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CHARLOTTESVILLE After last year’s fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships and school-record ninth-consecutive ACC Championship, the Virginia rowing team looks to benefit from a blend of experience and depth in its continuing quest for a national championship in 2009.
That quest begins on Friday, March 20, when the Cavaliers open their spring season with a race against Bucknell. Competition begins at 5 p.m., on the Rivanna Reservoir.
Head coach Kevin Sauer, now in his 21st season at Virginia and 14th as the varsity coach, credits his team with being hungry and committed to surpassing last year’s successes.
“In 2006 we didn’t get a bid to the championships but we came back the very next year and almost won it,” Sauer said. “Last year, we did fairly well and had a pretty good year. We finished in fifth place and that was not what we wanted. As I said at the end of last year, that shows what our level of expectations are if we are disappointed with fifth place. Every year is different and kids get motivated to finish higher than that this year. We’re going to strive to put ourselves sin the hunt to win the championship and obviously that is a hard thing to do but it’s always something that is on our minds.”
Two All-Americans return from the Varsity Eight in Jennifer Cromwell and Lauren Hutchins, although the Cavaliers graduated coxswain Caitlin Mixter, as well as rowers Katrin Sydlik, Bridget Wandelt, Kelsie Chaudoin and Rebecca Ryall. The boat is ranked No. 6 in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) preseason poll, and Sauer is confident that he has the depth for another successful season.
“I feel like we have just as many good people coming back and some depth,” Sauer said. We also have kids that have come in and stepped up to the plate. I’m confident that we will do well.”
Three coxswains have rotated through the Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four during the fall season: Taylor Gilmore, Cristine Candland and Sidney Thorsten.
Captains Amanda Chase, Hutchins and Augusta Stratos figure to factor into the Varsity Eight. The trio has been commended by Sauer in the preseason for their leadership and work ethic.
Bucknell opened its spring season last Friday (March 11) in Elberton, Ga., and swept all nine races it competed in against Boston College.
Last season, the Bison visited the Rivanna Reservoir and the Cavaliers were victorious in three varsity races and all of the novice events. Virginia’s Varsity Eight earned a first-place finish with a time of 6:39.2, while the Varsity Four (7:37.4) and the second Varsity Four (7:51.8) also had strong showings for victories. Virginia’s “B” boats in both those races came in second place, with the Bison coming in third.
The second Varsity Eight was also victorious with a time of 6:51.9.
In the novice events, Virginia got victories from its Eight (7:10.7), Second Eight (7:26.8) and Four (8:14.8) boats.
Following Friday’s competition, Virginia travels to Redwood Shores, Calif., for the Pac-10 Challenge on Saturday and Sunday (March 28-29). The Cavaliers face Stanford, California and UCLA.