Badgers Fifth at Big Ten Rowing
April 29, 2006 | Women's Rowing
Wisconsin women's openweight rowing won the novice eight and placed second in the second novice eight to finish fifth as a team at the 2006 Big Ten Rowing Championships Saturday. The event took place on a 1,940-meter course on Lake Phalen in St. Paul, Minn. Conditions for the race included 13-15 mile per hour winds and rain and the race schedule was switched so the varsity eight raced first in both the heats and finals to insure the top boats got their races completed.
Despite the challenging conditions, the UW novice program continued its strong season with the school's third novice eight title in the seven years of the event. Wisconsin rowed a 7:06.5 to win the top novice race and earn 14 points for the team. Indiana was second in the race at 7:15.1.
Wisconsin placed second in the second novice eight, dropping the race for the first time in Big Ten championships history. Minnesota won in 7:21.0, followed by the Badgers in 7:25.1.
The Badgers' top finish in a varsity race was third place in the varsity four. Minnesota took the race in 7:39.5, while the Badgers were in third in 7:50.1.
Wisconsin also placed fourth in the second varsity eight, but failed to make the final in both the varsity eight and second varsity eight, finishing fifth in both events.
Ohio State used wins in the varsity eight and second varsity eight to capture the team title with 130 points. Minnesota, which won the varsity four, placed third in the varsity eight and fourth in the second varsity eight, earned second place as a team with 121 points. Michigan State (113) and Michigan (112) rounded out the top four. Wisconsin totaled 88 points for its fifth-place result.
Named to the 2006 All-Big Ten team were first-team selection Emily Simonds and second-team honoree Kirby Gallie. Coxswain Megan Stevens was named the UW 's winner of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Wisconsin returns to the water on Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14 at the NCAA Central Regional on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
