University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Open Fall Season With Wins
10/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
The University of Minnesota rowing team opened its fall season hosting the Head of the Mississippi, today at the University Boathouse on the U of M campus. The Golden Gophers swept their competition, winning the Open 4 + event, the Women’s College 8+ and the Novice 8+ action.
Minnesota had four boats compete in the Open 4+ event, with two placing in the top two. The Gophers’ A boat of Erica Niemiec, Stephanie Bakkum at stroke, Ashlee Vilmo, Jenna Schuder and Lucy Mulvey at bow took home the medal when they clocked a winning time of 14:05.2. Minnesota’s Four of coxswain Illana Ostrin, Katie Johnson, Lisa Pugh, Molly Kalmoe, Michele Peterson at bow placed second overall, just behind the Gophers’ first boat. Ostrin’s Four finished in 14:20.5. Minnesota had an additional two finish fifth and sixth overall. The Four boat of Kate Stadum as coxswain, Emily Baxter, Cassie Drozynski, Kate Ladell and Emily Johnson at bow finished fifth overall (14:29.5), while Monika Folker, Ali Fisher, Sarah Graham, Sarah Krueger, Alyssa Kast at bow placed sixth (14:32.6) out of 11 participants.
The Gophers took first and second in the Women’s College Eight event. The Gopher Eight of coxswain Dana Landseidel, Erin Desmond, Erika Berg, Kalmoe, Nora Kudronowicz, Christine Cira, Tracy Merth, Shannon Gates, Megan Lenarz finished just ahead of St. Thomas with a time of 13:28.5 to 13:28.7. Minnesota’s B Boat of coxswain Jessica Tam, Katelyn Nichols, Liz Gruse, Michelle Murphy, Debbie Brzozowski, Brenna Galvin, Kristin Haag, Teresa Logemann, Mikaela Rogers placed second in a time of 13:42.9, while St. Thomas clocked a third-place time of 13:48.7.
Minnesota had four boats compete in the Novice Eight competition. The Gophers’ A boat of coxswain Sara Baldvins, Quinn Anderson, Maddy Bourgeois, Caitlin Boon, Ali Fast, Leah Rogotzke, Yasmin Khan, Emma Porter and Lindsey Partridge at bow won the event in a time of 15:52.9. Minnesota’s B boat came in second with a time of 16:10.3. Participating in the Gopher B boat was Julie Pozner at stroke, Abby Graceffa, Tasha Randall, Hannah Okray, Sarah McKenzie, Brittany Storoz, Aileen Flynn and Laura Obrycki at bow with Rachel Personius coxswaining the boat. After the Minnesota Rowing Club took third place, the Gophers finished fourth and fifth overall to take four of the top five spots in times of 17:14.6 and 17:43.7. In Minnesota’s fourth-place boat was coxswain Jenna Grossardt, Kirstin Koenig at stroke, Victoria Lund, Natasha Sulaeman, Madeline Etrheim, Rachel Peterson, Kaonue Xiong, Chanda Kenny and Morgan Schwoch at bow. Placing fifth overall was coxswain Sadie Shaw, Kari Eloranta, Beth St. Martin, Elizabeth Just, Heidi Page, Summer Jackson, Woon Lee Chiao, Elizabeth Farmer, Karina Timmerman at bow.
"We had a really fun weekend and glad that we were able to pull everything off despite the rain and wind we faced early this morning," head coach Wendy Davis said. "Going into the Head of the Miss, we wanted our focus to be on the Fours and it was by far the best Fours showing we have had during the fall season and this early in our program. Overall, it was a great weekend. We had Parent's Day at the boathouse and we had over 100 parents watching our five novice and one Novice Four boat compete. This year's Head of the Mississippi was the first time we've been able to run the event out of our boathouse and again, we are so grateful to have the facility and have this much activity around the building. We were happy to have everyone come and be apart of Gopher Rowing program today."
Minnesota's varsity program heads to the Head of the Rock on Oct. 12 in Rockford, Ill. Racing begins at approximately at 10 a.m.
Players Mentioned
