University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Rowing Travels to Big Ten Championships
5/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
GOPHERS HEAD TO BIG TENS
The University of Minnesota rowing team heads to the Big Ten Championships, May 15 in Indianapolis. The Golden Gophers will compete at Eagle Creek Park as the Indianapolis Rowing Center hosts the event. Here’s a schedule of events (weather permitting):
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
9:00 a.m. ET Novice II Eights
9:20 a.m. ET Novice I Eights
9:40 a.m. ET II Fours
10:00 a.m. ET I Fours
10:20 a.m. ET II Eights
10:40 a.m. ET I Eights
12:00 p.m. ET Awards Presentation
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
The 2011 Big Ten Championship marks the first time in conference history where the event will not be broken into a morning and afternoon sessions. Previously a morning heat determined the Finals each boat would be placed (Petite or Grand). This year, a seven-lane course has been established to see who can sprint to the finish line first. The 2011 championship also marks the first time for a neutral location, held in Indianapolis. Minnesota hosted the Big Ten Championships once, dating back to 2006 where it finished second overall.
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
BIG TEN AND THE RANKINGS
Entering the Big Ten Championships, four teams are ranked, while three are receiving votes. Michigan State holds the conference’s best ranking, coming in at eighth. Ohio State follows in 10th, while Wisconsin is 13th. Michigan rounds out the conference rankings at 16. Minnesota, Iowa and Indiana are all receiving votes.
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.
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 Wisconsin on May 1. In the Varsity Eight boat it will be coxswain Linnea Trandem, Christine Beauparlant at stroke, Tracy Merth, Leah Rogotzke, Cassie Drozynski, Erika Berg, Kathryn Switalski, Molly Kalmoe and Rachel Sartor at bow. In the 2V8 was Sara Baldvins as the coxswain, Ellen Hughes at stroke, Becky Kinchen, Kayla Thom, Ali Haws, Katrina Pichelli, Sarah Krueger, Kate Ladell and Teresa Logemann at bow. In the 1V4 is coxswain Nicolle Fisher, Sarah Sobek at stroke, Maddy Bourgeois, Katie Anderson and Alexandria Voss at bow, while the 2V4 will be coxswain Emilie Sabourin, Caitlin Boon, Janessa White, Debbie Brzozowski and Allison Putlak at bow. For the First Novice Eight: coxswain Olivia Vlahos, Amber Meyer at stroke, Chelsea Miller, Katherine Windsor, Molly Gruber, Melissa Drezdzon, Kate Moran, Erica Revering and Nicolette Marquardt at bow. In the 2N8 is coxswain Mahogany Ellis, Mckenzie Fitzgerald at stroke, Jen Kohl, Kelly Brickl in the 6 seat, MacKenzie Strylund, Kathryn DeSmidt, Cassie Meyer, Katherine Rosploch and Becca Curtis at bow.
2010 BIG TEN RECAP
Minnesota rowing team finished fifth at the 2010 Big Ten Championships, hosted by Michigan State in Laingsburg, Mich. Racing on Lake Ovid at Sleepy Hollow State Park, Wisconsin won its first Big Ten title with 148 points, followed by Michigan State with 132 and the Gophers finished fifth overall with 66 points. Along with the championships, two Golden Gophers earned All-Big Ten honors. Lucy Mulvey was named a first-team All-Big Ten, while Cassie Drozynski was named to the second team All-Big Ten. The Gophers also earned an event win in the Second Varsity Four.
GOPHERS’ HISTORY AT BIG TENS
Minnesota started competition in the Big Ten Championships back in 2001 when it became a varsity program. Minnesota won its first Big Ten Championships in 2007, winning four of six races and 150 points. Michigan has the most Big Ten titles with four, followed by Michigan State with three, Ohio State with two and the Gophers and Wisconsin with one. Here’s a breakdown of the Gopher team finishes:
Year Big Ten Finish
2001 Sixth (18 points)
2002 Fifth (78 points)
2003 Sixth (61 points)
2004 Fifth (78 points)
2005 Fifth (73 points)
2006 Second (121 points)
2007 First, Big Ten Champions (150 points)
2008 Fourth (104 points)
2009 Sixth (59 points)
2010 Fifth (66 points)
MINNESOTA AND EVENT CHAMPIONS
Dating back to its start in the conference Minnesota has had 10 event champions since 2001. Although the Gophers haven’t won a First Varsity Eight race, the Second Varsity Eight walked away with a title championship in 2007. It was the same year the Gophers won the national title in the 2V8 at the NCAA Championships in Tennessee. The Gophers have also won two events in the Varsity Four (2006 and 2007) and three in the Second Varsity Four (2006, 2007 and 2010). The Gophers’ novice boats have flourished as well, winning three in the 1N8 (2004, 2005 and 2007), while another one in the 2N8 (2006).
BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP ON BTN
The Big Ten Network will broadcast the rowing championships on Sunday, May 22 at 1 p.m. ET, noon CT. The 2011 season marks the fourth season of the Big Ten Network, broadcasting all conference championships and a variety of Big Ten sports.
TEAM HONORS
Prior to the Big Ten Championships, the Gopher rowing program held its annual banquet on May 7. Team awards were handed out as well as recognizing the 2010-11 season. Receiving the Cheryl Wick Memorial-Most Valuable Rower Award went to Christine Beauparlant. Competing with both the 1V8 and the 2V8, she has helped both boats at the stroke position. The Most Improved Award went to Ali Haws, while the Donna J. Olson Award (unsung award) went to captain Teresa Logemann. Most Valuable Novice went to Melissa Drezdzon, while Most Improved was Amber Myer.
SENIOR SALUTE
The Golden Gophers will also honor their seniors at the pre-championship banquet. Minnesota’s seniors are Nicolle Fisher, Mikaela Rogers, Sarah Krueger, Teresa Logemann, Tracy Merth, Kate Ladell and Linnea Trandem.
GOPHERS EARN BOAT OF THE WEEK HONORS
Minnesota's Second Varsity Eight received Boat of the Week honors, to become the first boat to earn the honors this year. Minnesota's last boat of the week honors came on April 27, 2010 in a First Varsity Eight win over Kansas. The Gophers' Second Varsity Eight claimed the Boat of the Week honor after competing against Tennessee on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn. (3/20). Earning the win was coxswain Sara Baldvins, Christine Beauparlant, Ellen Hughes, Leah Rogotzke, Kathryn Switalski, Ali Haws, Katrina Pichelli, Kate Ladell and Maddy Bourgeois in a first-place time of 6:15.10. Minnesota beat out the Lady Vols' time of 6:17.40.
Players Mentioned
