Indiana University Athletics
Peterson, IU Ready for Spring Season
4/2/2016 1:15:00 PM | Women's Rowing
By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - Admittedly, Steve Peterson isn't particularly fond of national rankings.
Indiana's head rowing coach said there's too many factors that go into a team's strengths and weaknesses to measure, especially in the preseason before boats have actually raced against each other. He'd rather simply line up his boats against other boats and see who's truly fastest.
Sunday, Peterson will get just that. No. 12 Indiana will open its 2016 racing season with the Big Ten/ACC Double Dual against No. 15 Louisville and Iowa at Lake Lemon in Bloomington.
"I know we are going to be fast again this year, but how fast? Who knows," Peterson said. "Time will tell, but I am very confident in what this team has done this year."
After a schedule change moved all the activity to Sunday, the regatta will begin at 10 a.m. with the Hoosiers lining up against the Hawkeyes and Cardinals. The teams will compete in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four, second varsity four, novice/third varsity eight, and third varsity four races.
Originally, Notre Dame was scheduled to compete but was unable to attend after weather prompted all of Saturday's activity to be pushed to Sunday.
"This weekend is going to provide a great early season test of where we are at," Peterson said. "We have had some workouts and scrimmages with other teams already this spring and those results have been pretty positive, but there is nothing like the first time you are officially sitting on the line next to an opponent for the first race of the season."
There's always a hint of unknown in regards to early-season speed, but Peterson said he's been pleased with his team's results in recent practice trips.
The Hoosiers spent last weekend scrimmaging Michigan and Michigan State in Ann Arbor, Michigan and managed to practice in both Bloomington and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, over spring break.
"The training has gone well the past few weeks," Peterson said. "We have continued to get in a lot of mileage on water and the rowing machines as we work on figuring out what are the best combination of rowers that work best together."
The latter includes replacing the likes of All-American rower Meradith Dickensheets and a 2015 senior class that did the bulk of the work on the varsity eight boat that Indiana has developed a strong reputation for over in recent years.
The program is beginning a new season looking for a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, IU placed 11th out of 22 teams in the NCAA Tournament with the varsity eight finishing 10th.
"I think in any successful team in any sport, there always has to be that 'next man up' approach, and our sport is no different," Peterson said. "It happens every year. How well those leaders have taken over has a big impact on how the team will do."
As far as expectations go, Peterson expects to pick up where last season left off.
Now in his 13th year in Bloomington, Peterson has built Indiana's program from the bottom up a point where competing in the national championships is becoming the norm. That transition came slowly, as it often does with rowing, but Peterson said he likes where the program is at.
Indiana won't qualify for the NCAA Championships this weekend, per se, but it will reveal how close the Hoosiers are to where they need to be. With a schedule as compact as rowing's, there isn't much time to wait on speed to show up.
"I think the biggest challenge for us is not whether or not we will be strong enough or fit enough, but instead it is about getting the nine individuals in the crews to be on the same page and act, think and move together as one," Peterson said. "That is what really determines if a crew will be fast or not."
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - Admittedly, Steve Peterson isn't particularly fond of national rankings.
Indiana's head rowing coach said there's too many factors that go into a team's strengths and weaknesses to measure, especially in the preseason before boats have actually raced against each other. He'd rather simply line up his boats against other boats and see who's truly fastest.
Sunday, Peterson will get just that. No. 12 Indiana will open its 2016 racing season with the Big Ten/ACC Double Dual against No. 15 Louisville and Iowa at Lake Lemon in Bloomington.
"I know we are going to be fast again this year, but how fast? Who knows," Peterson said. "Time will tell, but I am very confident in what this team has done this year."
After a schedule change moved all the activity to Sunday, the regatta will begin at 10 a.m. with the Hoosiers lining up against the Hawkeyes and Cardinals. The teams will compete in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four, second varsity four, novice/third varsity eight, and third varsity four races.
Originally, Notre Dame was scheduled to compete but was unable to attend after weather prompted all of Saturday's activity to be pushed to Sunday.
"This weekend is going to provide a great early season test of where we are at," Peterson said. "We have had some workouts and scrimmages with other teams already this spring and those results have been pretty positive, but there is nothing like the first time you are officially sitting on the line next to an opponent for the first race of the season."
There's always a hint of unknown in regards to early-season speed, but Peterson said he's been pleased with his team's results in recent practice trips.
The Hoosiers spent last weekend scrimmaging Michigan and Michigan State in Ann Arbor, Michigan and managed to practice in both Bloomington and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, over spring break.
"The training has gone well the past few weeks," Peterson said. "We have continued to get in a lot of mileage on water and the rowing machines as we work on figuring out what are the best combination of rowers that work best together."
The latter includes replacing the likes of All-American rower Meradith Dickensheets and a 2015 senior class that did the bulk of the work on the varsity eight boat that Indiana has developed a strong reputation for over in recent years.
The program is beginning a new season looking for a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Last year, IU placed 11th out of 22 teams in the NCAA Tournament with the varsity eight finishing 10th.
"I think in any successful team in any sport, there always has to be that 'next man up' approach, and our sport is no different," Peterson said. "It happens every year. How well those leaders have taken over has a big impact on how the team will do."
As far as expectations go, Peterson expects to pick up where last season left off.
Now in his 13th year in Bloomington, Peterson has built Indiana's program from the bottom up a point where competing in the national championships is becoming the norm. That transition came slowly, as it often does with rowing, but Peterson said he likes where the program is at.
Indiana won't qualify for the NCAA Championships this weekend, per se, but it will reveal how close the Hoosiers are to where they need to be. With a schedule as compact as rowing's, there isn't much time to wait on speed to show up.
"I think the biggest challenge for us is not whether or not we will be strong enough or fit enough, but instead it is about getting the nine individuals in the crews to be on the same page and act, think and move together as one," Peterson said. "That is what really determines if a crew will be fast or not."
Players Mentioned
Varsity
/ Women's RowingFB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16