University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Travel to MSU For Big Tens
4/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
GOPHERS HEAD TO BIG TENS
The University of Minnesota rowing team heads to the Big Ten Championships, May 1 in Laingsburg, Mich. Racing at the Sleepy Hollow State Park on Lake Ovid, Minnesota will have six boats competing (1V8, 2V8, 1V4, 2V4, 1N8 and 2N8). Heats begin at 8 a.m., while the afternoon session begins at noon. Minnesota will race in the afternoon based off the team's morning heat performance as each group advances to either the Grand or Petite Finals.
MINNESOTA SCHEDULE
8:15 am Second Novice Eight (Heat 2)
8:30 am First Novice Eight (Heat 1)
9:00 am Second Varsity Four (Heat 1)
9:45 am Varsity Four (Heat 2)
10:00 am Second Varsity Eights (Heat 1)
10:30 am Varsity Eight (Heat 1)
AFTERNOON SCHEDULE
12 Noon Second Novice Eight Petite Final
12:15 p.m. Second Novice Eight Grand Final
12:30 pm First Novice Eight Petite Final
12:45 pm First Novice Eight Grand Final
1:00 pm Second Varsity Four Petite Final
1:15 pm Second Varsity Four Grand Final
1:30 pm Varsity Four Petite Final
1:45 pm Varsity Four Grand Final
2:00 pm Second Varsity Eight Petite Final
2:15 pm Second Varsity Eight Grand Final
2:30 pm Varsity Eight Petite Final
2:45 pm Varsity Four Grand Final
4 p.m. Awards (near finish line)
BIG TEN POINT SYSTEM
The Big Ten Championship is based on a point system. Each team will earn points by their placing in an event. The First Varsity Eight will receive the most points. The winner of the 1V8 race will earn 63 points, followed by the second-place team with 54 points. The full breakdown of points is listed below:
Event Points (From first to last)
1st Varsity Eight 63, 54, 45, 36, 27, 18, 9
2nd Varsity Eight 42, 36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 6
1st Varsity Four 21, 18, 15, 12, 9, 6, 3
2nd Varsity Four 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
1st Novice Eight 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
2nd Novice Eight 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
GOPHERS EARN BOAT OF THE WEEK HONORS
The Gophers' First Varsity Eight enters the Big Ten Championships on a high note as the team was named the Big Ten Boat of the Week after a convincing win over Kansas. Minnesota won the race in 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.
BIG TEN AND THE RANKINGS
Entering the Big Ten Championships, four teams are ranked, while two are receiving votes. Defending its Big Ten title is host Michigan State. The Spartans hold the highest ranking as the nation's eighth-best team. Michigan is ranked 11th overall, while Wisconsin in ranked 13th and Ohio State is 15th. Minnesota and Iowa are receiving votes in the latest poll (4/28/10).
GOPHER SEEDINGS
The University of Minnesota will have a tough battle throughout the championships, including in the First Varsity Eight. Minnesota was seeded sixth overall and will face Michigan State, Michigan and Indiana. Minnesota is seeded first in the 2V4 seeded, sixth in the 2V8, third in the 1V4, seventh in the 1N8, fifth in the 2N8.
VARSITY PROJECTED LINEUPS
As Minnesota gears up for the Big Ten Championship, the Gophers will keep a majority of their lineups the same as in the dual against Kansas. Minnesota's 1V8 of coxswain Linnea Trandem, Cassie Drozynski, Erika Berg, Tracy Merth, Lucy Mulvey, Jenna Schuder, Sarah Krueger, Sarah Graham and Rebekah Brzozowski at bow. In the Gophers' Second Varsity Eight is Teresa Logemann, Christine Cira, Katelyn Nichols, Debbie Brzozowski, Alli Fast, Alyssa Kast, Becky Kinchen and Rachel Sartor at bow. In the First Varsity Four: coxswain Nicolle Fisher, Christine Beauparlant, Kathryn Switalski, Shannon Gates and Michele Peterson, while In the Second Varsity Four is coxswain coxswain Adi Gutierrez, Kate Ladell at stroke, Elyse Weir, Leah Rogotzke and Grace Lorig at bow.
2009 BIG TEN RECAP
Minnesota finished sixth at the 2009 Big Ten Championships, held last year in Columbus, Ohio. The Golden Gophers scored 59 points, while Michigan State won its second-straight Big Ten Championship with 137 points. Minnesota was just one point out of fifth place as Iowa finished ahead of the Gophers with 60 points. Lisa Pugh earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, while Ashlee Vilmo was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection. Tina Cho was the Gophers' representative in the Sportsmanship Award.
GOPHERS' HISTORY AT BIG TENS
Minnesota started competition in the Big Ten Championships back in 2001 when it became a varsity program. In 2001, the Gophers finished sixth, fifth in 2002, sixth in 2003, fifth in 2004, fourth in 2005, second in 2006, Big Ten Champions in 2007, fourth in 2008 and sixth last season. Michigan has the most Big Ten titles with four, followed by Michigan State with three, Ohio State with two and the Gophers with one.
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP ON BTN
The Big Ten Network will broadcast the rowing championships on Sunday, May 16th at noon and 11 a.m. Central. The 2010 season marks the third season of the Big Ten Network, broadcasting all conference championships and a variety of Big Ten sports.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota is idle next week, but returns to action May 15-16 when the Gophers participate at the South/Central Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Gophers will face some of the best teams from the Big Ten, central and south regions.
Players Mentioned
