Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Wisconsin
Hoosiers Fall to Wisconsin at Home, Dedicate Rowing Center
3/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
March 24, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana University rowing team fell to Wisconsin in its lone home event of the 2007 season on Saturday, March 24. The Hoosiers' varsity eight, second varsity eight and third varsity eight competed in three 1,500-meter pieces against the Badgers' varsity eight and second varsity eight.
On a perfect day on Lake Lemon, IU's second varsity eight and third varsity eight kicked off the event by taking on Wisconsin's second varsity eight. In the first piece, Wisconsin crossed the line first in a time of 5:09.4, while IU's second varsity eight of Madison Spruell (cox), Molly Sinks (stroke), Kourtney Beckham, Brittaney Norris, Emily Kasavana, Kiri Crane, Katie Feckler, Colleen Ryan and Kelsey Kapral (bow) followed in 5:12.8. The Hoosiers' third varsity eight of Michelle Marchese (cox), Sarah Tinsley (stroke), Elaine Deppe, Stephanie Hamilton, Jessica Keller, Stephanie Horvath, Stacey Young, Faye Sparks and Marla Alexander (bow) was third in 5:24.1.
It was the same finish in each of the final two pieces, as the Badgers took the second piece in 5:07.9 and the third in a time of 5:17.9. Indiana's second varsity eight had a time of 5:14.9 in the second piece and 5:22.65 in the final, while the third varsity eight crossed the line in 5:30.8 in the second piece and wrapped up the day with a time of 5:39.9 in the third piece. With the scrimmage format that was used on the day, Indiana able to mix up the lineups for each of the two boats competing in the second varsity eight pieces.
"Today was a great opportunity to switch some lineups around and take a look at different people as well as different lineups," Indiana assistant coach Carmen Mirochna said. "It would have been nice to see ourselves with closer margins to Wisconsin, especially in the second varsity boat, because I do feel that this program has a lot of depth. We do have a lot of the nuts and bolts, and that's where our 2V is going to show it. We've got some work to do, but I'm optimistic, because we've got some great athletes and some great people that want to make some good changes."
Indiana's varsity eight of Betsy Hibbard (cox), Jenn Maslanka (stroke), Jamie Spoto, Ashley Johnson, Laura Stebbins, Courtney Valerious, Laura Fuhrmann, Dana Powell, Rozzie McHenry (bow) finished second to Wisconsin's in all three of the pieces on Saturday. The Badgers went across the finish line in a time of 5:02.7 in the first piece to IU's 5:07.5. The margin between the two teams was almost the same in the second piece, 5:09.7 to 5:05.1, while Wisconsin wrapped up the day with a time of 5:10.7 in the third piece to Indiana's time of 5:17.5. Wisconsin's varsity eight is ranked 16th in the preseason USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll.
"We didn't win, but I think that today went pretty well," Indiana head coach Steve Peterson said. "We learned a lot. Wisconsin has not been on the water much, but that's definitely the closest that we've been to Wisconsin as far as the varsity eight and the second varsity eight are concerned. There are definitely things we can improve on, both technically and in how we approach the races. There's a lot of positives that come out of it and it basically means that we're moving in the right direction."
Indiana also dedicated the Dale England Rowing Center on Saturday. The facility includes a new locker room, a new team room, showers and restrooms. The dedication celebrated the completion of the first phase of the construction of the rowing center, which will eventually include new boat bays, a repair bay, coaches' offices, expanded storage and an erg room. Funding for the facility was donated by Dale England, father of former Indiana coxswain Becky England (2000-03).
In addition, Peterson announced that all future competitions between Indiana and Wisconsin will be battles for the Dale England Cup.
The Hoosiers will return to the water on Saturday, March 31, at Cincinnati. There, IU will take on the host Bearcats as well as crews from Dayton and Eastern Michigan.
