Iowa Opens Fall Season

Sept. 25, 2010

IOWA CITY, Iowa “The University of Iowa rowing team opened the 2010 fall season at the Head of the Des Moines Saturday, despite bad weather.

“I thought the team did a nice job handling the adverse conditions, the delay with our event, the difficult weather and slight change in race course,” said Head Coach Mandi Kowal.

The Hawkeyes dealt with uncooperative weather. The teams were delayed due to lightning, but were able to compete in the collegiate eights. Not long after the eighths, the regatta was cancelled due to bad weather.

All coaches agreed that it was a good call by the officials, as the rain, wind and the current were creating some unsafe conditions.

“Our two eights had very solid races for the first one of the season,” added Kowal. “I was most pleased with the rower’s responses to the coxswains. We talk a lot about listening to your coxswain, making a unified change and what that can do for the crew’s momentum and motivation during races. Today the rowers did a great job listening to their leader. The “black and gold’ challenge was a close one with the black crew bow #15 winning by only one second. This will be helpful going into our next two weeks as we prepare for Oklahoma.”

The team will resume their season Oct. 10th at the Head of the Oklahoma.