For the women’s rowing team of the University of
Minnesota, a visit to the UCLA Boathouse in Marina Del Rey must be
a welcomed warm-temperature break from the winter climate of the
Twin Cities.
However, for the Bruins, the streaking Golden Golphers’
visit this Saturday may not be so welcome. Minnesota has won 19 of
its past 28 all-around races and has a Varsity Eight squad ranked
No. 18 nationally.
These numbers do not faze the UCLA rowers, as they can only work
on getting faster, not slowing their opponent.
“There’s no defense in rowing,” coach Amy
Fuller Kearney said.
“It doesn’t really matter who the opponent is. The
key is to stay relaxed.”
This Saturday’s meet is the fourth year of competition
between the two young programs.
Last season, the Bruins traveled to Minnesota, where the Gophers
captured a win in the Varsity Eight program. The Bruins’
Second Varsity Eight boat pulled out a victory at the event.
Against tough, inter-regional competition like Minnesota, the
team simply needs to rise to the challenge, Fuller Kearney
said.
There’s no special way to prepare for such tough
competition ““ only to make every stroke count in practice,
agreed co-captain and junior Erin Rice.
But what the Bruins can take heading into this weekend’s
meet is their performance last weekend at the San Diego Crew
Classic.
The Bruins placed sixth in the Second Varsity Eight and Novice
Eight and fifth in the Varsity Eight after all three UCLA squads
advanced to the Grand Finals.
In the Classic, the Bruins competed against some of the top
rowing schools in the nation, including California, Notre Dame, USC
and Wisconsin.
“We now know even more what our strengths and weakness
are,” Rice said. “It was out first time in a big
six-lane race and it gave us a gauge on how fast we are.”
In an effort to give everyone a chance and to find the top eight
rowers, all three boats had new combinations of rowers, Fuller
Kearney said.
“We had hoped for a little better performance on Sunday
(in the qualifiers),” Fuller Kearney said, “but I was
pleased to see progress from the week before. Everyone did a great
job.”
The right combinations this Saturday are exactly what Fuller
Kearney will be looking for to try to spoil the Gophers’
golden vacation.