March 27, 2006
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THIS WEEK: The University of Iowa rowing team will host Wisconsin, Minnesota and Creighton Saturday. Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. and conclude at 8 a.m. Times are tentative, depending on the weather.
THE RACE: Races will be held on Lake McBride in Solon, IA, approximately 14 miles north of Iowa City. The course distance is 2000 meters. Iowa will be racing in the Varsity 8, 2nd Varsity 8, Novice 8, 2nd Novice 8 and 3rd Novice 4.
EARLIER COMPETITION: The Hawkeyes faced Minnesota in two fall regattas. At the Head of the Charles, Minnesota came in 14th in the women’s championship eights. Iowa finished 17th in the same race. Minnesota, Wisconsin and Creighton competed at the Head of the Iowa. Minnesota won the open eight; Wisconsin took second and third; Iowa finished fourth; and Creighton finished 16th. Wisconsin finished second in the novice eight race, Minnesota was third, Creighton finished ninth and the Hawkeyes came in 14th.
RANKINGS: Minnesota’s varsity eight boat is ranked 19th in the latest Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing poll. Wisconsin is ranked eighth. Iowa’s boat received seven votes in the poll.
LAST TIME OUT: The Hawkeye rowers began their official spring season last weekend when they competed at the Longhorn Invitational in Austin, TX. They faced boats from Kansas State, Duke, Texas, Miami and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes won both varsity races against Kansas State, but were defeated in two novice races. Iowa had one victory against each Texas, Duke and Miami.
HEAD COACH: Mandi Kowal is in her 12th year as head coach of the Hawkeyes. In the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Rowing Championships, she coached the Varsity 4+ teams to fourth and eighth-places finishes, respectively. Kowal began her rowing career at the University of Wisconsin in 1981. She was a two-time rowing World Champion in the Women’s Lightweight 4- (1986-1987). 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.
QUOTING COACH KOWAL: “We are looking forward to our upcoming race weekend. We have some very strong crews coming to Lake McBride, which will create an intense atmosphere. We will be focusing on executing our race plan as practiced. Hopefully, we will improve our effectiveness as a crew and our overall results.”