April 29, 2010
STANFORD, Calif. - The storied rivalry between cross-bay institutions Stanford and California continues Saturday morning as the crews from the respective schools take to the water of Redwood Shores in the Big Row. Action is set to begin at 9:45 a.m. as the men's freshmen eight boats lead things off.
The men will continue weekend action Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in a dual race against ORegon State at Redwood Shores.
The Big Row on Saturday also will be dedicated to cancer awareness as both schools will wear colors symbolic of the brave people who struggle daily with these illnesses.
"This is the first year since I have been coaching at Stanford where the teams match up with traditional first-year collegiate student-athletes," said Stanford Director of Rowing and men's head coach Craig Amerkhanian. "In the past we have raced against much older and internationally seasoned rowers."
"The race should be fantastic, the 2V and varsity 8 races will be very challenging," Amerkhanian continued. "We will race with energy and focus and see where we are. The Pac-10 Championships are two weeks away so this weekend is our last tuneup. OSU on Sunday at 9:30am will be our final dual race before the Pac-10's on May 16."
The Stanford men and women as well as the lightweight crews are all returning to action after a break of two weeks.
Last time out, the Cardinal men hosted the Stanford Invitational at Redwood Shores, with the Frosh Eight highlighting things with a perfect 4-for-4 performance in its races. The I and II Eights each went 2-1, as the I Eight defeated Michigan and Santa Clara, and the II Eight downed Michigan and Sonoma State.
The Cardinal women took second overall at the Lake Natoma Invitational last weekend, as the top three teams all hailed from the Pac-10. Only California finished higher than the Cardinal two weekends ago, and Stanford will be looking to exact some retribution Saturday at Redwood Shores ahead of the Pac-10 Championships in two weeks.
The Lightweights enjoyed a successful weekend on the East Coast two weeks ago, downing Harvard and MIT in Boston, Mass.
Once again at this year's Big Row, Dan Gordon of the Gordon Biersch brewery is hosting the annual Big Row BBQ during and following the races.
2010 Big Row Schedule (May 1)
9:45 a.m. - Men's Frosh Eights
10:00 a.m. - Women's I Eights
10:15 a.m. - Men's II Eights
10:30 a.m. - Women's II Eights
10:40 a.m. - Men's Varsity Fours
10:50 a.m. - Women's Varsity Fours
11:00 a.m. - Men's I Eights
11:10 a.m. - Women's Novice Eights
Directions to Redwood Shores:
From Highway 101 take the Marine Parkway/Ralston Avenue exit (head east)
At the first light turn right on to Twin Dolphin Drive.
At the first light turn left on to Lagoon and enter the parking lot.
Men's Lineups
Men's Varsity 8
Coxswain - Amelia Carr
8 - Aaron Frankl
7 - Alec Levy
6 - Dane McFadden
5 - Alex Syverson
4 - Bodie Manly
3 - Ryan Sudeck
2 - Peter Lemputtee
1 - Dean Walker
2V8
Coxswain - Alex Topacio
8 - Chip Schroeder
7 - Austin Keeley
6 - Joe Brendel
5 - David Evans
4 - Edwin Brower
3 - Devon Hinton
2 - Eric Mefford
1 - Delamon Rego