Oct. 20, 2003
THIS WEEK: The University of Iowa rowing team will host the 15th annual Head of the Iowa Regatta in Iowa City Sunday. The race will be held on the Iowa River, beginning at Crandic Park and ending near the Iowa Memorial Union. Racing is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.
THE COMPETITION: The Hawkeyes will be competing against several strong teams, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Drake.
LAST WEEK: The Hawkeye Varsity Eight, comprised of Jenny Steilen, Megan Manijak, Lydia McGee, Michelle Trannel, Katie Moe, Emily Wagstrom, Kathleen Lehman, Emily Vail, and Nikki Stob finished 18th overall and 13th collegiately in the women’s Championship Eight race. The second Varsity Eight finished fifth in the women’s Club Eight race.
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.
ASSISTANT COACHES: Wendy Wisehart is in her sixth season as assistant coach for the Hawkeyes, while Laura Macfarlane is in her second year with the Hawkeyes. Wisehart is responsible for the Novice squad and is the Recruiting Coordinator for the program. Before returning to Iowa, Wisehart served as the head rowing coach at New York University (1996-1998). A former Hawkeye rower, Wisehart was a member of the 1992 Iowa Lightweight Four National Championship team. Before coming to Iowa, Macfarlane was the novice coach at Wisconsin (2001-2002) and an assistant rowing coach at Sacramento State (2000-2001). As a former Wisconsin rower, Macfarlane won three Midwest Rowing Championship titles, an IRA title and medalled twice at the Eastern Sprints in 1996 and 1997.
NEXT COMPETITION: The Head of the Iowa will conclude the fall season for the Iowa women’s rowing team.