The defending champion Ohio State women’s rowing team will return to the friendly waters of Griggs Reservoir on the Scioto River tomorrow when they host the 2003 Big Ten championships.
Joining the Buckeyes, who will host the championship regatta for the first time, will be Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The seven-team field will be competing in six different boat races throughout the day.
The format of all six events will be one four-boat and one three-boat heat during the morning session. The top two finishing boats in each heat advance to the Grande Final, while the last boats compete in the Petite Final.
Each boat can earn points toward their team’s overall points standing, which determines the conference champion. The points awarded depend on the race and how each boat places.
“In this sport every point matters, no matter where or what boat it comes from,” said OSU coach Andy Teitelbaum. “We stress that this is a team sport and that every rower, no matter what seat she is in, plays a big role toward our success.”
The event begins at 8 a.m. with the II Novice Eight boats, and continues with the I Novice Eight, II Varsity Four, I Varsity Four, II Varsity Eight, and I Varsity Eight boats heats. The Petite and Grande Finals will take place in the afternoon with the awards presentation to follow.
The Buckeyes are returning about half of the rowers from last year’s team, including six of the eight rowers from the I Varsity Eight.
“Last year’s experience winning the championship will hopefully help us this Saturday,” said OSU I Varsity Eight rower Tatiana Grigorieva. “Our team is really committed and we are hoping for the power to do well.”
OSU won the conference championship by 14 points in 2002, outlasting Michigan 138-124. Michigan State was close behind with 109 points.
