Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Keep Hold on Boat of the Week Honors
4/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
April 19, 2011
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State's second varsity eight won the program's third Boat of the Week honor from the Big Ten, as the Spartans swept its three races against ranked competition at Virginia last week. MSU's varsity eight had won the honor in the two previous weeks.
The eighth-ranked Michigan State Spartans competed last weekend on Lake Monticello in Charlottesville, Va. The second varsity eight (coxswain Alyse Egner, Nikki Bade, Michielle Sosa, Bree Walkowiak, Joscelyn Smith, Shelby Motoligin, Hannah Champ, Claire Vandelinder and Brianna Lakanen.) The eight knocked off host No. 2 Virginia in 7:21.50 (a 5.6-second margin), No. 3 USC in 6:54.4 (a 6.4-second advantage) and No. 18 Texas with a time of 6:31.60 (a 4.5 second win). MSU's three open-water victories were the highlights of the weekend, as the Spartans took on some of the top out-of-region opponents in the country.
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 last week's 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, had three ranked opponents last weekend, and will wrap up dual racing this week at No. 10 Ohio State with No. 15 Washington State. The Spartans are the highest-ranked of the Big Ten teams..
2011 Big Ten Boats of the Week
March 22: Minnesota Second Varsity Eight
March 29: Indiana First Varsity Eight
April 5: Michigan State First Varsity Eight
April 12: Michigan State First Varsity Eight
April 19: Michigan State Second Varsity Eight
