Top Big Ten foes on deck for Michigan crew at home

By Albert Kim

Daily Sports Writer

The No. 7 Michigan rowing team hopes to avoid getting snowed under - both literally and figuratively - this weekend as it hosts rivals Ohio State and Michigan State at Ford Lake in Ypsilanti on Saturday and Sunday. Despite the cancellation of last weekend's race due to weather, the team hasn't lost intensity.

Practices have been good, and the team chemistry is still positive. In some ways, the weekend off has made the Wolverines hungrier.

"There have been no signs of rustiness, and no problems with team chemistry. We're just looking forward to racing again," Michigan coach Mark Rothstein said.

The Wolverines are looking forward to taking on arch rivals Ohio State and Michigan State because they are quality teams - ranked No. 11 and 17 respectively - and they will come in looking to upset the Wolverines.

"It's going to be a tough two races this weekend. We have a lot of respect for both programs," Rothstein said.

This weekend is more important than just the rivalries, though. This is the first and only home meet of the season for the Wolverines. It's a chance to shine in front of the home crowd for the team, and the only chance for fans to see their national championship caliber Wolverines.

The rowers must prove it on the water, but the preparation starts with the coach. Rothstein has been coaching for eight years at Michigan, five on the club level and the last three on varsity.

In those three years of varsity existence, Rothstein has built a top-10 team capable of winning the national championship every year. He gets the most out of his team, as evidenced by fifth-place finishes the last two years. His rowers respect him as a person and a coach.

"He's a great person, and I feel very lucky to have been coached by him," All-American Kate Johnson said.

As expected this early in the season, there have been lineup changes. Junior Melanie Duncan (port) and sophomore Angela Bierhuizen (starboard) have both moved up to the varsity boat.

And most notably freshman coxswain Helen Dalis moved up to the varsity boat.

In a sport where experience counts for so much, Dalis has progressed at a rapid pace since her arrival at Michigan. A native of Augusta, Ga., she was the coxswain of the first boat for the National Junior Team over the summer, the second year in a row she had participated.

Considered the best high school coxswain in the country, Dalis was expected to make an immediate impact on the team, and she has not disappointed. She established herself as the second-boat coxswain early in the winter, and has matured quickly into varsity-boat material.

"I'm pretty excited about it, and we've had some good practices the last few days," Dalis said.

It appears to be the perfect timing for Dalis to get a chance with the varsity boat, because Ohio State's coxswain is a former teammate of Dalis from Augusta. In addition, the coach for Ohio State was one of the coaches for the National Junior Team. Dalis' Michigan pride is on the line, and she is hoping to produce.

"In a nice way, I'd like to kick their butts," Dalis said.

The next four races for this squad will show a lot about the Wolverines. The team's resolve and mental toughness will be tested. The biggest thing that these races will do is prepare for the major concentration of the season - the Big Ten, the NCAA regional and NCAA tournament.

These three will be the true measuring stick of whether the season will be deemed a success or not. They are an opportunity for the Wolverines to shine, and there is no doubt that the team controls its own destiny.

"We know we have the ability to be a very fast team, now we just have to go out and prove that on the water," Rothstein said.

Crewsing on

This weekend is your one and only chance to witness seventh-ranked Michigan at home as they face their arch rivals, Michigan State and Ohio State on Saturday and Sunday.

Then the Wolverines continue on to the NCAAs where they finished fifth last season.

Here is the rest of this season's schedule for Michigan:

Apr. 15 Ohio St. Ypsilanti*

Apr. 16 Mich. St. Ypsilanti*

Apr. 29 Big Tens Madison

May 13 Regionals Oak Ridge, Tenn.

May 26 NCAAs Camden, N.J.

* indicates home meets at Ford Lake