Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Crew Races in Big Ten/ACC Challenge Saturday
3/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
March 31, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The MSU rowing team will face stiff competition in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Saturday, April 1. The Spartans have been paired with Duke for the day's races, facing No. 7 Michigan in the morning events and No. 4 Ohio State in the afternoon races.
The Spartans go into the challenge off a strong performance on March 25, winning five of six races against Indiana (two events were held but no times were kept). Most notable was the performance of MSU's second varsity eight that finished 2-0 on the day and was named Big Ten Boat of the Week for its efforts.
Michigan State raced Michigan and Ohio State once in the 2004-05 regular season with mixed results. The Spartan first varsity four downed its counterparts from both schools, as did the MSU second novice eight. The Michigan State novice eight fell to its Wolverine opponent, but defeated the Buckeye crew. The Spartan first and second varsity eights both suffered close losses to Michigan and Ohio State.
The Spartans exacted revenge at the 2005 Big Ten Championships on April 30, winning the team title by just one point over Ohio State and 27 points over fourth-place Michigan. The team standings were so close that the team title was up for grabs right up to the last race on the day, and Michigan State's varisty boat (6:22.2) downed crews from Ohio State (6:23.5), Michigan (6:25.34) and Wisconsin (6:31.52) to claim both the individual and team championships.
The Spartans also met with the Wolverines and Buckeyes at the South/Central Sprints, where the MSU came in fourth in the Central Region behind Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan. The three crews were also invited to the 2005 NCAA Championships, where the Spartans placed 10th to Ohio State's fourth and Michigan's eighth-place finishes.
The Spartans only saw action against one Duke crew in 2004-05, at the South/Central Sprints in the qualifying heat in the second varsity eight event. The Spartans finished in first, while Duke placed third.
Michigan State's first race is set to start at 9:00 Saturday, when Michigan State's second novice eight races against Michigan and Virginia.
Probable Lineups
1V8: Roz Bialczak, Joanna Brown, Christen Brown, Kate Burdick, Anne Cowan, Kirsten Rasanen, Abby Wieber, coxswain Beth Smith.
2V8: Kate Williamson, Ashley Johnson, Suzanne Buzzell, Kathy Syrowik, Jenna Peters, Christie Daiss, Sarah Schmidt, Paula Thoms, coxswain Katie Bitz.
1V4: Ashley Short, Liz Brennan, Renee Bloome, Julia Craig, coxswain Tamara Yantovsky.
2V4: Emily Topping, Katie Purcell, Jenny Stanton, Nicolette Clifford, coxswain Elena Montgomery.
1N8: Lauren Gamble, Abby Velting, Lauren DesArmo, Laura Janis, Ashley Wenneman, Sarah Kreft, Adanna Bustance, Kaitlin Duncan, coxswain Megan Piwowar.
2N8: Julie Ward, Lindsey Griffiths, Nancy Diehl, Sonya Plude, Jennifer Sidge, Sarah Mullkoff, Julia Martin, Marissa Caparaotta, coxswain Erica Meissner or Amanda Ruhno.
Saturday's Race Schedule
Morning Races
9:00: (2N8) MSU/UofM/UV
9:10: (1N8) MSU/UofM
9:30: (2V4) UofM/Duke/MSU
9:50: (1V4) Duke/UofM/MSU
10:10: (2V8) UofM/Duke/MSU
10:30: (1V8) Duke/UofM/MSU
Afternoon Races
1:00: (2N8) UofM/UV/MSU
1:20: (1N8) MSU/OSU
1:40: (2V4) OSU/Duke/MSU
2:00: (1V4) Duke/OSU/MSU
2:20: (2V8) OSU/Duke/MSU
2:40: (1V8) Duke/OSU/MSU
