Sept. 17, 2003
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THIS WEEK: The University of Iowa rowing team will travel to Milwaukee, WI, Saturday for the Milwaukee River Challenge. Racing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
THE COMPETITION: Men and women collegiate and club rowers from around the midwest will compete on a 2.2 mile course on the Milwaukee River. Iowa will be competing against Wisconsin, Wheaton, Purdue, Marquette, Northwestern, Saint Thomas, Lincoln Park, Picnic Point, Lawrence, Mendota and Milwaukee.
RACE FORMAT: The race will consist of two races in opposite directions over the same water. Each race will be separately timed with the lowest combined time being the grand winner.
SEASON OUTLOOK: The Hawkeye Women’s rowing team enters this season with a young but enthusiastic team. Fitness and universal technique have turned out to be the main focus of the fall season. The Novice squad has gotten off to a tremendous start with over 90 athletes trying out for the team. Over 40 were selected for the squad. They are considered very athletic and talented which bodes well for the future.
LAST SEASON: The Hawkeyes finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships with 99 points. Three of the four boats that competed at the Big Ten meet and the Central Sprints medaled. The Varsity Eight posted an undefeated dual season record and climbed to a season-best ranking of 15th nationally during the 2003 spring season.
HEAD COACH: Mandi Kowal is in her tenth year as head coach of the Hawkeyes. Her most recent accomplishments include leading Iowa to the NCAA Championship meet three of the past seven years. Kowal was a two-time rowing World Champion in the Women’s Lightweight Four without coxswain in 1986 and 1987. She was named “Female Athlete of the Year” in 1987 by the US Rowing Association and was inducted into the United States Rowing Hall of Fame in 1997.