Michigan State University
Michigan, Eastern Michigan
Crew Dominates Michigan In Season Opener
9/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Sept. 19, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's crew posted a spectacular performance over Michigan and Eastern Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans sent its top three varsity eights to compete and came home with nine first-place finishes in 10 total races.
"It was a good day," said head coach Matt Weise of his team's performance. "Any time we were challenged, we responded by rising to that challenge. Whether it was the condition of the water, our opponents or our own technique, we stepped up and got it done. Our plan has been to execute, so I expected them to find a way to really move and they did."
The contest entailed five five-minute pieces, set at 26 strokes-per-minute, a more controlled situation than the majority of races. Most fall racing entails distances pieces, also known as head races, which are about three miles long.
State's top two eights competed in the A-Flight event, taking first and second place in all but one race, in which MSU took first and third. In the B-Flight event, the Spartans captured first place in all but one race, in which they fell to U-M, marking the only race in which MSU did not finish first all day.
Despite the success, Weise says that his team will be ready to practice hard and continue to improve as the training season continues.
"Today was a great success," Weise said. "But we are going to get back to practice and get back to work because we can always do better."
Next, MSU hosts The Head of the Grand Regatta on Oct. 17, which marks the Spartans' major home regatta of the fall season.
