University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Gear Up for South/Central Regionals
5/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
GOPHERS SET TO COMPETE AT REGIONALS
The University of Minnesota rowing team heads to Oak Ridge, Tenn., to compete at the 2008 Aramark South/Central Sprints, May 17-18. The Golden Gophers will compete in three events during the course of the regionals in the Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four races.
RACE SCHEDULE
The Gophers’ Varsity Four will compete at 10:10 a.m. against Michigan State, Virginia and Ohio State. Minnesota’s 2V8 will compete in the 10:40 a.m. heat with Clemson, Notre Dame and Tennessee. The 1V8 will face Clemson, Notre Dame and Michigan at 11:20 a.m. Semifinals will be held Saturday afternoon, while finals are slated for Sunday morning.
WHO'S WHO
The 2008 sprints will feature 22 teams, including all seven from the Big Ten Conference. Of the 22 teams, nine teams are ranked in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association First Varsity Eight poll. Last year, five teams from the South and Central regions were selected to participate at the NCAA Championships (Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee and Virginia), while Central Florida was selected as an at-large 1V8 bid. Listed below include all of the teams competing this weekend:
Central Florida
Clemson*
Duke
Eastern Michigan
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kansas State
Louisville^
Miami
Michigan*
Michigan State*
Minnesota*
Murray State
North Carolina
Notre Dame*
Ohio State*
Southern Methodist
Tennessee*
Texas
Virginia*
Wisconsin^
* indicates ranked teams
^ not ranked but receiving votes
PROJECTED LINEUPS
As Minnesota gears up for the Aramark South/Central Sprints, the Gophers will keep a majority of their lineups the same as the Big Ten Championships. In the 1V8 is coxswain Megan Flannery, Laura Jatautaite at stroke, Mary Ann Weinzieri, Jenny Barnes, Ashley Vilmo, Stephanie Bakkum, Lucy Mulvey, Katie Johnson and Lisa Pugh at bow. In the 2V8, the Gophers will have coxswain Linnea Trandem, Lauren VanProosdy, Emily Baxter, Tina Cho, Katie Simpson, Jenna Schuder, Sarah Graham, Kathryn Switalski and Christine O'Donnell at bow. Minnesota's First Varsity Four is Erica Niemiec, Jess Veit, Sarah Krueger, Ali Fisher and Emily Johnson.
LAST YEAR AT SPRINTS
Minnesota finished sixth overall and fourth in the central region to complete the Aramark South/Central Region Sprints, this morning in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Golden Gophers finished second in the Second Varsity Eight Grand Final, fourth in the First Varsity Four Grand Final and fifth in the First Varsity Eight Grand Final to tally 339 points. Virginia led the sprints with 440 points, followed by Ohio State (366), Tennessee (352), Wisconsin (346) and Notre Dame (341). The 2007 season marked the first time that all Minnesota three boats reached the Grand Finals and the first time the Second Varsity Eight had medaled at the sprints.
2008 BIG TEN RECAP
The University of Minnesota rowing team finished fourth overall at the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Golden Gophers earned 104 points, but Michigan State was the champion with 150 points, followed by Wisconsin with 114 points and Ohio State (112). Host Michigan followed the Gophers with 90 points and Iowa in sixth (40) and Indiana in last with 31 points. Two of Minnesota's First Varsity Eight members were All-Big Ten selections. Coxswain Megan Flannery was named to the First Team All-Big Ten, while Jenny Barnes was named second-team All-Big Ten. Captain MaryAnn Weinzierl was named Minnesota's Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree. The Gophers, who graduated 14 rowers from last year's Big Ten championship team, advanced all six boats to the Grand Finals this year.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
Since the Big Ten Conference has recognized rowing as a conference sport, four teams have won the championship. The First Big Ten champion in the sport was Michigan. Since the start, the Wolverines have won the league championships four years, while Ohio State and Michigan State have each won the title twice. Minnesota became the fourth team in the Big Ten Conference to win a title when they earned it in 2007.
ON THE DOCKET
Following the sprints, the Gophers will wait to hear if they are one of 12 teams selected to compete at the NCAA Championships, May 30-June 1 in Sacramento, Calif. Minnesota finished sixth overall in its first team appearance at the NCAA Championships.
Players Mentioned
