No. 11 Rowing Places Third at 2003 Big Ten Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
May 3, 2003
Columbus, OH – The No. 11 Ohio State rowing team finished second in the first varsity 8 Grand Final, but finished third as a team at the 2003 Big Ten Championships Saturday at Griggs Reservoir on the Scioto River. The Buckeyes were unable to win their second-consecutive conference title, as they played host to the championships for the first time in the regatta’s four-year history.
Ohio State finished with 107 points, behind Michigan and Michigan State, each earning 123 points. The Wolverines were awarded the conference title through the conference tiebreaker, which gives the championship to the team finishing higher in the first varsity 8 competition. Saturday marked the first time in Big Ten history that a tie locked the top of the overall standings.
While the Buckeyes entered the first varsity Grand Final unable to win the Big Ten title, the team did have the opportunity to act as a spoiler for Michigan State, who entered the race in first-place overall, needing to finish within one place of Michigan to take the school’s first conference crown. The Wolverines won the race, finishing in six minutes, 27.8 seconds, but Ohio State nabbed second place from the Spartans, finishing in 6:30.4, .7 seconds ahead of Michigan State, knocking the team into second overall. OSU’s first varsity 8 season record now sits at 7-6.
“The varsity had a great row,” Andy Teitelbaum, Ohio State head coach, said. “They took their shot and got out ahead. Michigan was good enough to pass them, but we were able to stay ahead of Michigan State. With all the implications on the overall points in a tight race, its hard to be a part of that and not think it’s pretty enjoyable.”
After a promising morning race for the second varsity 8 where the boat won its heat, the crew struggled in the event’s Grand Final, taking fourth overall. Michigan State darted ahead in the race and never looked back, crossing the finish line in 6:40.6 and winning the second varsity conference title. Ohio State finished in 6:48.8, also behind Iowa (6:43.9) and Michigan (6:47.0).
“After the morning, it didn’t seem like the second varsity winning (the Grand Final) was an unreasonable thought,” Teitelbaum said. “The big let down of the day seemed to be when they came in fourth. Up until that point, we were in contention (for the conference championship.)”
The first varsity 4 also took fourth in its respective Grand Final. The boat raced a rough 2,000 meters, falling behind competition and finishing in 7:36.2. Michigan won the first 4 conference title (7:23.5), ahead of Iowa (7:25.3) and Michigan State (7:29.3).
The Ohio State second varsity 4’s winning streak came to an end Saturday after two years of undefeated rowing. After the boat’s win in the morning heat, the team had tallied 27 consecutive victories since its last loss at the 2001 Big Ten Championships. The team was 17-0 vs. Big Ten competition over the course of the streak. The Buckeye second 4 finished third at the 2003 championships, finishing in 7:35.6, behind Iowa (7:32.9) and Wisconsin (7:35.1). Despite the third-place finish, the second varsity 4’s record sits at 9-2 on the season and 27-2 over the past two years.
The Buckeye first novice 8 won its Petite Final after being the only Ohio State boat not to qualify for a Grand Final at the championships. The OSU top novice crew outraced Michigan (7:00.5) and Iowa (7:19.9) to win the ‘B’ final. The Buckeye second novice 8 took second in the Grand Final of its respective event, finishing 5.8 seconds behind Wisconsin.
During the morning heats, the Buckeyes qualified five of six boats for Grand Finals, winning four heats.
“Everyone that beat us went fast,” Teitelbaum said. “It was a very wide-open regatta. Some race results were disappointing, but others weren’t,” Teitelbaum said. “When you’re the defending champions, you want to win and we’re disappointed that didn’t play out, but it was an exciting afternoon.”
The Ohio State rowing team will have a week away from competition before traveling to Oak Ridge, Tenn. for the 2003 Central/South Region Championships, May 17-18. The Buckeyes finished second behind Michigan at the 2002 regional championships.
2003 Big Ten Championships – Final Standings Team Points 1. Michigan 123* 2. Michigan State 123 3. Ohio State 107 4. Iowa 99 5. Wisconsin 69 6. Minnesota 61 7. Indiana 30
*- Michigan wins team championship through tiebreaker. Tiebreaker based on higher first varsity eight finish.
Afternoon Finals Results Second Novice 8 Grand Final 1. Wisconsin 6:44.7 2. Ohio State 6:51.5 3. Michigan State 6:56.0 4. Indiana 6:56.5
First Novice 8 Petite Final 1. Ohio State 6:52.0 2. Michigan 7:00.5 3. Iowa 7:19.9
econd Varsity 4 Final 1. Iowa 7:32.9 2. Wisconsin 7:35.1 3. Ohio State 7:35.6 4. Michigan State 7:37.7 5. Michigan 7:41.7
First Varsity 4 Grand Final 1. Michigan 7:23.5 2. Iowa 7:25.3 3. Michigan State 7:29.3 4. Ohio State 7:36.2
Second Varsity 8 Grand Final 1. Michigan State 6:40.6 2. Iowa 6:43.9 3. Michigan 6:47.0 4. Ohio State 6:48.8
First Varsity 8 Grand Final 1. Michigan 6:27.8 2. Ohio State 6:30.4 3. Michigan State 6:31.1 4. Iowa 6:35.7
Morning Heat Results Second Novice 8 Heat 1 1. Ohio State 7:08.2 2. Indiana 7:11.4 3. Minnesota 7:35.8
First Novice 8 Heat 2 1. Wisconsin 6:44.5 2. Indiana 6:51.7 3. Ohio State 6:58.0 4. Iowa 7:21.1
Second Varsity 4 Heat 1 1. Ohio State 7:32.4 2. Wisconsin 7:34.8 3. Iowa 7:36.7 4. Michigan State 7:46.0 5. Michigan 8:07.5
First Varsity 4 Heat 2 1. Iowa 7:14.4 2. Ohio State 7:17.2 3. Minnesota 7:19.1 4. Indiana 8:25.8
Second Varsity 8 Heat 2 1. Ohio State 6:47.3 2. Michigan 6:51.5 3. Minnesota 7:01.4 4. Indiana 7:14.2
First Varsity 8 Heat 2 1. Ohio State 6:31.3 2. Michigan State 6:34.0 3. Wisconsin 6:38.0 4. Indiana 6:54.4
