Rowers win at invitational

The Hoosiers capped off a successful weekend with victories in the first varsity four and second novice eight races at the Indianapolis Invitational. This was an important weekend for the team with Big Ten Championships just a week away. \nCoach Mark Wilson said he was happy with how the team rowed this weekend.\n"Overall, the team did a nice job," Wilson said. "We did what we wanted to do. Overall, it was a good day."\nThe first varsity four was the story of the day. In an effort to get even more experience before the Big Ten Championships, Wilson had the second varsity eight row divide into two varsity four boats. Despite the fact that neither of the varsity four boats had ever practiced together, the first varsity four took first place with a time of 7:44 and the second varsity four placed fourth with a time of 8:09. Colorado came in two seconds behind the first varsity four to take second place while Northwestern's first varsity four took third with a time of 7:54.\nThe second novice eight continued its winning ways placing first in its race with a time of 7:22, finishing ten seconds ahead of the nearest competitor, Eastern Michigan. Finishing in a close third was Michigan State with a time of 7:33.\nThe first novice eight fared well in its race too. The boat took second place with a time of 7:06 finishing just four seconds behind Purdue. Eastern Michigan placed third with a time of 7:14.\nThe varsity eight took fourth in its race with a time of 7:04. Finishing first was Eastern Michigan with a time of 6:54 while Purdue placed second with a time of 6:58. Third place went to the Ohio State club team with a time of 7:03, edging out the Hoosiers by a second. Wilson said he wasn't pleased with how the varsity eight rowed.\n"I wasn't super happy with the way they rowed," he said. "We finished behind the Ohio State club team which I wasn't pleased with but we've made some changes for next week."\nThe second varsity eight had the same fate as the first varsity eight. The Hoosiers finished fourth in the race with a time of 7:27. Placing first was Purdue 'B' with a time of 7:08 while second place went to Eastern Michigan who came in at 7:10. Finishing third was Purdue 'A' with a time of 7:22.\nThe novice four came into the Indianapolis Invite having never practiced together yet they finished third with a time of 8:19. Purdue 'A' placed first with a time of 8:06 while Purdue 'B' took second with a time of 8:16.\nThe Hoosier's next regatta is this weekend when they go the Big Ten Championships in Columbus, Ohio.