THE 2005 HEAD OF THE GRAND



Coach Smythe sends off the Novice Men's 8 to a third place finish.
Photo by Elmer Goetsch
 
Sunday Oct. 23, 2005
Lansing, MI


The Michigan Tech Rowing Club traveled to Lansing, Mich. to compete in the Head of the Grand this past weekend where they placed in all but two races and received fan support that rivaled the other schools.

The Rowing Club faced the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Grand Valley State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Northern Michigan on Sunday in perfect weather conditions.
      
 “Given our obstacles for training and weather conditions in Houghton, I am very proud of our performance at the head of the Grand Regatta this past Sunday,” stated head coach Terry Smythe.
      
The Michigan Tech men’s novice eight, stroked by Brett Rosso, started the day for the Husky crew and finished in third place with a time of 11:31.
      
Grand Valley State and University of Michigan finished in first and second respectively, with times of 11:09 and 11:29.
      
The Huskies sent out two varsity fours into a very heated and exciting 11-boat race. The lightweight men’s four, stroked by Tim Sturtz, took fourth place with a time of 11:42.  The men’s heavyweight four, stroked by Eirik Vitso, placed seventh with a time of 11:57. Michigan State won the race with a time of 11:31 and was shortly followed by Michigan, at 11:33, and then Grand Valley B, at 11:41. The fight for third place was very tight as Grand Valley A, Michigan Tech and Grand Valley B were all within one second of each other.

After finishing the mens’s four race, Tim Wong, of the men’s lightweight four, proceeded back to the starting line in his single where he faced other singles, doubles and fours in and open/mixed race.
      

After finishing the Men's Openweight 4+ race, captain Tim Wong "hotseats" into his single to win his sculling race.  
Photo by Mr. Lecureux

Wong beat all singles, doubles and fours in the race as he finished in first place with a time of 13:07. Keith Antosh, who also raced in a single for the Huskies, placed 14th with a time of 16:10.

The Michigan Tech women’s novice eight, stroked by Kelly Matson, came off to a good start but was then plagued by some issues within the boat that caused them to stop at one point.  The Huskies boat finished in seventh place with a time of 14:07.

 “Our women’s eight rowed extremely well but was slowed by four crabs [oars getting caught under the water] and thus did not finish as strong as I had hoped, but I have complete confidence they will correct their mistakes and row to their potential at Elkhart this coming weekend,” said coach Smythe.
      
The Huskies also sent out two men’s novice fours, both of which placed in the top three.   Michigan Tech A, stroked by Mike Lecureux, finished in second with a time of 12:36, behind Northern Michigan who finished in 12:33. Michigan Tech B, stroked by Andrew Rames finished in third with a time of 12:41.
      
Ending the afternoon for the Huskies was the women’s novice four, otherwise known as the “fashion four,” as they stomped their competition by more than 30 seconds with a first place time of 14:10. Northern Michigan eventually followed with two boats at 14:41 and 15:52.
      
“Michigan Tech enjoyed awesome fan support at this event,” said Smythe.  “The parents rallied to provide housing and food for the weekend and we had an incredible cheering section that rivaled the other schools for the first time.”
      
The Rowing Club heads to Elkhart, Indiana this coming weekend, where they will face their final and most challenging regatta of the season. The Head of the Elk features crews from Perdue, Notre Dame, Marquette, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Grand Valley, Northern, West Virginia and many more.

Terry Smythe can be reached at
tsmythe@chartermi.net