Wisconsin Third at NCAA Central-South Rowing Regional
May 15, 2005 | Women's Rowing
No. 14 Wisconsin women's openweight rowing repeated its 2004 effort with a third-place finish at the 2005 NCAA Central-South Regional, Sunday on Melton Hill Lake.
The same three teams took first, second and third this year as last, with Virginia winning, Ohio State placing second and the Badgers taking third. The Cavaliers won the title with 372 points, while the Buckeyes totaled 366 and the Badgers, 324. Michigan's 317 was good for fourth place.
In the big three events, the Badgers placed fourth in the varsity eight, fifth in the second varsity eight and third in the varsity four to make a strong case for inclusion in the 12-team NCAA championship. The field will be announced Tuesday. The UW was selected last year after its varsity eight took fifth, second varsity eight took fourth and varsity four took second at this same event.
'It was a really great day. Everybody raced well,' said head coach Bebe Bryans. 'The varsity four was our medallist today - they came third in their race - but I think the highlight of the day was the varsity eight taking fourth. They raced extremely well in a very tight race from the first stroke of the race to the last. We 're really pleased with them.'
In this year's varsity eight, Wisconsin finished fourth, but second among Big Ten schools, in the last event of the day. No. 4 Ohio State won the event in 6:27.50, followed by No. 11 Tennessee in 6:29.61 and No. 9 Virginia in 6:29.91. The Badgers clocked a 6:34.91 to best No. 7 Michigan's 6:36.16 and third-ranked and Big Ten-champion Michigan State's, 6:42:41.
The second varsity eight went to Virginia in 6:33.30, with Ohio State finishing less than a second back in 6:34.12. Michigan State (6:38.96) and Michigan (6:39.17), also finsihed ahead of fifth-place Wisconsin (6:44.86).
Seeded third in the varsity four heading into the weekend, third is where the Badgers finished. Virginia's time of 7:24.40 over the 2,000-meter course won the race, with Michigan State second in 7:31.94 and the UW third in 7:35.84. Michigan, Notre Dame and Minnesota rounded out the top six.
In the first two races of the day for the Badgers, Wisconsin took second behind Ohio State in the open four and sixth in the novice eight. Michigan took home the title in the novice eight race.
Wisconsin now waits to find out if its season continues. The 12-team field for the 2005 NCAA Rowing Championship in Rancho Cordova, Calif., May 27-29, will be made Tuesday. An additional four varsity eights will also be sent to compete in the championship. The Badgers can make it two-straight NCAA appearances for the first time since the event began in 1997. Should the Badgers get selected, it would be their third appearance overall.
'We are very excited to hear about the selection for nationals,' added Bryans. 'We feel confident our performance today will shed us in a very good light. We're anxious and hoping that things go our way. '
The team will gather Tuesday afternoon in the community room of Porter Boathouse to listen in on the NCAA selection conference call. More information regarding the gathering will be made available on Monday.
