May 16, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -
Following two weeks off from competition, the University of Louisville rowing team will return to action this weekend at the South/Central Regional in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
The event will begin on Saturday morning with heat races in the varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four, novice eight and open four events, and following a mid-day break, the afternoon schedule will include semifinal races in all five categories. Sunday's schedule will include grand, petite, `C' and `D' finals in the five events. The team champion from the event will win the Aramark Cup.
The Cards enter the weekend just outside the USRowing/CRCA Varsity Eight Top 20 poll for the fourth straight week, ranking 23rd overall. South/Central region foes Michigan State and Tennessee are the highest ranking crews in this week's coaches' poll as the Spartans are No. 5 while the Lady Vols are No. 6 overall.
Other South/Central crews ranked in this week's US Rowing/CRCA Varsity Eight Top 20 include No. 9 Virginia, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 13 Michigan, No. 16 Minnesota, No. 17 Clemson and No. 18 Notre Dame.
At last year's South/Central Regional, the Cards finished 10th overall in the team standings after winning the varsity eight petite final and finishing fourth in the open four grand final. Louisville's best ever finish at the South/Central Regional was seventh in 2003.
In their last outing, the Cards finished second overall for the third straight year at the BIG EAST Championships in Oak Ridge. Louisville advanced to the grand final in each of the six racing events, earning four second-place finishes. Notre Dame won the BIG EAST team title for the fifth straight season.
