Rowing Competes in Wintery Conditions against OSU and Michigan
3/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
COLUMBUS, Ohio - While Tuscaloosa was enjoying prime spring weather on Saturday, the Alabama Rowing team was in the midst brutal winter conditions, including snow and winds up to 15-20 miles an hour, when taking on Ohio State and Michigan here on the Griggs Reservoir today.
"The weather was a real challenge today," Alabama head coach Larry Davis said. "The conditions were about as bad a southern team is going to face. Our ladies made the best of it, but the weather was tough."
The Tide competed against Ohio State, last year's third place NCAA finisher and Michigan, a contender for this year's NCAA finals, in a series of four races each in the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+, Novice 8+ and Second Novice 8+.
"Overall it was a very positive experience," Davis said. "To be the best we have to compete against the best and we certainly did that today. I think we were able to learn from this and we will be better for it."
The Tide finished third in all four Varsity 8+ races, though Davis was pleased with how his squad raced.
"Even though we finished third in all four races, we were closing the gap," Davis said. "We were a little edgy going against that level of competition. We settled down and rowed up to our capability as the day went on."
Alabama's Second Varsity 8+ also finished third in all four pieces, but never settled in their rhythm the way the First Varsity boat did.
"I think the experience will be good for our Second Varsity 8," Davis said. "They didn't settle down and stayed edgy throughout, but coming off the water, they knew what they had to work on, they knew what they need to work on."
Alabama got out in front of both the Buckeyes and Wolverines in the Varsity 4+ race before getting chased down and finishing third.
In the Novice 8+ races, Alabama took second behind Michigan in two races and third in the other two and in the Second Novice 8+ races, Alabama won two races and finished third in the other two.
"In the two that we won, our Second Varsity boat put everything together and just clicked along," Davis said. "In the other two everything didn't quite come together. "
Alabama returns to friendlier climes for its next outing, racing SMU at home on the Black Warrior River Saturday, March 29.
