TicketsUC To Compete In First-Ever NCAA Regional Championships
Bearcats looking to be among 10 teams selected to race at the NCAA Championships
Contact: Jill Warren
5/8/2001
CINCINNATI, Ohio-- Vying for its first trip to the NCAA Rowing Championships, the University of Cincinnati rowing team will make history this weekend when the Bearcats compete in their first-ever NCAA Central Region Championships, which runs Saturday, May 12 through Sunday, May 13 on Melton Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
In its first year as a varsity program, Cincinnati will compete against 19 teams making up the NCAA's Central Region, highlighted by No. 2 Michigan, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 11 Michigan State, No. 13 Iowa, No. 16 Notre Dame and No. 17 Wisconsin. UC will also race No. 16 Marietta College, ranked among Division II/III Varsity Eight boats.
The Bearcats' Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Novice Eight boats will all see action along the 2,000-meter course.
THE FIELD: The Central Region is widely considered one of the strongest among the five NCAA regions. Seventeen of the 20 members represent NCAA Division I institutions, including seven from the Big Ten Conference. Last year, the Central Region received three at-large bids to the NCAA Championships, making up a third of the field. Members include Cincinnati, Creighton, Dayton, Drake, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville, Marietta College, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Murray State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Savannah College of Art and Design, Trinity College, Tulsa and Wisconsin.
ABOUT THE COURSE: Located in the heart of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Melton Lake features over 5,690 acres of lake surface, including an international rowing course, making it one of the premier training grounds for the American Olympic rowing teams. Saturday will mark the Bearcats' third race on the lake, having competed at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship in April and scrimmaged Louisville during the crew's spring training camp in March.
QUOTING UC HEAD COACH TIM ROYALTY: "I think we will do alright this weekend. We have definitely improved during the season. If we show our ability, we should be in the top 12, hoping for a top six spot. The team is pumped up and is feeding off of last weekend. They know what their abilities are and really want to show it."
LAST TIME OUT: The Bearcats are coming off of one of their best performances of the spring season, claiming two titles and taking second in their two other races at the 37th Annual Mid-American Collegiate Rowing Association Championships, held last Saturday in Athens, Ohio. The Varsity Eight and Novice Eight both placed first in their events, while the Second Varsity Eight and Novice Four finished second.
UP NEXT: Following the regional championships, Cincinnati will await news of an NCAA Championship bid. Ten teams, representing three boats (Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four), will be selected at large by the NCAA Women's Rowing Committee. In addition, nine Varsity Eights not represented in the team competition will be selected, four of which must be Division II or III schools. Selection is May 15 with the championships taking place May 25-27 on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga.