University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Compete in Final Race Before Big Tens
4/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
The University of Minnesota rowing team held a final tune-up before the Big Ten Championships as the Golden Gophers defeated the Kansas Jayhawks, today, on the Mississippi River and the U of M campus. Minnesota cruised to six wins in seven events contested. Big Tens will be held next weekend in East Lansing, Mich.
On a rainy day along the Mississippi, the wind was set at 9 mph ENE. With cowbells and umbrellas in hand the Gopher fans watched along the banks of the mighty Mississippi for the team’s only home contest of the spring season. The Gophers started the day off with a win in the Third Varsity Eight. Coxswain Laura Salzman, Megan Lenarz, Caitlin Boon, Kate Ladell, Maddy Bourgeois, Kristi Anderson, Mikaela Rogers, Brenna Galvin and Quinn Anderson at bow crossed the finish line at 7:12.4 to Kansas’ time of 7:34.6.
The Gophers dominated the First Varsity Eight competition with a 6:41.8 time to the Jayhawks’ 7:09.0. Minnesota’s boat of coxswain Linnea Trandem, Cassie Drozynski, Erika Berg, Tracy Merth, Lucy Mulvey, Jenna Schuder, Sarah Krueger, Sarah Graham and Rebekah Brzozowski at bow jumped out to a 10-stroke lead early and then held a 30-second lead by the 1,000-meter mark of the 2,000-meter race. The Gophers have now won back-to-back races after a win against Texas and Sacramento State last weekend at the Lake Natoma Invite.
The Gophers edged out Kansas in the Second Novice Eight as well. Kansas was leading the majority of the race and in the last 500-meters of the race, Kansas caught a crab and the Gophers went past them and crossed the finish line in 7:25.8 to the Jayhawks’ time of 7:29.9. In the Gopher boat was coxswain Alicia Gruenwald, Natalie Foshag, Elizabeth Barnes, Jenessa White, Jennifer VanVliet, Alyssa Trelstad, Rachel Root, Melissa Ruggles and Andrea Beczkiewicz at bow.
Kansas ended the Gophers’ run at a sweep when it won the First Novice Eight race. The Jayhawks crossed the finish line in a time of 7:00.8, while Minnesota followed in 7:06.2. Competing in the boat was coxswain Emilie Sabourin, Alexandra Voss at stroke, Allison Putlak, Kayla Thom, Alli Haws, Liz Saindon, Katie Anderson, Arielle Flynn and Natalie Reker at bow.
The Gophers returned to their winning ways in the Second Varsity Four race. Minnesota’s boat of coxswain Adi Gutierrez, Kate Ladell at stroke, Elyse Weir, Leah Rogotzke and Grace Lorig at bow cruised to the finish line in 7:34.2 to the Jayhawks time of 8:05.5.
The Gophers added another win in the First Varsity Four. After 10 strokes off the start, Minnesota’s boat of coxswain Nicolle Fisher, Christine Beauparlant, Kathryn Switalski, Shannon Gates and Michele Peterson held a half-boat lead on the Jayhawks. Minnesota stretched out its lead when it held a boat-length, open-water lead at the 1,500-meter mark and finished with a three-boat lead of open water when it crossed the finish line. Minnesota won it in 7:40.3 to Kansas’ time of 7:52.4.
The last race of the day came in the Second Varsity Eight, also in a win. Minnesota’s boat of Teresa Logemann, Christine Cira, Katelyn Nichols, Debbie Brzozowski, Alli Fast, Alyssa Kast, Becky Kinchen and Rachel Sartor at bow jumped out to a full-boat lead after 20 strokes and continued to add open water for the win. Minnesota won the event in 6:58.4 to Kansas’ 7:23.8.
“This was a really nice tune-up for Big Tens,” head coach Wendy Davis said. “We’ve been working on some things and to have a nice, quality opponent like Kansas come up here it was great. They put the pressure on us, but I think we’re executing the way we want to for the conference races. I’m very happy with the team and how they performed and now it’s all about staying healthy, get tapered and away we go. I’m really pleased with the progress of the team. They are doing everything they can to be as fast as they possibly can be. We’re going to have a tough road at the conference meet because we’re going to be racing against some of the best in the country. The rankings don’t come out until next week, but I don’t think they are going to be very favorable and we will need to beat our ranking.”
At the end of the race, the Gophers held a shell dedication in honor of their former captain, Cheryl Wick, who passed away in July. A native of Rochester, Minn., Wick was a member of the Gopher varsity program from 2003-07 and a part of the Gophers’ NCAA teams. While at Minnesota, Wick rowed with the Gophers’ top boat (First Varsity Eight) for three seasons and was a member of the Second Varsity Eight in 2003-04. During her tenure, Wick was an All-Central Region First Team selection in 2005 and 2007. A two-year captain, Wick was also an all-conference selection. A first-team All-Big Ten choice in 2007, Wick led the Gophers to a Big Ten Conference title that same year, while earning second-team honors in 2005-06.
The Big Ten Championships will begin at 8 a.m. next Saturday, hosted by Michigan State. The Gophers will compete in heats during the morning session. Based off of their heats, the Gophers will advance to either the Grand or Petite Finals in the afternoon session. The hosting Spartans will be defending their title and are ranked eighth in the country. Michigan is ranked 11th, followed by Wisconsin (14) and Ohio State (15).
Third Varsity Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 7:12.4
2. Kansas 7:34.6
First Varsity Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 6:41.8
2. Kansas 7:09.0
Second Novice Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 7:25.8
2. Kansas 7:29.9
First Novice Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Kansas 7:00.8
2. Minnesota 7:06.2
Second Varsity Four
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 7:34.2
2. Kansas 8:05.5
First Varsity Four
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 7:40.3
2. Kansas 7:52.4
Second Varsity Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 6:58.4
2. Kansas 7:23.8
On a rainy day along the Mississippi, the wind was set at 9 mph ENE. With cowbells and umbrellas in hand the Gopher fans watched along the banks of the mighty Mississippi for the team’s only home contest of the spring season. The Gophers started the day off with a win in the Third Varsity Eight. Coxswain Laura Salzman, Megan Lenarz, Caitlin Boon, Kate Ladell, Maddy Bourgeois, Kristi Anderson, Mikaela Rogers, Brenna Galvin and Quinn Anderson at bow crossed the finish line at 7:12.4 to Kansas’ time of 7:34.6.
The Gophers dominated the First Varsity Eight competition with a 6:41.8 time to the Jayhawks’ 7:09.0. Minnesota’s boat of coxswain Linnea Trandem, Cassie Drozynski, Erika Berg, Tracy Merth, Lucy Mulvey, Jenna Schuder, Sarah Krueger, Sarah Graham and Rebekah Brzozowski at bow jumped out to a 10-stroke lead early and then held a 30-second lead by the 1,000-meter mark of the 2,000-meter race. The Gophers have now won back-to-back races after a win against Texas and Sacramento State last weekend at the Lake Natoma Invite.
The Gophers edged out Kansas in the Second Novice Eight as well. Kansas was leading the majority of the race and in the last 500-meters of the race, Kansas caught a crab and the Gophers went past them and crossed the finish line in 7:25.8 to the Jayhawks’ time of 7:29.9. In the Gopher boat was coxswain Alicia Gruenwald, Natalie Foshag, Elizabeth Barnes, Jenessa White, Jennifer VanVliet, Alyssa Trelstad, Rachel Root, Melissa Ruggles and Andrea Beczkiewicz at bow.
Kansas ended the Gophers’ run at a sweep when it won the First Novice Eight race. The Jayhawks crossed the finish line in a time of 7:00.8, while Minnesota followed in 7:06.2. Competing in the boat was coxswain Emilie Sabourin, Alexandra Voss at stroke, Allison Putlak, Kayla Thom, Alli Haws, Liz Saindon, Katie Anderson, Arielle Flynn and Natalie Reker at bow.
The Gophers returned to their winning ways in the Second Varsity Four race. Minnesota’s boat of coxswain Adi Gutierrez, Kate Ladell at stroke, Elyse Weir, Leah Rogotzke and Grace Lorig at bow cruised to the finish line in 7:34.2 to the Jayhawks time of 8:05.5.
The Gophers added another win in the First Varsity Four. After 10 strokes off the start, Minnesota’s boat of coxswain Nicolle Fisher, Christine Beauparlant, Kathryn Switalski, Shannon Gates and Michele Peterson held a half-boat lead on the Jayhawks. Minnesota stretched out its lead when it held a boat-length, open-water lead at the 1,500-meter mark and finished with a three-boat lead of open water when it crossed the finish line. Minnesota won it in 7:40.3 to Kansas’ time of 7:52.4.
The last race of the day came in the Second Varsity Eight, also in a win. Minnesota’s boat of Teresa Logemann, Christine Cira, Katelyn Nichols, Debbie Brzozowski, Alli Fast, Alyssa Kast, Becky Kinchen and Rachel Sartor at bow jumped out to a full-boat lead after 20 strokes and continued to add open water for the win. Minnesota won the event in 6:58.4 to Kansas’ 7:23.8.
“This was a really nice tune-up for Big Tens,” head coach Wendy Davis said. “We’ve been working on some things and to have a nice, quality opponent like Kansas come up here it was great. They put the pressure on us, but I think we’re executing the way we want to for the conference races. I’m very happy with the team and how they performed and now it’s all about staying healthy, get tapered and away we go. I’m really pleased with the progress of the team. They are doing everything they can to be as fast as they possibly can be. We’re going to have a tough road at the conference meet because we’re going to be racing against some of the best in the country. The rankings don’t come out until next week, but I don’t think they are going to be very favorable and we will need to beat our ranking.”
At the end of the race, the Gophers held a shell dedication in honor of their former captain, Cheryl Wick, who passed away in July. A native of Rochester, Minn., Wick was a member of the Gopher varsity program from 2003-07 and a part of the Gophers’ NCAA teams. While at Minnesota, Wick rowed with the Gophers’ top boat (First Varsity Eight) for three seasons and was a member of the Second Varsity Eight in 2003-04. During her tenure, Wick was an All-Central Region First Team selection in 2005 and 2007. A two-year captain, Wick was also an all-conference selection. A first-team All-Big Ten choice in 2007, Wick led the Gophers to a Big Ten Conference title that same year, while earning second-team honors in 2005-06.
The Big Ten Championships will begin at 8 a.m. next Saturday, hosted by Michigan State. The Gophers will compete in heats during the morning session. Based off of their heats, the Gophers will advance to either the Grand or Petite Finals in the afternoon session. The hosting Spartans will be defending their title and are ranked eighth in the country. Michigan is ranked 11th, followed by Wisconsin (14) and Ohio State (15).
Third Varsity Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 7:12.4
2. Kansas 7:34.6
First Varsity Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 6:41.8
2. Kansas 7:09.0
Second Novice Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 7:25.8
2. Kansas 7:29.9
First Novice Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Kansas 7:00.8
2. Minnesota 7:06.2
Second Varsity Four
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 7:34.2
2. Kansas 8:05.5
First Varsity Four
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 7:40.3
2. Kansas 7:52.4
Second Varsity Eight
Finish Team Time
1. Minnesota 6:58.4
2. Kansas 7:23.8
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/ RowingHead of the Mississippi Hype
Wednesday, October 08
Third Varsity Four Wins Again at B1G Invite
Monday, April 21
Second Novice Eight Wins at B1G Invite
Monday, April 21
First Varsity Four Wins at B1G Invite
Saturday, April 19