Wisco Second Varsity Eight Highlights Day One of NCAAs
May 26, 2006 | Women's Rowing
Wisconsin's second varsity eight led the way on the first day of racing at the 2006 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships, Friday on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.
The UW second varsity eight placed second in heat two of two and looks to Saturday's repechage racing for a chance at making the Badgers' first NCAA grand final in one of the eight events. Wisconsin's time of 6:48.637 was off the winning pace of Brown, which rowed a 6:45.473, but was the second fastest in the second varsity eight of all 12 boats. Only the winner of the heats in the second varsity eights advance directly to Sunday's grand final, while the remaining 10 crews battle it out Saturday for one of four spots in the grand final. Brown and Ohio State qualified for the grand final.
Rowing in the UW second varsity eight were coxswain Meghan Bradshaw, Bryana Seifert, Shayla Dvorak, Lindsay Bush, Katie Helmrick, Maggie Galloway, Susan Masterson, Kim Ackerbauer and Stephanie Koepp.
In other racing, Wisconsin will race in a Saturday repechage of the varsity four after clocking 7:34.724 for fifth in heat two. Like the second varsity eight, only heat winner California (7:25.241) advances to the grand final. Wisconsin now competes against 10 other boats for four spots in Sunday's grand final. Brown won heat one to make the grand final.
The UW varsity eight placed fifth in heat two of three in the morning. Wisconsin clocked a 6:49.508 to finish over 10 seconds outside one of the top three semifinal spots. The result dropped the Badgers into the afternoon repechage with a second chance to qualify for the semifinals. In the afternoon, the Badgers finished sixth in 6:31.923 and will therefore race in Saturday's third level final to determine places 13-16 in the varsity eight.
Brown appeared to the winner of the day, winning heats in the second varsity eight and varsity four to advance both boats to Sunday grand finals, while winning its varsity eight heat to advance to Saturday's semifinal round. Ohio State and California appear in good shape to challenge for the national title as well. Ohio State is in the semifinals of the varsity eight and the repechage of the varsity four after getting edged by Brown in heats of both events, and has its second varsity eight in the grand final after winning its heat. California won its heats in the varsity eight and varsity four to advance to the semifinals and grand final, respectively, and finished second in its second varsity eight heat to Ohio State and dropped into a Saturday repechage for a chance to put all three of its boats in the grand final.
Racing for Wisconsin resumes Saturday at 8:30 a.m. CT with the varsity four repechages.
