Badger Second Varsity Eight Reaches NCAA Grand Final
May 27, 2006 | Women's Rowing
Wisconsin made history during its fourth trip to the NCAA rowing championships, Saturday, qualifying one of its eights, the second varsity eight, into a Sunday grand final for the first time. The Badgers varsity eight and varsity four also competed on day two of the 2006 NCAA Rowing Championships on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.
Racing in the second repechage heat, the Badger second varsity eight clocked a 6:36.600 to win repechage two and advance to Sunday's grand final, assuring themselves a top-six finish in the event. Princeton also qualified out of the heat with a 6:38.132 for second place. They will be joined by Brown and Ohio State, winners of Friday heats in the event, as well as California and Washington, the top two boats from repechage one.
'The 2V had a great race,' said head coach Bebe Bryans. 'They led from the start and really gutted it out and controlled the race from start to finish. Michigan State and Princeton put on some good moves, but we were able to follow the race plan, control the pace of the event and get it done. They will be our flagship tomorrow. '
The varsity four also raced in a repechage heat, but finished fourth and failed to qualify for Sunday's grand final. Washington State won the repechage in 7:19.111, while Washington also qualified in second with a time of 7:19.932. The Badgers were off the pace with their time of 7:27.022. Wisconsin will now race in Sunday's petite final for places seven through 12.
'The four raced great as well,' Bryans added. 'They went a little bit faster today, and came up short as far as making the grand final, but they and are confident and really looking forward to racing successfully tomorrow.'
The Badgers varsity eight raced in Saturday's third-level final, placing third in 6:43.501. The result puts the Badgers in 16th place for the event. Tennessee won the third-level final in 6:38.073, followed by Boston University in 6:42.501.
'The varsity eight is such a competitive event now and we just weren't quite as sharp and as strong as we were hoping to be,' analyzed Bryans. 'They raced really well and felt good about their piece. It was a little bit of a bittersweet way to end the championship for them, but we are at the highest level of racing and that is what we will expect to improve upon next year.'
Wisconsin completes its season on Sunday, looking for a high finish in the second varsity eight and a solid performance in the petite final of the varsity four. Racing begins Sunday at 9:30 a.m. CT with the varsity four petite final against Tennessee, Princeton, Stanford, Notre Dame and Yale. The second varsity eight grand final matches Wisconsin against Brown, Ohio State, Princeton, California and Washington State at 10:15 a.m.
Schools with boats in each of the grand finals, giving them the best chance at the NCAA title, include Brown, Ohio State, California and Washington State. Michigan State and Princeton both have boats in two of the three grand finals.
