2006 Rowing Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
March 29, 2006
The Ohio State rowing team enters the 2006 season looking to continue its tradition as one of top programs in the nation. In their 11th season under the guidance of head coach Andy Teitelbaum, the Buckeyes maintain their goal of a Big Ten championship and look for their seven-consecutive NCAA championship appearance.
“One of the first goals for every Ohio State team is to be conference champions,” Teitelbaum said. “Qualifying for the NCAA championships is our next goal. This season we would like to put all three crews in the Grand Finals at the NCAAs, which is something we have never done.”
Ohio State is coming off one of its best seasons in program history. In 2005, both the first and second varsity eight boats finished the regular season with 8-1 records. The Buckeyes then placed second at the Big Ten championships, their highest finish since winning the title in 2002.
OSU captured its third-consecutive Aramark Central Region championship with three of the six boats winning their Grand Finals to secure the title. The Buckeyes then tied their highest NCAA championship finish in program history by taking fourth place. Both the first and second varsity eight boats raced in the Grand Finals, with the second varsity eight taking fourth place for their best finish at the national championships. All of its accomplishments throughout the season added up to Ohio State being ranked third in the final USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll.
While the Buckeyes are proud of their accomplishments during the 2005 season, Teitelbaum also recognizes that this season the team has to compete just as hard to continue their past successes.
“Every year is a new year,” he said. “The tradition we have in this program builds expectations. This year’s team is about continuing to fulfill the legacy previous teams have left before them.”
Ohio State will challenge itself with another season of tough competition against teams from inside the Big Ten conference and throughout the nation. Eleven of its opponents concluded the 2005 season ranked in the Top 20 of the USRowing/CRCA poll, including five of its fellow conference teams. The Buckeyes look to take advantage of two home regattas and by tackling such a tough schedule, prepare for another run at the NCAA championship. Returning Athletes
Although Ohio State saw the departure of one of its most decorated rowers in program history in two-time First Team All-American Diana Albrecht, along with classmate and fellow 2005 First Team All-American Amanda Purcell, the Buckeyes return a solid core with experience and enthusiasm. The varsity eight returns five rowers, three seniors and two juniors, from the 2005 boat that went 8-1 in the regular season, won the Central Region championships and appeared in the Grand Final at the NCAA championships.
The Buckeyes retain one of three All-Americans from the varsity eight in junior Annabelle Fago, a two-time second team honoree. Fago also was a First Team All-Central Region and First Team All-Big Ten selection after being named conference freshman of the year in 2004.
One of 10 seniors and a varsity eight returnee is Ninett Kossowsky. A second team All-Central Region and second team All-Big Ten selection, Kossowsky has competed with the first varsity eight since her freshman year. Jana Schiller and Beth Tompkins are the other two returning varsity eight seniors who also add experience to the boat.
“Ninett is one of our senior leaders and is an important athlete to our team,” Teitelbaum said. “This is her third season as a member of the varsity eight and she is one of the strongest rowers to ever compete for our program. Jana and Beth are also senior members of the varsity eight. They are important factors into how far and fast the boat and the whole program go this season.”
Other Buckeyes returning for their final season include Olga Grigorieva and coxswain Sarah Obee, members of the second varsity eight in 2005 which won the Grand Final at the Big Ten championships and finished fourth at the NCAA championships. Susan Cohen and Katie Poling rowed with the first varsity four last season and took second at the Central Region championships. Sarah Mominee was a member of the varsity four boats, placing second at the Central Region with the first varsity four and second at the conference championships with the second varsity four. Katie Machingo did not see any postseason action, but rowed with the second varsity four throughout the regular season.
Angela Dean earned the team’s Novice of the Year award after finishing third at the Central Region with the first novice eight and second at the Big Ten championships. Ashley Mathews won the regional championships with the second novice eight.
Along with their success on the water, the senior class has performed well in the classroom. Grigorieava, Kossowsky, Machingo, Obee, Poling, Schiller and Tompkins were all named Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar-Athletes in 2005. Tompkins and Schiller were selected CRCA National Scholar-Athletes as well.
Also returning from the 2005 Ohio State varsity team are juniors Guilia Benedetti, Briony Clare, Jacquelyn Davis, Justine Mahler, Jessica Shepherd and Susanne Wilson, along with sophomores Gabriele Albertaviciute, Andrea Dymalski, Simone Haubner and Christine Wulfert.
Newcomers
Ohio State welcomes six freshmen to the 2006 team, an international recruiting class with five of the members from outside of the United States. Two that Teitelbaum expects to have an immediate effect are two German natives: Charlott Goldstein of Berlin and Susanne Herbrand of Magdeburg.
“The two are expected to make an impact with the top boats,” he said. “Charlott is a great athlete who spent time in the first (varsity eight) boat in the fall. Susie has the potential to be a top eight rower as well. We are looking for them to help us at the top.”
Goldstein won the 2004 Quad World Championship and Herbrand won the double-skulls event at the German championships in 2002 and 2004. Colleen Saville, from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., was a three-time New York State champion with the Saratoga Rowing Association. Lavinia Tinelli of Rome, Italy, won the 2004 and 2005 Italian Championship with Tirrenia Todaro and was a member of the Italian National Team which finished second at the 2004 World Championships and third in 2005. Zuzanna Trzcinska, a native of Ilawa, Poland, also has world championship experience competing with the Polish National Team. Peta-Leigh Dakyns, a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, and a member of the South African Junior National Team, will join the team in March.
Schedule
Ohio State will continue to prepare for postseason competition by challenging itself with a tough regular season schedule against the other top programs in the nation. The Buckeyes open their season March 25-26 at the Windermere Real Estate Rowing Classic in Redwood City, Calif. They will participate in three dual races with defending NCAA champ California, Washington and host Stanford.
OSU then returns to Columbus for its next two regattas at Griggs Reservoir. The Buckeyes will host the ACC/Big Ten Duals April 1, welcoming Virginia and Duke along with conference foes Michigan and Michigan State. Tennessee and USC then come to Columbus April 8. Ohio State concludes the regular season April 15 with races against Minnesota and Oregon State in Bloomington, Ind.
Postseason action begins April 29 in Minneapolis, as the Buckeyes look to make a run at the conference crown at the Big Ten championships. Ohio State will then try to defend its three-year title as Central Region champs May 13-14 at the Aramark Central/South Region championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The NCAA championships will be hosted by Princeton and Rutgers May 26-28 at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.
