May 7, 2007
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THIS WEEK: The University of Iowa women’s rowing team will travel to Oakridge, TN, for the Aramark Central Region Sprints. Races will take place on Hill Lake and begin at 9 a.m.
2006 ARAMARK CENTRAL REGION SPRINTS: Iowa competed in four different events at last year’s sprints, including the novice eight, the varsity four and first and second varsity eights. Overall, the Hawkeyes finished 12th in the competition. In the first varsity eight race, Iowa raced in Final B and finished sixth. Iowa’s first novice eight boat finished sixth in Final B. Iowa came in fifth in Final C of the first varsity four. In the second varsity eight race, the Hawkeyes took second place in Final C.
LAST TIME OUT: The Hawkeyes traveled to Lake Wingra in Madison, WI, for the Big Ten Championships. Crews dealt with strong cross tailwinds throughout the day on the 1,810 meter course. The lone Iowa medalist came from the novice eight team securing third place and a bronze medal. The second novice eight was in contention for a medal when the Iowa crew caught a crab and placed fourth. Both novice eights placed in the grand finals. In varsity action, Iowa came back in the afternoon to take a win over Indiana in the petite finals of the varsity eights. Iowa placed second and third in the second varsity eight petite finals and the varsity fours petite final, respectively. Overall, the Hawkeyes scored 49 points and finished sixth in the team standings.
BIG TEN HONOREES: Three Hawkeyes were recognized at the Big Ten Championships. Sophomore Melissa Wordelman was awarded with the Big Ten Sportmanship award. Senior Lori Rehel was recognized on the first team all-conference team, while senior Janelle Cross earned second team all-conference honors.
HEAD COACH: Mandi Kowal is in her 13th 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: “The 2007 Aramark South-Central Region Sprints look to be one of the most competitive fields to date, for this regatta. The spring weather has proved to be challenging for the majority of the teams, which did create some interesting races results. This weekend could easily be a continuation of that trend. It will be important to arrive ready and focused, because if you would like to advance to a higher level final you better make sure to have your best race of the spring. We always look forward to this event because the racing is very intense, this year will be no different.”
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