May 15, 2011
MADISON, Wis. -- The 13th-ranked Wisconsin women’s openweight rowing program collected 121 points at Eagle Lake Park in Indianapolis on Sunday to place third at the 2011 Big Ten Rowing Championships. The highlight of the day for the Badgers came in the form of a conference title in the varsity four.
“I think we raced the way we were going to race,” said Head Coach Bebe Bryans. “We had some really good races. We had some pieces in which we wish could have been better. I think all-in-all today we did the best we were going do. That is all you can expect, though we all hoped for a little bit more than that. Ohio State, Michigan and the Michigan State varsity eight were able to find that something extra they needed on this championship day. I think we were good, but we weren’t good enough today.”
Entering the event as defending champions for the first time since the Big Ten rowing championships began in 2000, the Badgers remained in striking distance for a second consecutive conference title entering the final race. The Badgers trailed eventual champion Ohio State by just three points, with the Buckeyes leading the team scoring with 88 points. Wisconsin was second with 85 points, with Michigan right behind with 79 points.
In the headline race, and the one worth the most points, Michigan State captured the varsity eight in 6:17.12 for 2000 meters. Ohio State clinched its third Big Ten title with a 6:20.53 to take second in the race. Michigan jumped the Badgers for second place by taking third in the varsity eight in 6:21.01. The Badgers’ time of 6:27.61 gave them fourth in the varsity eight and third as a team.
Michigan State took control of the race from virtually the first stroke, while Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin were within about a half-length of each other at the 1000-meter mark. Ohio State then pulled away for second, with Michigan following close behind to capture third.
The Buckeyes earned 54 points for their second-place result in the varsity eight and finished with 142 points for their third Big Ten rowing title. Michigan took second as a team with 124 points, followed by the Badgers, just three points back with 121 points. Michigan State was fourth with 111 points.
“At any good championship, like this was, it was going to come down to the varsity eight and that’s exactly what happened,” said Bryans. “Michigan State found their best racing today and congratulations to them. Ohio State was solid all the way throughout. It was a little bit like us last year. They were able to put themselves in really good position and then capitalize on it. Congratulations to them.”
UW’s varsity four crew was one of the keys in UW’s success on the day, earning the team 21 points with its third conference title in the 12-year history of the event. The Badgers stroked to a 7:12.88 to win the race, outpacing second-place Michigan’s time of 7:15.60.
“I think the most exciting and unusual race was the varsity four,” explained Bryans. “We were in there the whole time battling with Michigan. Ohio State was up and we were charging hard on Ohio State, but it looked like we were going to run out of room. Ohio State’s bow seat caught a boat-stopping over-the-head crab that ended up ejecting her with about 100 meters, maybe 50 meters to go. They were able to get themselves to still come in third, but to our credit, we had put ourselves in position to capitalize on that. That was a really good race for us.”
The winning crew included coxswain Clare Chandler, Mollie Kryka, Shannon Hoffman, Shannon Schlack, and Katherine Hanes.
The Badgers second varsity eight also performed well, claiming second place behind Ohio State. The Buckeyes clocked a 6:25.33, outdueling Wisconsin’s time of 6:27.10. UW’s second varsity eight turned in a faster time than the varsity eight, though a dramatic change in conditions with increased winds factored into that result.
The Badgers posted two more second-place finishes, taking the runner-up spot in both the second novice eight and second varsity four events. The Badgers’ novice eight placed third in its event.
“The second varsity four had a really good race and the second novice eight had the race of their season, so that was exciting,” Bryans continued. “The second varsity eight was solid. I think they would have liked to race a little bit better. Their first 1000 was pretty good, but then they let Ohio State get away just a little bit.
“That was kind of the story of our day - some really good stuff. Good, solid strong day. We are third in the Big Ten, which is nothing to sneeze at. We were hoping to perform a little bit better than that, but you take what you get.”
Three Badgers earned recognition after the day, with sophomore Jacquelyn Koykkar earned 2011 First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Named to the 2011 All-Big Ten Second Team was senior Lisa Godhardt. Finally, junior Kate Mansfield was named UW’s 2011 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for women’s openweight rowing.
Now the Badgers wait for Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT, when the NCAA announces the 16-team field for the 2011 NCAA Rowing Championships. Selections will be announced and then posted at NCAA.com.
“We do not control our own destiny, which is unfortunate,” concluded Bryans. “That was one of the things we really hoped for. We wanted to come out of this regatta knowing, and we don’t. I think we were solid enough that we should go, but in looking at the results, it is as confusing as it has ever been.
“We are at the discretion of the selection committee. I believe they’ve made good decision’s pretty much every year. I think we should go, but I have no idea if we will.”
2011 Big Ten Rowing Championships
Lake Lilly
Eagle Creek Park
Indianapolis
May 15, 2011
2000 meters
Team Scores
Ohio State, 142
Michigan, 124
Wisconsin, 121
Michigan State, 111
Minnesota, 68
Indiana, 53
Iowa, 25
Varsity Eight
1. Michigan State (63), 6:17.12; 2. Ohio State (54), 6:20.53; 3. Michigan (45), 6:21.01; 4. Wisconsin (36), 6:27.61; 5. Indiana (27), 6:31.45; 6. Minnesota (18), 6:32.03; 7. Iowa (9), 6:36.85
UW Lineup: Coxswain Jane Roberts, Jacquelyn Koykkar, Hayley Leinss, Lauren Pietilla, Lisa Godhardt, Anna Schettle, Katelyn Swanson, Rachel Buchholtz, Vanessa Kleiss
Second Varsity Eight
1. Ohio State (42), 6:25.33; 2. Wisconsin (36), 6:27.10; 3. Michigan (30), 6:31.39; 4. Minnesota (24), 6:33.49; 5. Michigan State (18), 6:34.71; 6. Indiana, 6:44.23 (12); 7. Iowa (6), 6:47.96
UW Lineup: Coxswain Kendall Schmidt, Amy Slesar, Margaret Yale, Kate Mansfield, Briana Pittman, Hanna Lynch, Caitlin Mueller, Rebekah Foelker, Kirsten Morelli
Varsity Four
1. Wisconsin (21), 7:12.88; 2. Michigan (18), 7:15.60; 3. Ohio State (15), 7:20.48; 4. Michigan State (12), 7:20.56; 5. Minnesota (9), 7:22.01; 6. Indiana (6), 7:25.96; 7. Iowa (3), 7:33.61
UW Lineup: Cox Clare Chandler, Mollie Kryka, Shannon Hoffman, Shannon Schlack, Katherine Hanes
Second Varsity Four
1. Ohio State (14), 7:15.29; 2. Wisconsin (12), 7:23.21; 3. Michigan (10), 7:24.00; 4. Michigan State (8), 7:24.27; 5. Minnesota (6), 7:37.81; 6. Indiana (4), 7:42.05; 7. Iowa (2), 7:53.95
UW Lineup: Coxswain Beth Swanson, Alex Opitz, Melanie Moranski, Sara Watermolen, Nora Boneham
Novice Eight
1. Michigan (14), 6:36.76; 2. Ohio State (12), 6:37.60; 3. Wisconsin (10), 6:38.03; 4. Minnesota (8), 6:45.93; 5. Michigan State (6), 6:50.47; 6. Iowa (4), 6:51.52; 7. Indiana (2), 6:57.66
UW Lineup: Coxswain Elizabeth Paker, Kaitlin Dunn, Maggie Fitzgerald, Ciera Mead, Jena Wilder, Leah Gustafson, Cathy Randle, Monica Whitehouse, Kaitlyn Mayer
Second Novice Eight
1. Michigan (7), 6:44.67; 2. Wisconsin (6), 6:50.27; 3. Ohio State (5), 7:02.41; 4. Michigan State (4), 7:04.70; 5. Minnesota (3), 7:07.99; 6. Indiana (2), 7:12.66; 7. Iowa (1), 7:18.88
UW Lineup: Coxswain Soley Pitre, Kelsey Wallner, Emma Allmann, Charlotte Keleske, Caelainn Donnellan, Bethany Rieth, Sierra Fischer, Morgan Hormig, Sarah Tenpas
