is listed below:
Event Points (From first to last)
I Varsity Eight 63, 54, 45, 36, 27, 18, 9
II Varsity Eight 42, 36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 6
I Varsity Four 21, 18, 15, 12, 9, 6, 3
II Varsity Four 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
I Novice Eight 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
II Novice Eight 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Gophers and the Big Ten Boat of the Week Honors
The Gophers finished the spring season with three Big Ten Boat of the Week honors. In back-to-back weeks to start the season, the Gophers’ Second Varsity Eight and First Varsity Eight each won the award. Minnesota’s Second Varsity Eight won the first-ever Boat of the Week in a dual win over Louisville on March 11. The Gophers’ 1V8 defeated then No. 9 Tennessee and No. 11 Notre Dame in a double dual scrimmage on March 17 to earn the second boat of the week honors. The 1V8 received their second honor of the spring season when they defeated Wisconsin and Iowa in a double dual at Lake Phalen on April 14.
Gophers in the Rankings
Minnesota’s First Varsity Eight is ranked the highest it has ever been in school history, currently at No. 8 in the country. The Gophers rank second among Big Ten 1V8 boats, with Ohio State holding a No. 3 ranking.
Big Ten History
The Big Ten has recognized rowing as a conference sport since the 2000 season. The First Big Ten champion in the sport was Michigan. Since the start, the Wolverines have won the league championships four years, while Michigan State won it in 2005. Ohio State, the reigning Big Ten Champion, won their first in 2004.