Rowing preview: Heart of Texas
March 5, 2009
Texas at the Heart of Texas • Head coach Carie Graves and Texas Rowing hit the waters of Lady Bird Lake, Saturday, March 7 for their second regatta of the spring season. The Longhorns will race varsity eights, fours and pairs at the Heart of Texas. • The Heart of Texas is a 1,000 meter sprint race held annually in March, making it one of the first sprint races of the Spring. All types of events are offered, including -1x, 4x, 2- and 8+. Junior, Collegiate, Open, Masters, Novice and Recreational categories are offered. The Austin Rowing Club first held the Heart of Texas Regatta in 1983 and the event has grown to include Masters and Junior events and a seven lane, fully buoyed course and state-of-the-art starting platform. Over 500 boats will compete at the 2009 Regatta. • At the 2008 Heart of Texas, the Longhorns entered two evenly balanced varsity eight boats and claimed first and second place in the women’s open eight. The boat comprised of coxswain Annie Heiner, stroke Alex Janss, Emilie Sallee, Jen Vander Maarel, Angela Kirchner, Danielle Bartz, Lindsay Foster, Laura Perkins and Sara Cottingham posted a time of 3:18.6 to place first in the open eight. • In UT’s last race (2/14), the Horns shined in their 2009 debut, capturing first and second place at the Fighting Nutria. The Longhorns’ two varsity eight boats claimed the top spots, while UT’s first and second novice boats finished fifth and seventh respectively. Texas’ first-place boat of coxswain Annie Heiner, Stephanie Matejka, Callie Mattrisch, Courtney Nicklas, Karli Sheahan, Jelena Zunic, Sara Cottingham, Laura Perkins and Felicia Izaguirre-Werner crossed the finish in 28:30. The Longhorns’ second place eight comprised of coxswain Mary Cait McPherson, Meg George, Nancy Arrington, Jacqueline Gorcyca, Anna Thomson, Colleen Irby, Allyson Weiland, Sally Tunell and Angela Kirchner posted a time of 28:34.
• The Texas’ second varsity eight boat completed the 2008 Fighting Nutria second among women’s crews, finishing in 29:07.0, while the Horns’ first novice eight boat placed third, finishing in 30:00.0. The Horns’ second novice boat finished sixth (31:41.0) and the third novice eight finished seventh (31:55.0), while the fourth novice eight finished eighth (32:45.0). • In the fall season, Texas opened its home racing calendar at the Head of the Colorado (10/25) and notched six victories. The Longhorns picked up wins in the first novice eight, open four, open single scull, second novice eight, women’s pair and novice four races. Texas also picked up a second and fourth-place finish in the women’s open eight. • At the Head of the Colorado, Texas’ first varsity eight of coxswain Mary Cait McPherson, Jennifer VanderMaarel, Callie Mattrisch, Jelena Zunic, Anna Thomson, Meg George, Nancy Arrington, Jacqueline Gorcyca and Felicia Izaguirre-Werner recorded a time of 17:15.5 and earned second place in the open eight, while the second varsity eight crossed the finish in 17:36.7 and claimed fourth. Texas’ four entries shined in the women’s open pair, claiming first, second, third and sixth place. The tandem of Thomson and Sara Cottingham placed first (21:33.9), the pair of George and Mattrisch (21:58.2) took second, while Angela Kirchner and Colleen Irby placed third (21:58.6) and Sally Tunell and Emily Cook claimed sixth (22:40.9). • Texas boasts a talented class of freshman rowers on its 2008-09 squad, including Emma Dirks, Mackenzie Gandy, Jacqueline Gorcyca, Felicia Izaguirre-Werner, Megan Kelly, Karli Sheahan, Anna Thomson and Allison Weiland. Varsity lineups Coxswain Annie Heiner, Stephanie Matejka, Callie Mattrisch, Jennifer VanderMaarel, Karli Sheahan, Courtney Nicklas, Sara Cottingham, Laura Perkins and Angela Kirchner Fours Coxswain Charli Brickner, Zunic, Cottingham, Nicklas, Thomson Coxswain Colby Lowrey, Gorcyca, Izaguirre-Werner, George and Mattrisch Pairs |
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