Rowing Splits Squad between Cambridge and Huntsville Saturday
10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - After a very successful opening-weekend at the Chattanooga Head Race, the Alabama Rowing team hits the water again this weekend splitting up their squads with the novices heading to the Hobbs Island Regatta and two varsity crews making their way up to the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
Last weekend the Tide got off to a quick start on the season, placing in the top 10 in almost every race and earning gold medals in the Women's Pairs and Novice 8+ races. All of this success came as no surprise to Head Coach Larry Davis.
"I thought we performed about at the level that I had hoped we would, especially considering that we had a few little wrinkles thrown in and we didn't necessarily have our absolute strongest combinations out there," Davis said.
The Hobbs Island Regatta, which takes place Saturday in Huntsville, Ala., is an event that Alabama has enjoyed great success at in the past. Last year, the Tide came home with two medals to show for their work, winning gold and silver medals. This is a feat that the Tide expects to repeat this year as well.
"I think that this group we have now is as talented as last year's crew," Coach Davis said. "So unless there is somebody that really throws a curve at us, one we don't know about who shows up for the regatta, I think we ought to come home with two medals, and I would expect them to be gold and silver."
On the docket for the varsity squad is the venerable Head of the Charles Regatta, which takes place in Cambridge, Mass. this weekend, and brings together various national and NCAA crews. Unlike last week's race, where Alabama was able to set their sights specifically on one or two crews, this race will be more about placing, and maybe winning medals, against a host of top-flight crews.
"I expect the 8+ to have a shot at being a medalist - I would like to think we might have a shot at the top three slot," Davis said. "I think the 4s are going to have a little tougher road because they have some national team crews in there, and some top level, top-10 teams out of the NCAA in there."
The Tide has set its sights high in Cambridge, but to achieve those goals both crews will have to be flawless in their execution while dealing with harsh weather conditions not common in Alabama. Rain and wind with temperatures around 45 degrees on Friday, and a chance of showers with a high of 49 degrees for Saturday appears to be the forecast facing the Tide, but it is an obstacle the team will need to overcome in their quest for success.
"Something that is always a question mark in a coach's mind is `how are we going to handle the conditions? ` If we don't let the conditions impact us, then I think those goals of being a medalist in the 8+ and in the top-half of the 4+ are very doable," Davis said.
Following this jam-packed weekend for Tide rowing, the team will get a well-deserved one-week break from competition and then head back out to Oakridge, Tenn., for the Secret City Head Race on Halloween. They will follow up the next weekend with a return to Chattanooga, Tenn., this time for the Head of the Hooch Regatta on Nov. 7 to close out the fall season.
