April 1, 2015
Read the April issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone/ipad app!
=””>Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
=”” class=”pagelinks”>Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
=”” class=”pagelinks”>24 Hawkeyes to Watch Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
Download your Hawk Talk Monthly android app
THIS WEEK:
The University of Iowa women’s rowing team opens its season in Ithaca, New York, on Saturday. The Hawkeyes will take on Cornell, Yale, Syracuse, and Boston in the Nordic Nine.
RACE STRUCTURE:
The Nordic Nine will take place on the Cayuga Inlet in Ithaca, New York. The race is split up in two rounds, with three regattaIs in each round. Each smaller regatta will include flights from three teams. Iowa will flight boats against Yale and Cornell in the first round and Syracuse and Boston University in the second round.
 |
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION:
Cornell finished the fall season in Syracuse, New York, racing Syracuse and the University at Buffalo. The order of finish was the same for all five races with Cornell finishing second in the varsity eight, the second varsity eight, the third varsity eight, the first varsity four and the second varsity four.
Yale ended the fall season with strong performances at the Princeton Chase. The Bulldogs raced four crews and each finished in the top 25. Yale’s varsity eight finished fourth, the second varsity was eighth, the third varsity placed 18th and the fourth varsity was 25th. Yale is currently ranked 6th in the CRCA/USRowing Coaches Poll.
Syracuse finished the fall season hosting Cornell and the University at Buffalo. Syracuse defeated Cornell and Buffalo in the first varsity eight, covering the course in 15:53.6. The Orange finished first in each race. Syracuse is currently ranked 19th in the CRCA/USRowing Coaches Poll.
Boston University concluded its fall season at the Foot of the Charles on Nov. 16. The Terriors collected 6 top-ten finishes in the lightweight varsity eight, openweight varsity eight, and the novice eight.
LAST TIME OUT:
Iowa swept Old Dominion and Central Florida in scrimmages in DeLand, Florida. The first scrimmage was a head-to-head regatta against Old Dominion on Thursday morning, and the second was held on Saturday morning against Central Florida and Old Dominion. The scrimmages were not officially scored, however, the coaches kept track of informal order of finish for the boats. Iowa, Old Dominion, and Central Florida, all fielded crews in the 1V8+, 2V8+, 1V4+, and 2V4+ divisions.
ALL-AMERICAN DEBUT:
Sophomore Morgan Grastorf ended her first year as a rower on a high note, as she was named to the 2014 Pocock All-America Second Team. She is the third rower to earn an All-America award at Iowa since 2006. Grastorf also earned Collegiate Rowing Coaches Associations (CRCA) recognition as a first team All-Central Region pick and was selected to attend the USRowing Women’s Pre-Elite Camp in Princeton, New Jersey. She was a successful basketball player at Waubonsie Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois and was recruited to row by the Hawkeyes without prior sport experience.
AN ELITE INVITATION:
Sophomore Morgan Grastorf — a member of the 1V8 crew — was invited to attend the 2014 USRowing Women’s Pre-Elite Camp in Princeton, New Jersey. The camp, which began on June 8 and continues through June 22, grooms up-and-coming rowers for the national teams and is a great honor in the rowing realm. Grastorf was one of eight freshmen and one of 16 student-athletes selected to attend the camp.
B1G CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
The Hawkeyes finished seventh at the 2014 Big Ten Championship at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, Indi- ana. The 2N8 (7:44.997), 1N8 (7:28.030), 3V4 (8:21.787), 2V4 (7:55.662) and 2V8 (7:00.950) crews placed sixth in the championship regatta, while the 1V8 finished seventh (6:53.982). After the competition, junior Zoe Ribar earned first team All-Big Ten recognition, junior Lauren Subler earned second team All-Big Ten honors and senior Gabrielle Watson received Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award.
CRCA AWARDS ROUNDUP:
Six members of the UI rowing program earned Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) recognition in 2014. Sophomore Morgan Grastorf earned first team All-Central Region recognition, while juniors Madeline Anglin (nursing) and Katie Brown (psychology) and seniors Mackenzie Norton (international studies – development), Destinee Gwee (biochemistry) and Gabrielle Watson (speech and hearing science) were named CRCA Scholar Athletes. All-Region selections were evaluated on the strength of their team’s regional finish, coach recommendations and 2,000-meter erg score. Scholar Athletes owned a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, raced in 75 percent or more of competitions and were in their second, third or fourth year of eligibility. Norton and Watson were also honored as Scholar Athletes a season ago.
CLASSROOM SUCCESS:
Sixteen rowing student-athletes — a program most since 2011 — were named Academic All-Big Ten for their dedication in the classroom following the 2014 season. Honorees had to have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and be letterwinners in at least their second academic year at Iowa. Juniors Madeline Anglin (nursing), Claire Benschoter (nursing interest), Katie Brown (psychology), Nina Hendriks (mathematics), Skylar McSorley (speech and hearing science), Zoe Ribar (human physiology), Jessica Streur (English) and Lauren Subler (human physiology); seniors Brianna Achs (journalism and mass communications), Alyssa Armstrong (leisure studies), Beth Baustian (health and human physiology), Destinee Gwee (biochemistry/Asian languages and literatures), Mackenzie Norton (international studies/economics) and Gabrielle Watson (speech and hearing science); and Iowa graduates Sarah Bartlett (psychology) and Laura Hallman (interdepartmental studies) were recognized.
HEAD COACH Andrew Carter:
Andrew Carter was named the third head coach in program history for the University of Iowa rowing program in July 2013. In his first season at the helm, Carter helped the Hawkeyes attract the attention of the rowing community and receive votes in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/USRowing Coaches Poll throughout the season. Freshman Morgan Grastorf — who began the season as a novice — garnered Pocock All-America Second Team and All-Central Region First Team recognition. She was also invited to attend the 2014 USRowing Women’s Pre-Elite Camp in June, which grooms up-and-coming rowers for the national teams. Following the Big Ten Championship, sophomore Zoe Ribar was named first team All-Big Ten, sophomore Lauren Subler was named second team All-Big Ten and junior Gabrielle Watson received Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award.
The 2V4 crew of junior Rachel Crosley, freshman Kasia Gniatczyk, freshman Bec Clayton, sophomore Skylar McSorley and sophomore coxswain Rachel Chambers were recognized as Big Ten Boat of the Week following their first place result in the season opening regatta at Clemson. It marked Iowa’s first weekly conference honor since April 15, 2008 and just the second boat of the week nod for Iowa all-time. The Hawkeyes performance at Tennessee in the regular season finale highlighted the year, as Iowa defeated the Lady Vols in all five events of the regatta for the sweep. Iowa closed out 2014 with a seventh place finish at the Big Ten Championship at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Hawkeyes also excelled in the classroom with five earning CRCA Scholar Athlete honors and 16 receiving Academic All-Big Ten recognition. Mackenzie Norton and Skylar McSorley (4.0) were also named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars. During his coaching career, Carter has earned more than 50 championship medals, and over the last 13 years, he has coached eight All-Americans and 29 National Scholar-Athletes. Before becoming a Hawkeye, he turned Miami into a nationally-ranked program, and led Clemson to its first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference title and NCAA Championship appearance.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES:
A member of the Iowa rowing staff will offer interactive Twitter content live at every regatta this season via @iowarowing. This feature gives Hawkeye fans the opportunity to stay up to date on the latest news and scores during every regatta.
Web Address: hawkeyesports.com (check the schedule page for live stats and live streams)
Facebook: facebook.com/IowaWomensRowing
Twitter: twitter.com/iowarowing
UP NEXT:
The Hawkeyes will travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the Big Ten Double Dual on April 11. Iowa will compete against Indiana, Michigan, and Michigan State in the day long event.
