Four of five Badger crews reach Sunday grand finals
May 16, 2009 | Women's Rowing
Fourteenth-ranked Wisconsin women's openweight rowing put four of its five crews into Sunday grand finals after the first day of racing on Saturday at the 2009 NCAA Central/South Regional on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Wisconsin's varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight and open four all advanced to the finals after racing in heats and semifinals on Saturday. The novice eight and open four reached the finals with perfect days, winning morning heats and afternoon semifinal races. UW's varsity eight also won its morning heat, then advanced to the grand final by taking third in one of two semifinals. UW's second varsity eight also placed third in semifinal racing to advance. Wisconsin's varsity four, which placed fourth in its semifinal, will race in Sunday's petite final in the event.
In the headlining varsity eight, the Badgers came out scorching, posting the fastest time of the morning heats with a 6:19.7 to win its heat over No. 8 Ohio State. The Buckeyes clocked a 6:22.36. Central Florida (6:17.36) finished in third to grab the last ticket to the semifinals from the heat. Tennessee and Alabama took four and fifth, respectively.
Racing for the first time together this season, the varsity eight included coxswain Claire Geiger, Theresa Shields, Maggie Galloway, Bailey Thompson, Vicki Optiz, Grace Latz, Meryl Chaffee, Katie Hurtis and Katie Haver.
The second varsity eight did its job in the semifinals as well, timing 6:19.2 over 2000 meters, less than one second behind second-place Michigan. Ohio State took the semifinal in 6:14.5, but all three crews reached the grand final with the result.
The novice eight reached the grand finals with ease, winning its morning heat by seven seconds and its semifinal by just over three seconds.
Battling heavy fog that delayed the start of racing at least a half hour to start the day, UW's open four cruised into the semifinals by registering over a nine-second victory over second-place Virginia B. The boat then rowed to a nearly four-second margin of victory over Ohio State in the semifinals.
The varsity four fell short to make it a clean sweep, like Ohio State, Michigan, Virginia and Clemson, all who put all three of its varsity crews in the grand finals. The Badger varsity four took fourth in its semifinal, behind Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan.
The Badgers resume action Sunday at 9:30 a.m. CT with the grand final of the open four. The day culminates in the varsity eight grand final at 10:50 a.m. CT. The Badgers will face Ohio State, Virginia, Michigan, Michigan State and Clemson in the varsity eight grand final. All five crews are ranked higher than Wisconsin.
