March 31, 2009
THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa women’s rowing team will split up to continue its spring season this weekend. 1V8 and 2V8 boats will travel to San Diego, CA, for the San Diego Crew Classic Saturday and Sunday, while novice 8’s and 4’s, along with the remaining varsity 8’s and 4’s, will compete at Wisconsin Saturday.
SCHOOLS ATTENDING CREW CLASSIC — The Hawkeyes are prepared for some tough competition in San Diego as four of their eight competitors are highly ranked in the nation. Iowa’s first heat of the weekend will consist of Washington (#4), Michigan (#15), Oregon State (#18), Notre Dame (#20) and the University of California-Davis. Racing in Iowa’s second heat will be Washington, UCLA, Notre Dame, St. Mary’s and Orange Coast College.
LAST EVENT — Before being forced to cancel their only home event due to inclement weather, the Hawkeyes had a successful weekend at the Longhorn Invitational in Austin, TX. With six events on Friday and Sunday, along with 12 on Saturday, the Hawkeyes managed to place first in 16 of 24 events. The 1V8+ boat of seniors Kristin Kelly, Laura Kanaris and Sheila Rinozzi, juniors Megan Erickson, Emily Vinson and Emily Katalinich and sophomores Haylie Miller, Clara Francois and Jess Novack went undefeated through all four of their races.
HEAD COACH — Mandi Kowal is in her 15th 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 — “Any time a team enters an event against nationally-ranked teams, it provides them with a chance to advance their performance We would be no different. We are all looking forward to this challenge, and expect to come away a better team after the weekend. As the Varsity 8’s race in San Diego, our Varsity 4’s and Novice squad get the opportunity to race nationally-ranked Wisconsin. It is our expectation to come back together as a team in a better place.”
QUOTING COACH RODOSKY — “Wisconsin is always a tough Big Ten team, so it is great to have this chance to race a great crew while our V8 and 2V8 are out in San Diego. We will be able to see how we stack up within the Big Ten and see what we need to work on as we move towards the Big Ten Duals and Championships in the upcoming weeks.”