University of Minnesota Athletics
Rowing Opens Home Season in a Scrimmage Against Iowa
4/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
The University of Minnesota rowing team opened the spring season by hosting a scrimmage against Iowa, today, at the University Boathouse on the University of MInnesota campus. The two teams competed on the Mississippi River as the boats competed in four pieces in front of the boathouse. The pieces were 700-meters and were 2-2.5 minute durations against the current, but with the wind. The water was almost at whitecap conditions, but improved as the racing continued. The scrimmages were not based off of time, but rather margins for all of the boat racing.
In the First Varsity Eight, Iowa gained the first piece win in .3. The two teams were even in the second piece, while Minnesota won the third and fourth pieces. In Minnesota's 1V8 was coxswain Megan Flannery, Laura Jatautaite at stroke, Mary Ann Weinzierl, Jenny Barnes, Ashley Vilmo, Stephanie Bakkum, Lucy Mulvey, Katie Johnson and Lisa Pugh at bow.
"Iowa was very smart about how they competed in the four pieces," Gopher head coach Wendy Davis said. "We came up short in the first, but were ahead of them in the third and fourth pieces. Iowa really adjusted well to the rest of the race and were very savvy in how they performed today. We always start off a little slow off the line so competing in these pieces were perfect for us. We continued to get progressively better as the day continued."
In the Second Varsity Eight race, the Golden Gophers won all four pieces. Minnesota's boat of coxswain Linnea Trandem, Emily Baxter, Tina Cho, Jenna Schuder, Katie Simpson, Erin Desmond, Sarah Graham, Lauren Van Proosdy and Christine O'Donnell, won the pieces by margins of 7.7, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.0. The Gophers First Varsity Four also swept the Varsity Four competition in times of 7.1, 16.25, 8.65 and 8.53. The winning boat consisted of Erica Niemiec, Jessica Veit, Sarah Krueger, Ali Fisher and Emily Johnson. The Maroon and Gold also had a Second Varsity Four and Third Varsity Four compete in the event. Competing in the Second Varsity Four was Monika Folker, Michele Peterson, Kathryn Switalski, Michelle Murphy and Jess Norman, while the Third Varsity Four was Rebecca Emmons, Christine Cira, Brenna Galvin, Katelyn Nichols and Megan Lenarz.
The Hawkeyes won three of the four pieces in the Novice Eight competition. Iowa won the first by .4 and the second by .1. Minnesota won the third in 1.6, but Iowa came back for a win in a margin of 1.7. In the Gopher boat was Dana Landseidel, Kristin Haag, Kate Ladell, Alyssa Kast, Molly Kalmoe, Shannon Gates, Tracy Merth, Liz Gruse and Teresa Logemann. The Hawkeyes then swept the pieces in the Second Novice Eight race. Iowa won the pieces in margins of 1.7, 5.2 and 5.3. Minnesota had two boats compete in the event. In one boat was Kate Stadum, Ann Haberman, Alex Gregory, Dani Prestegard, Mikaela Rogers, Jessica Mayers, Sarah Paschke, Chonquita Jones and Carrie Gahr. In the Third Novice Eight was Jessica Tam, Lauren Rynders, Kristi Sroka, Melinda Brown, Carly Schulz, Vanessa Hamer, Sara Swenson, Randi Schroeder and Sam Preston.
Minnesota will be idle next weekend, but return to action hosting Michigan and Michigan State on April 19 on Lake Phalen in St. Paul, Minn. Louisville will also compete against the Wolverines and the Spartans, but not against Minnesota. All of the teams will have their full squad in force at the meet. Fans can watch the races from the beach area starting at 10 a.m. Times are always subject to change. It is suggested to check gophersports.com periodically for official times.
Players Mentioned
