University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Close Fall Season in Seattle
11/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
The University of Minnesota rowing team completed its fall season at the Head of the Lake, today in Seattle, Wash. The Gophers only competed it top boat in the Women’s Collegiate Open 8+ and finished fifth overall.
The Gopher boat of coxswain Ilana Ostrin, Michele Peterson at stroke, Cassie Drozynski, Jenna Schuder, Lucy Mulvey, Sarah Graham, Erika Berg, Rachel Sartor and Rebekah Brzozowski raced in the Open 8+ race, which was a three-mile course on Lake Union. On the first turn, Minnesota caught the boat ahead but had to stop on order to avoid a collision. The crew was moving nicely and gaining on the University of Victoria until the final big u turn where Minnesota was being overtaken by a men's 8+ boat. The rules state that the slower boat must yield to overtaking crews so the Gophers were forced to go extremely wide throughout the turn. Minnesota finished in1 8:44.06, while host Washington won the event in a time of 17:41.64.
"Every year the Big Ten and NCAA Championships are on new and unfamiliar courses,” head coach Wendy Davis said. “We use the fall season to not only prepare the rowers for the championship season, but to be able to handle situations no matter what the course or weather conditions are. Although we had some challenges on the course, I’m pleased with how we handled it and where we are at so far this season.”
Minnesota will train on the Mississippi and at the boathouse during the remaining fall and winter season. The Gophers will resume action March 20 when they compete in their annual dual against Tennessee.
Players Mentioned
