University of Minnesota Athletics
2014-2015 Rowing Season Preview
10/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
The University of Minnesota rowing program opened its 2014-15 season with a strong showing at the Head of the Mississippi, with the Gophers winning four out of the five events they competed in. Coach Wendy Davis sat down and discussed some topics of interest heading into the fall season.
What has the team's training schedule looked like thus far?
So much of what happens in the fall, especially September, is dictated by the work they did on their own over the summer. Being a team sport, the coaches aren't allowed to monitor that, so we sit there and hope. At the beginning of each semester, we have an ergometer test to see where they are at, fitness wise. It's a 7000-meter test, and this year, for the first time in fourteen years, everybody who came back improved from their previous September's time. As a staff, we are ecstatic with the condition of the team. Since the semester started, we've been in small boats, mostly fours, because we have a large number of coxswains. Seeing as fours are trickier to row, it has been good experience for the team.
What are your goals for the team heading into the fall season?
Goals are interesting because you have to wait and see what the team looks like early on. Competing in the Head of the Charles last year, we finished 16th. We want to improve on that. But the Charles is dictated largely on whether you get caught in weird situations because there are a lot of turns. Sometimes you have to go wide on a couple of turns if a boat is in front of you and that can really affect your time. But we absolutely want to improve on the 16th place finish from a year ago. Above all else, we want to stay healthy going into the winter. We really want people to feel good about how to move a boat, because it's one thing to be fit and strong, but it's another thing to be a good boat mover. The good teams have individuals that are great at both.
Do you have any new additions to the squad that have made a noteworthy impression?
We have two freshmen, Bee Lovick and Joyce Jollands, who are rowing with the varsity right now, that are coming over from Australia. They are fitting in nicely, especially with the workload being so much greater in college than in high school. And thus far, halfway through week four, they are handling it extremely well.
Where will you turn for leadership for this season?
We will certainly lean on both our senior and junior classes. Our captains,Tabitha Andelin and Mari Sundbo, are lighting up the place and setting a great standard. But so much of leadership is the kind of attitude that you bring into the boathouse. There is a wonderful energy around the program, which really makes the boathouse a fun place to be.
How does your approach differ in the fall season versus the spring?
The distances are longer in the fall, and so it's like the difference between cross-country and track. The fall races last anywhere from 15-18 minutes, and the spring races last about 6.5 minutes. Another big difference between the seasons is the format of the races. With the fall races being head races, one boat follows another and they start every 30 seconds. So you don't know where you placed until the race is over. But the spring season, it's just like track, so you line up straight across and it's a more traditional race. The strategy is different as well because certain players are better at distance versus more sprint-like races.
Do you foresee any hurdles for your team heading into the fall season?
No, honestly I don't. In the fall, you never know if someone is going to get really sick. So if we can avoid the things like mono or major injuries, we'll be set.
You had seven Gophers named CRCA scholar athletes last spring, what does that mean to you?
It's huge because that's a 3.5 GPA or above and you have to be in one of the top-three boats. So these individuals are getting it done in both areas. It means they are going to be successful when they graduate and people we are proud of when they leave here
Lynn Hodnett was named First Team All-Big Ten last year, what does she mean to your program?
Lynn is setting the standard this year. She is strong, fit, and rows really well. Plus, she was local, coming from the St. Paul Rowing Club. She came in extremely strong but very rough, so she had to make adjustments. But now she's the real deal, and doing a great job in the classroom.