May 14, 2009
Complete Schedule and Scoring 
Day One Heat Sheets
Official Aramark Sprints Program
Complete Release in PDF Format
This Week...
The Spartans will head to the South/Central Sprints, hosted by the University of Tennessee on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Spartans are the defending Central Region champions and finished second overall at last year's event with 371 points, tying their best finish in program history. MSU enters the Sprints as the nation's No. 3 team after receiving five first-place votes in the CRCA poll, making them the highest-ranked team at the event. MSU also ranks first in the cMax polls, which attempt to rank the nation's fastest varsity eight crews.
Big Ten Champions...
MSU earned its second-straight Big Ten title - and third in five seasons - after accumulating 137 points on Griggs Reservoir in Columbus, Ohio, on May 2. Both MSU's varsity eight and second varsity eight earned top honors at the event, accounting for 105 of the team's 137 total points, helping them edge second-place Michigan, which finished with 126 points.
The Spartans became only the second team in Big Ten Championship history to win back-to-back team titles and the win by the varsity eight also marks the second-straight Big Ten title for that crew as well. The second varsity four and second novice eight also earned medals on the day, each taking home the bronze in their events.
Weise, Schmidt Honored by Big Ten...
For the second consecutive season, the Michigan State rowing program saw its head coach, Matt Weise, and one of its student-athletes take home the Big Ten's two most prestigious awards. Weise was honored as the Big Ten Coach of the Year while senior Sarah Schmidt (Grosse Ile, Mich.) was named Big Ten Athlete of the Year. This marks the third time in his five years at Michigan State that Weise has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year. It is also the first time that a coach has repeated as Big Ten Coach of the Year since Michigan's Mark Rothstein did so in 2000 and 2001.
Schmidt becomes the Spartans' fourth Big Ten Athlete of the Year - and second in a row - after former Spartan Anne Cowan took home the award last season. Schmidt and Cowan have combined to give MSU back-to-back Big Ten Athlete of the Year awards for the first time in program history; it is also the first time that a school has taken home back-to-back honors since UM's Erin Kopicki and Heather Mandoli took home the awards in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Schmidt also took home All-Big Ten First Team honors.
More Awards for the Spartans...
Aside from Weise and Schmidt, several Spartans earned Big Ten accolades this season as five total student-athletes represented MSU on both the All-Big Ten First and Second Teams. Joining Schmidt on the first team were seniors Lauren Gamble (Commerce Township, Mich.) and Amanda Dunnill (Flushing, Mich.). Gamble rowed as a member of the first varsity eight at Big Tens while Dunnill anchored the second varsity eight. Earning spots on the second team were seniors Nancy Diehl and Ashley Peach. Diehl rowed as a member of the varsity eight while Peach sat in the bow seat on the second varsity eight. Ashley Wenneman was MSU's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Recapping the 2008 Sprints...
The Spartans claimed the Central Region title with 371 points - its most ever at the regional event - at last year's Sprints. MSU tied its best finish at regionals with the second-place finish, marking the third time MSU has taken the overall runner-up spot as MSU was also second-overall in 1999 and 2000. The Spartans varsity eight boat took second at the Sprints, finishing behind only South Regional Champion Virginia. Both the Spartans' varsity four and second varsity four took home top honors, helping them finish 20 points ahead of third-place Ohio State.
A look a this year's field...
Although MSU comes into the weekend as the highest-ranked team at the competition, there are plenty of teams ranked in the nation's top 20, including several Big Ten foes. Both Michigan and Ohio State rank in the top 10 at sixth and eighth, respectively. The two came in second and third, respectively, at the Big Ten Championships two weeks ago as well. Clemson, who finished sixth at last year's Sprints, currently ranks 10th in the poll while Virginia (11) and Wisconsin (14) round out the team's ranked in the top 15.
Of the 22 teams that will be on hand, four rank in the top 10, six rank in the top 15 and nine rank in the top 20.MSU has already defeated eight of the 22 teams that will be on hand at the competition, including each Big Ten school along with Notre Dame and No. 18 Louisville. All four top 10 teams that will be at the meet boast varsity eight crews that rank in the top 10 in the cMax rankings as well, highlighted by MSU who sits atop the poll. Michigan ranks fourth while Ohio State and Virginia rank seventh and eighth, respectively.
The Varsity Eight
Regular Season Dual Record: 8-0
Best South/Central Sprints Finish: 2nd (1999, 2000, 2008)
2009 Big Ten Finish: 1st
The first varsity eight has been one of the fastest boats in the nation heading into the Sprints this weekend. Currently ranked first in the cMax rankings, which attempt to rank the nation's fastest crews, the Spartans are 1.9 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor, Stanford, who ranks first overall in the CRCA Coaches Poll. The varsity eight claimed its second-straight Big Ten title after clocking in at 6:06.30 on Griggs Reservoir two weeks ago, topping second-place Michigan by open water. The varsity eight was also the first crew in program history to go into the Big Ten Championships with an undefeated record. To date, MSU's varsity eight has won every race by open water this season. The varsity eight features two First Team All-Big Ten selections, Lauren Gamble (Commerce Township, Mich.) and Sarah Schmidt (Grosse Ile, Mich.); Schmidt was also honored as the Big Ten Athlete of the Year. Sophomore Laura Cowal (Thorold, Ontario), last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, rows in the stroke seat of the boat, giving the crew two major Big Ten award winners.
The Second Varsity Eight
Regular Season Dual Record: 7-1
Best South/Central Sprints Finish: 1st (2003)
2009 Big Ten Finish: 1st
The second varsity eight has been equally as impressive as the varsity eight this season as the crew clocked better times than four varsity eights at the Big Ten Championships. Featuring three All-Big Ten Sections - Nancy Diehl (St. Clair Shores, Mich.), Amanda Dunnill (Flushing, Mich.) and Ashley Peach (St. John's, Newfoundland) - the second varsity eight also claimed the Big Ten title this season, clocking in at 6:15.07, three seconds ahead of second-place Ohio State. The win earned the second varsity eight its first Big Ten title since 2003, which is the same year that the crew last claimed a South/Central Regional title. The second varsity eight lost just one race during the regular season, and that loss came to Washington State. The crew was the only 2V8 in the Big Ten to garner three All-Big Ten selections this season. Dunnill was named to the First Team while Diehl and Peach were both Second Team honorees.
The Varsity Four
Regular Season Dual Record: 5-1
Best South/Central Sprints Finish: 1st (2008)
2009 Big Ten Finish: 5th
The varsity four is the defending South/Central Region Champion but is coming off a disappointing fifth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships after being seeded third in the event. Freshman Kristina deJong (Fairfax, Va.) has made the jump from the second varsity four to the varsity four for this week's competition. She will sit in the first seat, replacing sophomore Clare Vandelinder (Grosse Point, Mich.) who will sit in the second seat in the second varsity four. The move was the only change to the boatings in any of the five crews for MSU this weekend. The varsity four finished the regular season with a 5-1 mark in dual competition during the regular season. Senior Sarah Kreft (Lansing, Mich.) is the only returning member of the varsity four from a season ago as Gamble, Peach and Diehl all moved to eights this season.
The Second Varsity Four
Regular Season Dual Record: 1-2
Best South/Central Sprints Finish: 1st (1999, 2008)
2009 Big Ten Finish: 3rd
The second varsity four was one of four medal-winners at the Big Ten Championships for the Spartans as the crew took home third place. As the team's lowest seed, fourth, heading into Big Tens, the second varsity four won its morning heat and took third in the Grand Final with a time of 7:07.13. Similar to the varsity four, the second varsity four is also the defending South/Central Region Champion and will look to earn its third title overall this weekend.
The Novice Eight
Regular Season Dual Record: 3-3
Best South/Central Sprints Finish: 3rd (1998, 1999, 2000, 2006)
2009 Big Ten Finish: 4th
The novice eight boat comes into the weekend looking for its program-best fifth South/Central Regional title as the crew has claimed top honors four times since 1998. The Novice eight was one of five Spartan crews to qualify for the Grand Final at the Big Ten Championships, earning fourth place overall with a time of 6:35.96. The novice eight put together a solid regular season, finishing 3-3 in dual competition with wins over Washington State, Iowa and Notre Dame. All three of its wins were in close contests, winning by no more than five seconds in each. In its three losses, the crew did not lose by more than 6.2 seconds in the regular season.
cMax Standouts...
Since the first cMax rankings were released on April 15, the Spartans' varsity eight has not dropped out of the top two in the nation and is the only crew to rank second or better each week. MSU is ranked first this week, topping Stanford by 1.9 seconds. The Spartans also occupied the top spot on April 22, when they were 0.8 seconds ahead of Cal. Before this season, MSU had never been ranked first overall in the cMax ranking.
The cMax rankings use a methodology that attempts to rank the nation's fastest crews. It is based on the premise that although each individual race results may vary, if Team A is on average two seconds better than Team B, and if Team B is on average two seconds better than Team C, then on average, Team A will beat Team C by four seconds.
Canadian Connection...
Michigan State associate head coach Christiina Tymoszewicz-Donley, now in her fourth season, has undeniably left her mark on the program. As a Canadian, Tymoszewicz-Donley has scoured her home land, bringing in recruits who have directly impacted the Spartans. In fact, in the Spartans' varsity eight, three of the nine members - Laura Cowal (Thorold, Ontario), Michelle Mussett (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) and Amanda McGeachie (Sidney, British Columbia) - all hail from Canada. In all, seven MSU rowers call Canadian cities home. Former Spartan Anne Cowan, last year's Big Ten Athlete of the Year, is also a Canadian.
Big Ten Championships to air on Sunday...
The 2009 Big Ten Championships will air this Sunday, May 17, on the Big Ten Network at 3 p.m. The program will feature a look at the Spartans' second-straight Big Ten title and give fans an inside look at rowing in the Big Ten. Former Spartan Kate Burdick will provide color analysis during the broadcast. Also, Emilie Gross (Richland, Mich.), the coxswain of the second varsity eight, wore a microphone during the Grand Final of that race, giving viewers an inside listen to race strategies.
Melton Hill Lake...
The Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA) has used the Melton Hill Rowing Course to conduct regattas for more than 30 years and it has grown to be renowned as one of the best rowing venues in the United States. The venue, which is fed by the Clinch River, is protected by hills on each side, which limits wind problems. The lake also features a sheltered embayment with multiple docks for easy launching during events. The 2000-meter rowing course provides seven straight lanes that are fully buoyed. The quality of the course is one of the main reasons that the NCAA South/Central Sprints have been held on Melton Hill Lake since the NCAA moved to regional groupings in 1997.
Big Night for Ruhno...
Senior coxswain Amanda Ruhno (DeWitt, Mich.) earned one of the Michigan State athletic department's most prestigious awards at the SASS Spartan Academic Excellence Gala. Ruhno took home the President's Award, given to the female graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade-point-average. Ruhno, who has a 3.966 GPA, will graduate in May with a degree in mechanical engineering. Ruhno coxed the 2008 Big Ten Champion second varsity four boat, and this season is coxing the first varsity four shell. Ruhno is the third rower to capture the award since 2006. Last year, Kate Burdick (Ann Arbor, Mich.) took home the honor while Abby Wieber took home the award in 2006. The gala also featured entertainment from current Spartan Laura Cowal. With accompaniment on the piano from Kate Burdick, Cowal performed the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for a crowd of hundreds at the event.
A Little More Than a Decade of Excellence...
MSU has qualified for the NCAA National Championship Regatta in 10 of the last 11 seasons. The only year in which the Spartans did not qualify for the NCAA Championships since becoming a varsity sport in 1998 was 2007. MSU has received eight team bids and received at-large berths for their varsity eight boat in 1998 and 2001. MSU finished sixth at last year's championships, which tied the program's top finish.
