March 25, 2011

Watch Races from Princeton Live

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State officially opens the 2011 rowing season with dual races at Princeton with Brown. The Spartans travel east to New Jersey on Friday for racing which begins at 9 am on Saturday morning.

Head coach Matt Weise, who has been happy with his team's progress both throughout the fall and in early pre-season training. The Spartans spent spring break training in Florida, and wrapped up that trip with some scrimmages against defending National Champion Virginia two weeks ago to get some actual racing in. Weise felt that his team responded well, and has had two weeks to tinker with technique and lineups to provide his boats with a boost headed into the regular season.

The varsity eight, which has won three straight gold medals at the Big Ten Championships, will feature four seniors (Laura Cowal, Kellie LaPointe, Stephanie Bochenek, and Alex Maibusch), three sophomores (Michelle Neuder, Brie-Anne Breton, and coxswain Amanda McGeachie), junior Bre Walkowiak, and freshman Michelle Sosa.

The Spartans will certainly have one big fan on hand - last year's Big Ten Rower of the Year Emily Regan is at the Princeton Training Center with US Rowing. Regan helped the US U-23 team capture a gold medal last summer at the World Championships.

Schedule: Princeton vs. Brown & Michigan State

9:00 AM - Varsity 4+ B (Pr, Brown B and C)
9:20 AM - Third Varsity (Pr, Br)
9:40 AM - Varsity 4+ A (Pr, Br, MSU)
10:00 AM - Second Varsity (Pr, Br, MSU)
10:20 PM - First Varsity (Pr, Br, MSU)

Lineups:
Varsity Eight
B - Laura Cowal; 7- Bre Walkowiak; 6- Michelle Neuder; 5- Kellie LaPointe; 4 - Michelle Sosa; 3- Brie-Anne Breton; 2- Steph Bochenek; S- Alex Maibusch; c - Amanda McGeachie

Second Varsity Eight
B - Kathleen Leighton; 7- Nicole Bade; 6- Hannah Champ; 5 - Michelle Campbell; 4- Monique Carter; 3 - Clare Vandelinder; 2 - Jocelyn Smith; S - Lydia Hawthorne; c- Alyse Egner

Varsity Four
S - Shelby Motoligin; 3- Brie Lakanen; 2 - Heather Holliday; S - Kristina deJong; c- France Evely