No. 11 Rowing Posts Winning Records vs. Michigan, Michigan State – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
April 19, 2003
Columbus, OH – The No. 11 Ohio State first varsity 8 (2-5) fell to Michigan and Michigan State, but the team posted winning records overall against both conference opponents, as the Buckeyes competed in the final regatta of their regular season Saturday at the Big Ten Invitational in East Lansing, Mich. Overall on the day, the Buckeyes posted a 4-3 mark vs. Michigan, a 5-3 record vs. Michigan State and were 2-0 against Indiana to total 11-6 on the day.
In the morning, the first varsity 8 was edged in a close race vs. the Spartans, falling by just .58 seconds. The Buckeyes crossed the finish line six minutes, 32.50 seconds to Michigan State’s 6:31.92. In the afternoon, Ohio State was unable to hold close to a Wolverine squad that was coming off of an easy win over Indiana in the morning, finishing 9.32 seconds behind Michigan (7:26.59).
“The varsity 8 had a great race vs. Michigan State, but happened to lose,” Andy Teitelbaum, Ohio State head coach said. “However, we definitely need to figure out how to handle Michigan’s first varsity. We need to find more speed in the varsity 8 race if we’re going to defend as (Big Ten) champions.”
Despite the first varsity losses, the Buckeye scored victories over MSU in the first varsity 4 twice, the second varsity 4 twice and the second novice 8. The team then defeated Michigan in the second varsity 8, the second varsity 4 and both novice boats.
The second varsity 8 experienced a rough morning in a loss to Michigan State, but rebounded vs. Michigan in the afternoon. The boat fell to Michigan State in the morning, finishing in 6:48.20 seconds, 4.18 seconds behind the Spartan second varsity. The Buckeye second 8 bounced back in its second race, however, overcoming Michigan and defeating the boat by 7.23 seconds.
“Both second varsity races stunned me,” Teitelbaum said. “I didn’t expect to lose to Michigan State (by 4.18 seconds) and then come back and beat Michigan in the afternoon. The second varsity 8 is very up and down. They’re looking like they could win the Big Ten championship or not even make the Grand Finals.”
The first varsity 4 raced in identical races in both the morning and afternoon sessions, posting the same result each time. The boat finished second out of three teams in both races, twice defeating Michigan State, but losing to Michigan. The losses to Michigan were by just one second in the morning and 2.76 seconds in the afternoon.
The second 4 had the best day of any Buckeye varsity boat, defeating three boats in the morning and two in the afternoon to extend its season mark to 7-0. The boat outran Michigan State, Michigan and Indiana in the morning and Michigan State and Indiana in the afternoon. The second novice 8 also was undefeated on the day, defeating both the Spartans and Wolverines in respective morning and afternoon races.
The first novice 8, meanwhile, was nipped by Michigan State in the morning session, 7:00.59 to 7:01.89, but raced well ahead of the Wolverines in the afternoon, defeating the Michigan top novice boat by 13 seconds.
The Buckeyes have one weekend away from competition before playing host to the 2003 Big Ten Championships, May 3, at Griggs Reservoir on the Scioto River. Morning heats for the conference regatta, where Ohio State will look to repeat as conference champions, will begin at 8 a.m.
Ohio State Race Results Morning Second Novice 8 Ohio State 7:16.61 Michigan State 7:19.67
First Novice 8 Michigan State 7:00.59 Ohio State 7:01.89
Second Varsity 4 Ohio State 7:46.18 Michigan 7:51.55 Michigan State 7:55.23 Indiana 8:44.39
First Varsity 4 Michigan N/A Ohio State +1.0 sec. Michigan State +7.5 sec.
Second Varsity 8 Michigan State 6:44.02 Ohio State 6:48.20
First Varsity 8 Michigan State 6:31.92 Ohio State 6:32.50
Afternoon Second Novice 8 Ohio State 7:26.91 Michigan 7:47.22
First Novice 8 Ohio State 7:05.41 Michigan 7:18.41
Second Varsity 4 Ohio State 7:54.31 Michigan State 8:00.50 Indiana 9:03.50
First Varsity 4 Michigan 7:31.74 Ohio State 7:34.50 Michigan State 7:39.01
Second Varsity 8 Ohio State 6:38.47 Michigan 6:45.70
First Varsity 8 Michigan 6:26.59 Ohio State 6:35.91
