After finishing off Ohio State at last Sunday's Jack Speakman Regatta in Columbus, the Michigan crew team is preparing for another head-style race at this Sunday's Head of the Elk Regatta in Elkhart, Ind.
Both the freshman and varsity teams are looking to the coxswains to keep them on the right track.
"We have three very good coxswains on the varsity team," Michigan coach Mark Rothstein said. "We also have very good coxswains on the freshman team. In a head style race, the coxswain can make a big difference. The course that they steer is very important."
This Sunday, the Wolverines will face competition that includes Purdue, Indiana and Northwestern, but no first-place finishes are guaranteed.
"I don't really know what the competition is like, but we hope to do well," junior rower Tina Stutzman said. "We expect to be at the top. We were very happy about our performance against Ohio State. We came in first and second and they came in third."
Besides speeding past the competition this fall, Michigan's long-term objective is to prepare for the spring season.
"At this point in the season, we are more focused on improvement," Rothstein said. "I feel we have a good chance to win (on Sunday), but we're focused on getting faster. The athletes have been working extra hard this fall. The work we do right now will pay off in the spring."
The freshman team is also showing a lot of promise for a successful spring, after last Sunday's second-place finish.
"We feel very good about the freshman," Rothstein said. "We feel they are developing and that they are where they need to be. We expect them to be very fast in the spring. A lot of talent is going to develop in the next four years."