2006 Big Ten Rowing Championship Seeds Announced
April 25, 2006 | Women's Rowing
Three of the seven conference rowing programs, including three boats from Wisconsin, have claimed top seeds for the 2006 Big Ten Women's Rowing Championships. The seventh annual event, hosted by the University of Minnesota, is set for Saturday, April 29 on Lake Phalen in St. Paul, Minn.
Wisconsin enters this Saturday's event with three No. 1 seeds. Directed by UW novice coach Nicole Borges, the Badgers' Novice Eight is coming off an undefeated performance on April 15 when the squad topped conference foes Michigan and Michigan State. UW's Second Varsity Four and Second Novice Eight also received No. 1 seeds. The Badgers are led by head coach Bebe Bryans.
Ohio State's I Varsity Eight crew, currently ranked No. 5 in the nation, is the top boat in that event. The Buckeyes ranked as high as No. 4 and never fell below No. 7 this season in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll. The squad earned Big Ten Boat of the Week honors on April 4 after recording three victories on April 2 following the ACC/Big Ten Duals in Columbus, Ohio, when the Buckeyes defeated then-No. 3 Virginia, then-No. 13 Michigan State and Duke.
Ohio State has also claimed the No. 1 seed in the II Varsity Eight race at this year's championships. The Buckeye 2V8 squad earned Big Ten weekly honors on April 11 of this season after knocking off Tennessee and USC the previous weekend to extend its winning streak to four dual victories at that time. Coach Andy Teitelbaum's team will vie for its second conference crown, as the Buckeyes won the Big Ten Championships title in 2002.
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Matt Weise, the defending Big Ten Champion Michigan State has clamed the top seed in the I Varsity Four race. The Spartans notched No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds in the Varsity races as the 2V8 squad will enter its race at No. 2 and the 1V8 at No. 3. Both boats clamed weekly laurels this season as the I Varsity Eight was named Boat of the Week on April 18 and the II Varsity Eight earned the accolade on March 28.
Michigan has won the most league titles in the history of the event with four - 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004, while Michigan State (2005) and Ohio State (2002) have each claimed one crown.
Complete 2006 Big Ten Championships seeds are as follows:
