Cardinal Rowing to Open Spring Season Sunday Against Minnesota
March 11, 2006 | Rowing
March 11, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville rowing team will open the 2006 spring racing season on Sunday with a dual race against Big Ten foe Minnesota at the Oak Ridge Regatta Course in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
The Cards enter the 2006 season, their first as a member of the BIG EAST Conference, with high expectations after a strong fall campaign and a 2005 season which featured the program's first-ever Top 20 ranking. To prepare for the pursuit of a BIG EAST title and the school's first berth in the NCAA Rowing Championships, U of L will face what is expected to be the program's most challenging schedule to date.
"We've increased the level of competition for the 2006 season, and it represents the finest programs from around the region and the entire nation," said sixth year U of L head coach Richard Ruggieri. "This schedule will enhance our focus, awareness and responsibility to perform daily in practice and on the race course."
The Cards will open with Minnesota, which ended the 2005 season ranked No. 17 in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Varsity Eight Poll, while U of L closed the season ranked at No. 22. Louisville's 2006 schedule also features a dual race on March 25 with Tennessee, ranked sixth nationally in the final poll, and an appearance at the Indiana Cup on April 8 where the Cards will face reigning national champion California, No. 11 Wisconsin and No. 25 Indiana.
The Cards visit Worchester, Mass., on April 30 for the BIG EAST Conference Championships where they will face strong competition, including No. 16 Syracuse and No. 21 Notre Dame. From there, U of L will compete in the NCAA South/Central Regional Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on May 13-14 where the Cards will be joined by No. 3 Ohio State, No. 6 Virginia, No. 12 Michigan, No. 14 Michigan State and No. 20 Iowa, along with Tennessee, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Notre Dame and Indiana.
"We have a great amount of respect for all of our competition and we will prepare for them with great care and determination," Ruggieri said. "It's our goal to focus upon what we can control, improve and implement. This internal focus is further enhanced by a program which is deeper, yet equally committed to reaching our full potential."
One noticeable change for the 2006 season for U of L is the addition of a conference championship event and the Cards are excited about the pursuit of a BIG EAST title. Conference USA did not sponsor a rowing championship, while in the BIG EAST, U of L is one of nine schools competing for the conference title including Syracuse, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Rutgers, Villanova and West Virginia.
"We're very excited to finally attend the BIG EAST Championship," Ruggieri said. "It gives our student-athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest level representing the University of Louisville with great pride. We're very fortunate to be part of the largest rowing conference in the nation, and we a great deal of respect for all of our new conference opponents."
