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BARBAROO, Wisc. — The University of Iowa women’s rowing team’s I Varsity Eight highlighted the 2019 Big Ten Championships with a third place finish at Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin, on Sunday morning.
The I Varsity Eight’s finish is the boat’s second consecutive medal finish after placing third in last year’s competition.
The Hawkeyes placed sixth overall with 78 team points. Junior Contessa Harold was named first-team All-Big Ten, while juniors Hannah Greenlee and Hunter Koenigsfeld were named second-team All-Big Ten. Senior Faith Weiland was named Iowa’s sportsmanship award winner.
HEAR FROM COACH CARTER
“The conditions today were fantastic and it was great for all the crews. We found a window in the weather to row and it worked out perfectly. Our I Varsity Eight raced really well in a very deep field and we are fortunate to get a medal in that event. The rest of the competition was a real learning experience for our crews, given that we have so many novices on our team and that many are rowing within our 2V8 and 1V4. We didn’t expect fireworks, but we did expect faster times and boat speeds. There was a lot in training that pointed to faster times for today’s racing but it just didn’t come to us this time.
With so much youth on the team, I think it was a lot to expect that they all understand the standard at the Big Ten Championship. This conference is incredibly deep and all teams bring a little something extra to the Championship. I think that was driven home today and our younger rowers will take this experience away and be better next time.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
I Varsity Eight: In a race that saw the top four boats finish six seconds apart, the Hawkeyes slid into the third spot, finishing four seconds behind the top finisher, Michigan, in the first race of the day. Iowa led through the first 250 meters, but Michigan and Ohio State began to assert themselves as the race continued. Iowa let the Wolverines and Buckeyes slip away slightly in the middle section of the course and were never able to reel them back in. A strong finish enabled the Hawkeyes to push back a hard-charging Rutgers crew and cross the line two seconds behind Ohio State to earn a bronze medal.
II Varsity Eight: The second varsity eight saw stiffer competition in the second race of the day. Iowa grabbed an eighth place finish behind Minnesota’s seventh-place boat.
I Varsity Four: The I Varsity Four boat finished sixth, four seconds behind Rutgers and two seconds ahead of seventh-place Minnesota.
II Varsity Four: The II Varsity Four tallied an eight-place finish, clocking in five seconds behind the seventh-place Spartans.
III Varsity Four: The Hawkeyes grabbed their second sixth-place finish of the day in the III Varsity Four. The crew finished 15 seconds ahead of the seventh place finisher, Minnesota, and 13 seconds behind Indiana for fifth place.
I Novice Eight: In a race where experience was the major takeaway, the I Novice Eight boat placed eighth overall.
II Novice Eight: In similar fashion, the II Novice Eight boat earned valuable experience racing against the rest of the Big Ten conference. The II Novice Eight boat grabbed a seventh place finish to end the competition.
LINEUPS
I Varsity 8: Naomi Visser, Elena Waiglein, Paige Schlapkohl, Hannah Greenlee, Hunter Koenigsfeld, Contessa Harold, Katie Pearson, Eve Stewart, Logan Jones (coxswain)
II Varsity 8: Rachel Kram, Rachel Valentine, Molly Rygh, Riley Seufert, Amalie Millerd, Nathalia Weelenreiter, Lauren Collier, Nina Lawrence, Katie Becker (coxswain)
I Varsity 4: Claire Rutherford, Kayla Jensen, Lucy Daman, Rachel Canon, Faith Weiland (coxswain)
II Varsity 4: Andjela Milenkovic, Tessa Walsh, Allison Blevins, Carly Millerd, Alexis Wolf (coxswain)
III Varsity 4: Anna Varley, Elizabeth Keene, Keely Paus, Paige Przybylski, Elizabeth Pritchard (coxswain)
I Novice 8: Taylor Carlson, Katie Rietz, Noelle Ossenkop, Jessie McElwain, Elise Perkins, Elika Davidson, Kirsten Jurgersen, Amelia Juhl, Ella Heckman (coxswain)
II Novice 8: Nhi Dinh, Maria Pritchard, Makenzie Jones, Brandi Marticoff, Kelsey Kannenberg, Mary Barnes, Brittney Eilers, Kalie Whitehall, McKenna Hortsmann (coxswain)
UP NEXT
Iowa looks to qualify for an at-large bid for the NCAA Championships May 31-June 2 in Indianapolis. The NCAA Selection show takes place Tuesday at 4 p.m. (CT).
