The University of Minnesota rowing team closed out the fall season with a fourth-place finish at the Rivanna Romp in Charlottesville, Va. The Golden Gophers were five one-hundredths from finishing in a tie for third place with Tennessee. The Gophers competed in just the one race in the Varsity Eight competition and placed fourth out of 28 competitors.

Virginia won the event in a time of 13:12.43, while Ohio State finished second (13:27.05) and Tennessee finished third (13:29.57). Competing for the Gophers was Berit Tomten at stroke, Cheryl Wick, Vilma Stragyte, Maggie Armstrong at the No. 5 seat, Jennifer Barnes, Sally Olson, Laura Jatautaite, Jenna Buskohl at bow and Megan Flannery as the coxswain.

"We actually had to race twice today because the timing system wasn't working properly," head coach Wendy Davis said. "We had everything loaded up, but then asked us to race again. It's the first time in 20 years that I have ever seen that happen. I think we handled the situation really well and we did a great job. We doubled our racing in one day."

Minnesota will open its championship season on March 11, 2007 when it competes against Louisville in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Varsity Eight Race (28 entries)
1. Virginia 13:12.43
2. Ohio State 13:27.05
3. Tennessee 13:29.57
4. Minnesota 13:29.62