Rowing Takes on Central Florida and Miami on Saturday
4/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Alabama rowing team takes to the water Saturday in a tri-meet with host Central Florida and Miami at the UCF Intercollegiate Rowing Center on Lake Pickett.
"We haven't ever had a lot of success against Miami or Central Florida," UA head coach Larry Davis said. "But we feel that with the team we have this year and the way we've been rowing, we can expect good things to happen and we're looking for some wins."
The Crimson Tide is slated to compete in the First and Second Varsity 8+, the First and Second Varsity 4+ as well as the First and Second Novice 8+ races.
"The goal with this year's schedule was to make sure we were rowing all top-level teams," Davis said. "Not only will it help prepare us for the championships in a few weeks, it will help us develop a reputation that will put us on the radar for an NCAA Championship berth."
The Crimson Tide practiced on Lake Pickett Friday afternoon, adjusting to the course and preparing for competition.
"It was a little windy out there today, but overall we had a good practice and I think we're ready for tomorrow," Davis said.
Scheduling a tri-meet for this point in the season is a change for Alabama, in its fourth year as an NCAA Division I program. The Tide had been competing at the Dad Vail Championships, but Davis found that UA's academic schedule warranted a change.
"We found that racing (at the Dad Vail) during finals, the athletes were just too fatigued, mentally as much physically," Davis said. "This gives us a chance to row against top-flight competition and then get back and focus in on finals and do a good job there."
The Tide comes into Saturday after finishing third as a team at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships in mid-April. Three Alabama crews earned medals at the SIRA Championships, including the Varsity 4+ boat which took gold. Since that time, Alabama has been training for the season's home stretch.
"We've had some good practices at home the last couple of days, after missing some time on the water early in the week due to weather and high water," Davis said. "Overall, we're feeling pretty positive about what we're trying to achieve down here."
