April 18, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame rowing team is set to travel to its first ever appearance in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)/Big Ten Challenge on Saturday on Belleville Lake in Belleville, Mich. Alongside No. 4 Virginia, the No. 9 Irish will represent the ACC in a dual racing event against No. 3 Ohio State and the host team of the regatta, No. 10 Michigan.
Notre Dame’s racing schedule is set to begin at 9:24 a.m. (ET) on Saturday against Ohio State. Each team’s open eight will be the first boats in the water for the event, followed by the fourth varsity fours of both Michigan and Notre Dame squaring off at approximately 9:36. Third varsity four racing between the Irish and Buckeyes will begin at 10:00, followed by the second (10:24) and first varsity fours (10:48).
The morning session will conclude with the second varsity eights of Notre Dame and Ohio State racing at approximately 11:12. Each program’s first varsity eight will follow at 11:36 to close the matchup between the teams.
Following a break for lunch, Notre Dame and Michigan will officially begin its heads-up race schedule with open eight racing at 1:24 p.m. The team’s fourth varsity four boats will take the water at 1:36, with the third varsity four to tentatively follow at 2:00, the second varsity four at 2:24 and the first varsity four at 2:48.
The afternoon is scheduled to wrap up with varsity eight competition. The Irish and Wolverine second varsity eight crews will tentatively begin at 3:12, with the first varsity eight boats expected to launch at 3:36.
Saturday’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge will mark the first time this season that Notre Dame has raced against both Ohio State and Michigan. The Buckeyes received a total of three first-place votes in the most recent Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/USRowing Coaches Poll that was released on Wednesday.
–ND–