Michigan State University
Lexus Cup
MSU Crew Finishes Sixth At South/Central Regional Championship
5/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
May 15, 2005
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - The Michigan State crew finished sixth in the overall standings of the South/Central Regional Sprints with 294 points, good for fourth in the Central Region, on Sunday, May 15. Tennessee hosted the two-day regatta at its home course, Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge.
Defending South/Central Regional Champion Virginia finished first, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships May 27-29 in Sacramento, Calif. Ohio State, the crew that finished second overall, but highest in the Central region, also receives an automatic bid to the NCAA regatta. Wisconsin (third), Michigan (fourth) and Tennessee (fifth) round out the top five overall finishers.
Michigan State's first varsity four finished second in the Varsity Four A-Final, rowing over the finish line in 7:31.94, behind only Virginia (7:24.40). Wisconsin (7:35.84), Michigan (7:38.93), Notre Dame (7:40.80) and Minnesota (7:42.69) all finished behind the Green and White.
"The varsity four raced well," MSU crew head coach Matt Weise said. "They got down a little bit at the start, so we need to work on the first quarter of the piece to put them in a good position for the rest of the season."
The second varsity eight finished third in its A-Final with a time of 6:38.96, behind first-place Virginia (6:33.30) and second-place Ohio State (6:34.12). The second varsity crew beat out Michigan (6:39.17), Wisconsin (6:44.86), and Notre Dame (6:52.75).
"The second varsity eight had a great first three-quarters of their piece, so we just need to polish up the last quarter," Weise said. "They're getting faster every race. They just didn't move in the last quarter, so they need to attack more in the last quarter of their race."
The first varsity eight had an off-day, placing sixth in its A-Final, with a time of 6:42.41, despite going in as the favorite to win. Ohio State (6:27.50), Tennessee (6:29.61), Virginia (6:29.91), Wisconsin (6:34.91) and Michigan (6:36.16) finished ahead of the Green and White. "The first varsity eight had a bad race," Weise said. "They were just unfocused. Hopefully today was a wake-up call and they'll refocus before the NCAAs."
The NCAA selections will be released on Tuesday, May 17, and MSU looks to receive its eighth consecutive bid to the NCAA National Championship Regatta.
LINEUPS
Top Varsity Eight: coxswain Beth Smith, Roz Bialczak, Erin Robertson, Sarah Brady, Christen Brown, Kirsten Rasanen, Paula Thoms, Jasmine Pickler, Tara Middleton.
Second Varsity Eight: coxswain Julie Springrose, Suzanne Buzzell, Britni Johnson, Anne Cowan, Kate Burdick, Joanna Brown, Ashley Johnson, Daragh Gibson, Abby Wieber.
Top Varsity Four: coxswain Bridget Curry, Liz Brennan, Kathy Syrowik, Julia Craig, Melissa Lane.
South/Central Sprints Final Standings
OVERALL STANDINGS
1. Virginia (372)
2. Ohio State (366)
3. Wisconsin (324)
4. Michigan (317)
5. Tennessee (304)
6. Michigan State (294)
7. Notre Dame (262)
8. Minnesota (231)
9. Indiana (187)
10. Clemson (180)
11. Texas (172)
12. Louisville (171)
13. Iowa (144)
14. Central Florida (140)
15. Duke (133)
16. Cincinnati (77)
17. Miami (77)
18. Kansas (67)
19. North Carolina (51)
20. Kansas State (47)
21. SMU (27)
SOUTH REGION STANDINGS
1. Virginia (372)
2. Tennessee (304)
3. Clemson (180)
4. Texas (172)
5. Louisville (171)
6. Central Florida (140)
7. Duke (133)
8. Miami (77)
9. North Carolina (51)
10. SMU (27)
CENTRAL REGION STANDINGS
1. Ohio State (366)
2. Wisconsin (324)
3. Michigan (317)
4. Michigan State (294)
5. Notre Dame (262)
6. Minnesota (231)
7. Indiana (187)
8. Iowa (144)
9. Cincinnati (77)
10. Kansas (67)
11. Kansas State (47)
SOUTH/CENTRAL REGION SPRINTS RESULTS
First Varsity Eight
Final A
1. Ohio State (6:27.50)
2. Tennessee (6:29.61)
3. Virginia (6:29.91)
4. Wisconsin (6:34.91)
5. Michigan (6:36.16)
6. Michigan State (6:42.41)
Second Varsity Eight
Final A
1. Virginia (6:33.30)
2. Ohio State (6:34.12)
3. Michigan State (6:38.96)
4. Michigan (6:39.17)
5. Wisconsin (6:44.86)
6. Notre Dame (6:52.75)
First Varsity Four
Final A
1. Virginia (7:24.40)
2. Michigan State (7:31.94)
3. Wisconsin (7:35.84)
4. Michigan (7:38.93)
5. Notre Dame (7:40.80)
6. Minnesota (7:42.69)
Players Mentioned
