Michigan State University Athletics
Rowers Kick Off 2010 Season With Virginia
3/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
March 12, 2010
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State kicks off its 13th season of varsity rowing this weekend when it faces off with Virginia. Rowing starts at 9 a.m. on Lake Monticello. The Spartans, two-time defending Big Ten Champions, are anxious to get the season underway. With a significant number of returning student-athletes with NCAA experience and with hosting the upcoming Big Ten Championships in March, the collective eyes of the program are on another successful campaign.
The Cavaliers finished last season ranked second in the final Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/US Rowing national poll; MSU was seventh. The Spartans are coming off a sixth-place team finish at the NCAA Championships, where they tied their best-ever finish at the National Championship regatta. Virginia finished fourth at last year's NCAA's.
The Spartans return six rowers and the coxswain from last year's varsity eight crew, and 13 rowers overall who participated in the NCAA Championships last season. Returning for the Spartans are 2009 CRCA All-American Emily Regan (Williamsville, NY), as well as Second Team All-Central Region picks Laura Cowal (Thorold, Ontario), Michelle Mussett (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) and coxswain Amanda McGeachie (Sidney, British Columbia).
This season-opening race wraps up MSU's spring training trip, where the crews row in a southern locale to ensure warmer temperatures. This year, the Spartans will return to a forecast that should have them practicing in better-than-ideal spring weather: the forecast in Lansing for the coming week is temperatures in the high 50's.
