Ohio State Competes in 2004 Rivanna Romp – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Nov. 10, 2004
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Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio State rowing team will travel to Charlotesville, Va. Sunday to take part in the Rivanna Romp.
The Ohio State first varsity eight won the Rivanna Romp the last three seasons and is looking for a fourth consecutive victory.
Cincinnati, Duke, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia will be among the teams competing in the regatta on the campus of the University of Virginia. Racing begins at at 10 a.m.
Events will consist of a eight, four and pair competitions. Ohio State is entering three varsity 8 boats, three varsity 4 boats and four pairs. Only the Buckeye varsity squad will make the trip.
Last Season’s Rivanna Romp
Ohio State clinched a first place victory in the varsity eight and pair competitions at the 2003 Rivanna Romp in Charlottesville, Va. The varsity first eight finished first out of 17 crews, earning its third-consecutive Rivanna Romp title. The Buckeye first varsity pair finished first out of 18 crews, while the varsity four took third place.
The varsity eight boats all finished under 14 minutes. The OSU first eight finished first with a time of 13:07.6, the second varsity eight took seventh place with a 13:34.2 finish. The third varsity eight finished ninth at 13:59.7.
In the varsity four competition, Virginia took first with a 14:56.3 finish and Tennessee came in second at 15:08.3. The OSU first varsity four finished third at 15:17.4. The OSU second varsity four finished ninth at 15:50.7, while the OSU third varsity four finished 15th at 16:19.3.
The Buckeye first varsity pair finished first at 16:09.1, 18.4 seconds ahead of Duke, who ended the race second. The OSU second varsity pair took 16th at 17:44.0 and the OSU third varsity pair finished 17th at 18:08.7.
The 2003-04 Season
Ohio State had a successful 2003-04 season, which included several highlights, being ranked first in the nation for five consecutive weeks, wining the central region championships, qualifying for its fifth consecutive NCAA appearance and placing eighth in the nation.
The season started off strong with the first varsity eight defeating Princeton and Brown the first weekend of dual competition. For their accomplishments, the Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 in the nation and held onto the top ranking for five consecutive weeks during their 43-5 dual action stint. The varsity eight boat made their mark as the first Big Ten boat to be ranked No. 1 by the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll and the first to garner four consecutive Big Ten Boat of the Week honors.
The first varsity suffered their first loss of the season at the Big Ten championships, but that did not hold them back. The boat went on to win a regional championship title and lead the team to its second consecutive central regional championship.
At the 2004 NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif., Ohio State set two firsts in program history. The varsity four won their preliminary heat in day one to automatically qualify for the Grand Finals, marking the first time a varsity four or a second eight. The first varsity eight also advanced to the Grand Finals, marking the first time the top boat and another boat qualified for the Grand Finals.
Individual accolades were numerous again this season, five rowers received All-Central Region honors and four were named to All-Big Ten teams. Freshman Annabelle Fago garnered Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, marking a first for the Buckeye program. Andy Teitelbaum rounded out the list receiving his third consecutive Central Regional Coach of the Year.
Academically, the team posted an OSU best 24 academic All-Big Ten honorees and 42 OSU Scholar-Athletes.
Next up for the Buckeyes
The Buckeyes will be away from competition for the next three months in preparation for the 2005 spring season where the team will vie for its sixth-consecutive trip to the NCAA championship.
