Michigan State University Athletics
Rowing Looks to the Spring After Successful Fall
11/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Nov. 11, 2008
Coverage:
Matt
EAST LANSING, Mich. - At the onset of the fall season, the 2008-09 Michigan State rowing team had one goal on its mind, to prepare to defend the Big Ten Title that it earned just four months earlier. The Championship was the Spartan's second Big Ten title in the last four seasons, the most of any Big Ten program during that span, while their 150 points at the event tied them for the Big Ten Championship record. The team went on to qualify for the NCAA National Regatta for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons while head coach Matt Weise was named the CRCA's Coach of the Year. Three Spartans were dubbed All-Americans at the end of the season.
With one of their most successful seasons in recent memory behind them, the Spartans opened the fall this September looking to build upon the success of last season. The Spartans did just that by nearly sweeping their way through fall competition, showing a drive to once again challenge for a spot among the nation's elite. According to Weise, that passion has driven the team throughout the fall.
"I think the main thing is that they came back fit, with a drive, and a sense of team spirit and they really wanted to push the team forward," Weise said. "They have been pushing that way all fall. They have had a couple of lulls but you will always have those through a season. The good thing is that they haven't been very deep ones. They have done a good job of rebounding through the flat spots."
"There was a chip on their shoulder for not doing as well as they wanted to last year at nationals. That's why they came in so hungry," Weise added. "They raced well but didn't get the result that they wanted. So, they are looking for something different this year. They came back with a little more energy because of that."
The Spartans opened the fall slate at Michigan for a series of controlled races. The two squads squared off in five races, with the Spartans earning victories in all five. Weise viewed the first race of the season as a measuring tool to see where the team was, both physically and mentally. How the team responded to the boat was an important part of what Weise was trying to teach in the fall, and after the first race, the results were very positive.
"We used the race to basically see the progression of some of our athletes and see how they would respond in real-race situations," Weise said. "It was a really good start for us as I thought our athletes responded nicely to the boat in several scenarios. They were able to be very aggressive without being wild, which is a good thing for us to see."
Next up for the Spartans was a clash with two Big Ten rivals, Ohio State and Michigan, in another series of controlled races. The Spartans once again dominated the field, winning all five races, giving them a perfect 10-0 record in fall competition. After a flawless first two events, Weise could see the growth and the drive of the team was something unique to this season's team.
"I think that the Ohio State and Michigan race, to me, was good because they really keyed in on the boat that they were in and did a good job of moving the boat as opposed to just pulling," Weise said. "They were really effective with how they were rowing, and that part really impressed me."
From that point, MSU continued to row well through the fall. MSU returned home for their only races of the fall on Oct. 26, a series of novice races against Michigan, marking the third time in the fall the Spartans clashed with UM. Just like the last two events, the results came out in favor of the Spartans.
The Spartans raced four novice boats against three from Michigan in two separate flights, with MSU's "A" and "B" boats earning victories over the "A" and "B" boats from Michigan. Both the Spartan's "C" and "D" boats earned a victory over the "C" boat from Michigan in the final race of the day. Through the fall, the novice squad gained valuable experience, something that Weise feels is important to the development of the team.
"I think they are rowing really well. I think that is the main difference," Weise said. "They have an ability to move a boat across the board. It is different from what we've had in the past. There have been a lot of technical errors in the past that really slowed us down in the fall, but they don't seem to have that now."
The Spartans closed the fall at the Big Ten Challenge, a head race featuring some of the top teams in the nation. The Spartan's "A" boat earned a second-place finish in the opening varsity head race, topping every Big Ten team in the race. The Spartan's "B" boat was also strong in the varsity head race, finishing fifth overall, in front of all other "B" boats and the "A" boats from Iowa, Indiana and Notre Dame.
Weise was impressed with the team at the final race, as it seemed that the entire team was able to compete with the unity and drive that Weise had preached throughout the fall.
"They carried that drive over to the final fall race. It just seems to be something that they are doing well," Weise said. "It's not just a matter of working hard. It's a matter of working well. They are showing me that they are able to do that right now."
The entire program seemed to find a certain team unity during the fall, but there were several individuals that were instrumental in leading the charge for the Spartans. Weise has been impressed with the leadership qualities of several veterans throughout fall competition.
"We have people like Victoria Woodard, who was in our first boat all fall," Weise said. "A few of our veterans including Sarah Schmidt, Michelle Mussett and Laura Cowal, who was Big Ten Freshman of the Year last year, have done a good job of pushing everyone."
Looking to the spring, the 2008-09 Spartan rowing team has its sights set on another Big Ten title. The team is determined to cement their status as the team to beat heading into the spring. After winning their first ten races, and a strong showing at their only head race of the fall, Weise and company look primed to make another run at a Big Ten title and a spot at the National Regatta for the tenth time in the last 11 seasons.
"I think that this team can be very fast," Weise said. "Potential is a wonderful thing; it is just what you do with it. There is a lot of potential here but we have a lot of time before I can tell you where we will be. We showed some good fall speed, but that is in the past now."
MSU will begin its spring schedule and the defense of its Big Ten title on March 11 when they travel to Clemson, S.C. to take on the Clemson University.
