University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Excited to Get Their Feet Wet: Literally
3/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
The Mississippi River hasn’t been the only thing that has been affected by the harsh cold and mass amounts of snow this winter. The University of Minnesota rowing will travel to Oak Ridge, Tennessee this weekend for its annual spring break training trip. After opening up competition on Saturday and Sunday against Alabama and Notre Dame, the Golden Gophers will spend the better part of a week training in water which is currently unavailable in the Twin Cities.
The Alabama dual on Saturday will be a scrimmage that will help Minnesota find time in the water and get a look on where they are at as a team. Alabama is new to the NCAA Division I rowing scene and will be a fairly new opponent for the Gophers, having barely seen them at the South/Central Region Sprints in the years past.
“This is going to be fun opening up with them. It’s a scrimmage so it is going to be a nice intense workout,” said head coach Wendy Davis.
They then face region opponent Notre Dame on Sunday.
“For all three teams it is so early, so we will all be trying different lineups and seeing different combinations in our boats<" Davis said. "But it’s a chance to do it under pressure; so all three teams are real excited about doing this."
The trip down to Tennessee will be the first time they have seen the open water since their winter training trip to San Diego. Usually open to row in February, the Mississippi River’s ice and snow piled banks haven’t allowed the team to practice outdoors. Their dock is barely visible. But after the weekend competition the Gophers will get the opportunity to train on Melton Lake all week before facing Tennessee on Saturday, March 19.
“It’s all about 17 practices actually rowing and then finishing it off with a really strong opponent. Tennessee’s program is always excellent, and we have great respect for their program. So it’s a chance to get on the line and see what we have,” said Davis.
Written by Athletic Communications intern Matt Everson
