GOPHERS START SPRING SEASON AGAINST TENNESSEE
The University of Minnesota rowing team will compete against Tennessee, this Saturday at Oak Ridge, Tenn. Both teams start their spring season this weekend after successful NCAA performances last year. The Gophers are competing against the Lady Vols during their spring break trip.
THE LAST TIME
Minnesota’s First Varsity Eight defeated No. 9 Tennessee and No. 11 Notre Dame in all three rounds in a three-team competition, in Knoxville, Tenn. Overall, the Golden Gophers won 11 of 18 races contested. The event took place on the Fort Loudoun Lake on a 1,500-meter course. Minnesota’s quest started when it drew the first lane in the 1V8 first round. The Gophers, who are ranked 13th in the first poll of the season, had coxswain Megan Flannery, Cheryl Wick at stroke, Berit Tomten, Jenny Barnes, Sally Olson, Vilma Stragyte, Erika Bartkute, Maggie Armstrong and Jenna Buskohl winning the event in a time of 4:48.7. The Gophers’ 1V8 added a win in the second round in a time of 4:51.1, while tallying the clean sweep in a time of 4:53.9 in the third and final round. In Second Varsity Eight action, Minnesota earned second-place finishes in all three rounds. The Gophers’ boat of Kaja Tally, Mary Ann Weinzierl at stroke, Laura Jatautaite, Kit Casey, Ashley Vilmo, Sarah Graham, Heidi Becthel and Katie Johnson at bow improved their time each round in 4:57.1 (first round), 4:56.8 (second round) and 4:55.7 (third round). Tennessee won all three rounds, while Notre Dame came in third.
GOPHERS' FIRST VARSITY EIGHT RANKED 13TH IN POLLS
The University of Minnesota's First Varsity Eight is ranked 13th in the Preseason polls, announced on March 15 by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing poll. Yale, the 1V8 champion last year, is ranked first, followed by Virginia, Brown, Southern Cal and Ohio State. Minnesota's opponent, Tennesee, is ranked seventh overall. The first regular season poll will be released on March 26.
FALL RECAP
Minnesota opened its fall season with a 13th-place finish at the 43rd annual Head of the Charles. The Golden Gophers held the second-highest finish in the Big Ten Conference with Michigan finishing third overall. Minnesota's boat of coxswain Megan Flannery, Laura Jatautaite at stroke, Rebekah Brzozowski, All-American Jenny Barnes, Ashlee Vilmo, Sarah Graham, Mary Ann Weinzierl, Lauren Van Proosdy and Tina Cho finished with a time of 16:53.101. The US Rowing Princeton Training Center won the event in a time of 15:26.572, while London Training Center placed second in 15:39.412. The Gophers then finished the 2007 fall season on a high note, competing at the Cal-Sag Collegiate Regatta in Chicago, Ill. The Gophers had four varsity boats compete in the regatta with three finishing in the top 11 overall.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota will open the Big Ten season as it travels to Iowa, April 5 in Iowa City. The Gophers will then host back-to-back weekends when Michigan State and Michigan come to town, Saturday, April 19. Kansas will visit Lake Phalen the following week on April 26.
