Olympic Sports Message Board
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| Subject: Men's Crew Championship Race Summary from Head Coach Frank Biller |
| Posted by: Reisterstownhoo on Tue May 31 2011 6:10:48 PM |
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Message:
This is a re-posting of an email I received yesterday. As a member of
the 1986 Varsity 8, let me pass on my congratulations! May 29 Gainesville, Georgia Virginia Men’s Rowing wrapped up the winningest season in the program’s history today. Six boats brought home four medals from the season-ending American Collegiate Rowing Association Championships—the national championship for club rowing programs. The regatta was held at Lake Lanier—the 1996 Olympic rowing venue—in northern Georgia. Finals Sunday began with a 4th place finish in the men’s single. John Radcliffe, the only novice rower in the field of ten entrants, progressed to Sunday’s grand final via a well-rowed heat on Saturday morning. He rowed a technically sound grand final, and inched ahead of UNC’s sculler in the final 200 meters to take 4th, a good result. The varsity 4 (C: Heather Hildreth, 4: Alex Dementiev, 3: Ethan Bauer, 2: Bert Udler, 1: Kyle Davis) was unable to advance out of Saturday’s semifinal, but had a solid row on Sunday (including a 3:18 first 1000 meters). They won the C final by open water. “It was a good way to end the season,” said Bert Udler. The 2nd novice 8 (C: Sarah Zillioux, 8: Elliott Oakley, 7: Ben Meyer, 6: Alfred Hubbard, 5: Stephen Lincoln, 4: Graham Lohr, 3: Edwin Nieves, 2: Chris Pena, 1: Jonathan Gaillard) took the lead with a solid start in the grand final but were eventually overtaken by a very game crew from the University of California, Santa Barbara. UVa rowed a long, swinging rhythm, but UCSB used raw horsepower and enthusiasm to pull through the Hoos in the final 500 meters. Though disappointed with their second-place finish, UVa took solace in beginning what would become a run of medals. The 1st novice 8 (C: Katie Garrity, 8: Dylan Staples, 7: Matt Schilling, 6: Ben Hammond, 5: Sean Watson, 4: Ty Saitta, 3: Sam Kush, 2: Matt Parker, 1: Ian Feeney) came into the regatta peaking both technically and physically. They took the lead off the start in the grand final, thus beginning yet another battle royale with Purdue and Michigan. Purdue, this year’s Dad Vail winners, took advantage of UVa’s indecision in the third 500 to pull ahead by about a length. The Hoos battled back in the final 500 to take back seats, but it was not enough. The Boilermakers finished about 6 seats ahead and won their second major championship of the season. The Wahoos took silver, with a time of 6:02, ahead of Michigan, UCSB, Bucknell, and Florida. The 2nd varsity 8 grand final (C: Theresa Tratensek, 8: Ted Wyeth, 7: Lane Cobb, 6: Quinn Weber, 5: Ed Crocker, 4: Will Courtney, 3: Sam Herder, 2: Peter Malm, 1: Jon Byington) came down to a battle with Michigan. The Wolverines had an outstanding start, moving out by about a length. UVa and Michigan then traded seats for the remainder of the race, with Michigan ultimately winning by about a length. Notre Dame, Bucknell, UCSB, and the University of Carlifornia, Davis rounded out the field. In the weeks before the SIRA and Dad Vail regattas, several members of Virginia’s varsity 8 (C: Allie Plettner, 8: Jon Furlong, 7: Robbie Schweider, 6: Alan Kush, 5: Matt Miller, 4: Steven Lee-Kramer, 3: Sean Fagan, 2: Scott Stuard, 1: Mark Bezold) struggled with various illnesses that hampered both their training and performance. In the two weeks before ACRAs, however, the V8 was feeling healthy again, and their training progressed smoothly. Through an unusual series of events, Michigan and Virginia (the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively) raced side by side in Saturday’s V8 semifinal, with Virginia edging the Wolverines by about two seconds. Sunday’s grand final was a classic. UVa and the always-outstanding Michigan battled almost stroke for stroke, bow ball for bow ball for 1800 meters. Virginia pulled ahead in the final 20 strokes to win by a deck, thus igniting an explosion of celebration along the shore. As the varsity 8 received their gold medals on the awards dock, a throng of UVa parents, friends, and athletes serenaded them with the Good Ole Song—and the tune never sounded so sweet! Video Links for V8 race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaOpkJHQgr8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9ZQYRMoRvU Part of the team will now be selected and then prepare for the prestigeous Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-On-Thames in England. The last time Virginia raced at this high level event was in 2001. The three week training camp will focus on rebuilding the aerobic base, with a short but brisk transition phase in a second camp in England. The team will leave Charlottesville on June 18, competition begins on June 30. The Hoos will race in the Temple Challenge Cup (eight oared shell) and the Prince Albert Challenge Cup (coxed four). Go Hoos! Frank Biller Director of Rowing Men's Head Coach Virginia Rowing Association |
| Current Thread: |
Men's Crew Championship Race Summary from Head Coach Frank Biller -- Reisterstownhoo Tue May 31 2011 6:10:48 PM |
Awesome racing there. Fantastic job guys...great accomplishment. ** -- NickS Tue May 31 2011 10:59:03 PM |
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