Spartans Prepare for Weekend Races Against Ranked Teams
4/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
April 14, 2011
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State, ranked eighth in the most recent CRCA/US Rowing Coaches poll, heads to Charlottesville, Virginia this weekend for racing against a trio of ranked opponents. MSU will take on defending National Champion and No. 2 Virginia in addition to No. 3 Southern Cal, No. 13 Clemson and No. 18 Texas.
Racing begins on Saturday against Virginia at 9:10 for the Spartans, with races on 10-minute centers building to the varsity eight race at 11 am. Saturday afternoon will be MSU vs. Clemson and USC, and Sunday will be MSU vs. the No. 18 Longhorns. No. 17 UCLA will also be racing in Charlottesville this weekend, but MSU will not race the Bruins head-to-head.
The Spartans are coming off a split of its competition in its only home race this season, as MSU was edged by Wisconsin in the morning before rebounding with a commanding performance against Minnesota in the afternoon session. The Spartan varsity eight defeated both the Badgers and Gophers by open-water margins to claim their second consecutive Big Ten Boat of the Week honor.
Michigan State has tackled a challenging slate so far this season, with little letup in the coming weeks. In all, nine of MSU's opponents are in the CRCA Top 20, and two others are receiving votes. MSU raced No. 1 Princeton and No. 6 Brown in the season's first weekend, took on Indiana (RV) at the Dale England Cup, has three ranked opponents this weekend, and will wrap up dual racing next weekend at No. 10 Ohio State with No. 14 Michigan and No. 15 Washington State. The Spartans are the highest-ranked of the Big Ten teams.
"By racing quality teams, you get a better measure of where your crew is," said head coach Matt Weise. "I like the challenge of racing against good crews, and it is also a bonus in that when we line up for championship competition later on, it's something that we're familiar with. We are still working and tweaking, trying to find those little things that help make us faster and more consistent."
April 16, 2011 - at Virginia with USC, Texas
Varsity Eight: S-Cowal; 7-Maibusch; 6- Neuder; 5-Breton; 4- Bochenek; 3-Carter; 2-Campbell; B-Campbell; C- McGeachie
Second Varsity Eight:
S-Lakanen; 7- Bade; 6-Sosa; 5-Walkowiak; 4-Smith; 3-Motoligin; 2-Champ; B-Vandelinder; S-Egner
Varsity Four:
S-Hawthorne; 3-Leighton; 2-Dimauro; B- Holliday; C-Evely
Second Varsity Four:
: S-Dejong ; 3-Palmer; 2-Ludes; B-Shynal; C-Rockwell
Novice Eight (Third Eight):
S-Pucci, 7 -Geelhoed, 6 - Molter, 5 -Lapointe, 4 - Wood, 3- Anderson, 2 - Garzaniti, B- Christiansen; C- Pawlowski