No. 5 Ohio State Rowing Hosts Season Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
March 23, 2005
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Columbus, Ohio – The No. 5 Ohio State rowing team opens its 2005 season when it plays host to the ACC/Big Ten Duals at 9 a.m. Saturday at Griggs Reservoir on the Scioto River in Columbus, Ohio.
Events will consist of the first and second varsity eight races, the first and second varsity four and the first and second novice eight competitions.
Ohio State vs. Virginia
The last time Ohio State and Virginia’s first varsity eight boats met head-to-head was in the semifinals of the 2004 NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Ohio State took third place with a time of 6:38.9, while Virginia followed in fourth place at a time of 6:40.1.
Scouting Virginia
Virginia hosted the 2004 Rivanna Romp in preseason competition, where the Cavaliers first varsity eight boat took second place behind Ohio State’s eight boat.
Virginia is ranked sixth in the preseason Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll. This weekend marks UVA’s first regatta of the spring season.
Ohio State vs. Duke
Ohio State and Duke’s first varsity eight met last season at the ACC/Big Ten duals. Ohio State took first place at a time of 6:38.4, while Duke followed at a time of 6:52.3.
Scouting Duke
Duke met both Virginia and Ohio State in preseason action at the 2004 Rivanna Romp. Duke placed fourth behind first place Ohio State and second place Virginia.
This weekend marks Duke’s second regatta of the 2005 spring season. The Blue Devils, ranked 17th in the preseason CRCA poll, defeated Kansas State and Tulsa in head-to-head races.
The 2004 ACC/Big Ten Duals
The then-No. 1 Buckeye first varsity eight defeated then-No. 6 Virginia and then-No. 20 Duke at the 2004 ACC/Big Ten Double Duals in Charlottesville, Va.
Overall, Ohio State’s varsity squad finished the day 6-2 and the novice team went 2-2.
The first varsity eight edged Virginia by 4.9 seconds, finishing the race in 6:33.6. In the afternoon, Ohio State finished with a time of 6:38, compared to Duke’s time of 6:52.3. The second varsity eight finished 1-1 on the day, falling to Virginia in the morning and coming back to defeat Duke in the afternoon.
The Buckeye’s first varsity four completed the morning race at 7:42.3, 3.9 seconds behind Virginia. In the afternoon, Ohio State topped Duke by 11.1 seconds with a time of 7:54.6. The second varsity four swept UVA in both the morning and afternoon competitions. In the morning session, OSU finished at 7:46.3, while Virginia at 7:57.7. In the afternoon, the Buckeyes topped Virginia by 13.8 seconds, 8:03.0.
The first novice eight fell in both races on the day. Virginia defeated the Buckeyes by 7.4 seconds in the morning and by 8.6 seconds in the afternoon race.
The second novice eight swept Virginia in both races. In the first race Ohio State edged UVA by 12.1 seconds, with a time of 7:22.8. In the afternoon OSU defeated Virginia by 26.7 seconds, with a time of 7:35.5.
The 2005 Season
In the 2005 season, Ohio State looks to capitalize on its three home regattas. This is the first time in five years the Buckeyes have had the opportunity to host more than two regattas in a season.
Following this weekend, the Buckeyes travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face the Wolverines April 2. Ohio State returns home to host back-to-back regattas April 9 against Rutgers, Michigan State and defending national champion Brown and April 16 vs. USC and Indiana.
Postseason action includes a trip to Bloomington, Ind., where Ohio State will compete in the 2005 Big Ten Championships April 30. Following the conference championships, the Buckeyes will travel to the 2005 Central/South Regional Championships, which once again will be held in Oak Ridge, Tenn., May 14-15. Ohio State looks to qualify for its sixth consecutive NCAA championship held in Sacramento, Calif., May 27-29.
Big Ten Leaders
Michigan leads the Big Ten in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll this season ranked No. 4 in the nation. Four of the seven Big Ten teams are ranked in the Top 20 preseason poll – Michigan (4), Ohio State (5), Michigan State (11), and Wisconsin (12).
Tough Schedule Ahead
Ohio State opens the 2005 season facing No. 6 Virginia and No. 17 Duke. The following weekend, OSU travels to Ann Arbor to take on No. 4 Michigan. The Buckeyes then return home for two consecutive regattas to face No. 3 Brown, No. 11 Michigan State and No. 14 USC.
Around the Globe
In the tradition of Ohio State rowing, the team once again sports a delegation from around the globe.
The team includes eight members from Germany (Diana Albrecht, Andrea Dymalski, Annabelle Fago, Simone Haubner, Ninett Kossowsky, Jana Schiller, Franziska Schubert, and Christine Wulfert) and three other members from countries other than the United States.
Overall, the team has representatives from five countries (Australia, Germany, Lithuania, Russia, and United States) and six states (Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio and Virginia).
Buckeye Captains
Seniors Diana Albrecht and Maggie Kathman were named captains of the 2005 squad. Albrecht, a member of the first varsity eight earned Big Ten Boat of the Week accolades four consecutive weeks last year and remained undefeated in regular season action.
In 2004, Kathman helped guide the second varsity eight to a fourth-place finish at the 2004 Big Ten Championships. Both captains earned accolades as OSU Scholar-Athletes and Academic All-Big Ten honorees.
The Newcomers
The Buckeye recruiting class is a unique mixture of girls, who each bring different qualities to add to the success of Ohio State. Overall 11 new rowers, four of which are true freshmen, look to contribute to the success of the Buckeyes this season. Four members of the rookie class are from Germany and Lithuania and all have competed at a high level in their native countries. The Buckeyes also add two athletes who previously swam for the Ohio State swim team (Rachel Helfrich and Ashley Routson).
“This year’s freshmen are skilled and will make a positive impact on the top boats,” Teitelbaum said.
The four new true freshmen consist of Gabrielle Albertaviciute, Andrea Dymalski, Simone Haubner and Christine Wulfert.
The team also adds five rowers and a coxswain from the novice program. They hope to bring experience and power to the team. The five rowers are Christy Alge, Guilia Benedetti, Jacquelyn Davis, Helfrich and Justine Lea Mahler. 2004’s first novice coxswain Susanne Wilson, also returns for her first varsity campaign.
2004 Spring Recap
Ohio State had a successful 2003-04 season, which included several highlights. The squad was ranked first in the nation for five consecutive weeks, won the central region championships, qualified for its fifth consecutive NCAA appearance and placed eighth in the nation.
At the 2004 NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif., Ohio State set two firsts in program history. The varsity four won their preliminary heat on day one to automatically qualify for the Grand Finals, marking the first time for 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. Three rowers received All-America honors, 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. Head Coach Andy Teitelbaum rounded out the list receiving his third consecutive Central Regional Coach of the Year.
Big Ten Notes
The 2005 season marks the sixth season of Big Ten Conference women’s rowing. Seven conference teams compete in women’s rowing: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
The Big Ten has one new head coach this season. Matt Weise took over Michigan State’s program when BeBe Bryans left to take the position as head coach at Wisconsin.
Big Ten Rowing Championships
Indiana will play host to the sixth annual Big Ten Women’s Rowing Championships Saturday, April 30 at Lake Lemon in Bloomington, Ind.
Last spring, the No. 1 Buckeyes’ first varsity eight was upset by No. 10 Michigan by two seconds in the Grand Final.
Ohio State finished with 112 points, behind first-place Michigan (128) and second-place Wisconsin (115). The Wolverines clinched their second consecutive Big Ten title as they finished first in the first varsity eight final.
Ohio State is the only other school to win a Big Ten rowing crown as the Buckeyes were victorious in 2002.
Next up for the Buckeyes
Ohio State will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face No. 4 Michigan at 10 a.m. April 2 on Belleville Lake. The Wolverines are the defending 2004 Big Ten Champions.
