IU Varsity 8 named Big Ten Boat of the Week

The Hoosiers cruised home from the Palmetto State in high tide, after their season-opening win at Clemson. In its ebb, they found a message that was no SOS. \nThe IU Varsity 8 -- the team's top boat -- was named Boat of the Week by the Big Ten. The tribute is a first for the five-year old rowing program that is slowly gaining respect in the competitive conference. Four of the seven Big Ten teams are ranked in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches/USRowing pre-season poll.\n"It was a big deal for us," said IU coach Steve Peterson. "Indiana has never gotten anything like this." \nThe young crew warmed to the news after a morning's row in rainfall and is taking the long view of this great compliment to its progress.\n"It's a big accomplishment for us and shows we're improving," said junior Lauren Anderson. "It made history. But we still have to work hard, since we'll be racing against some tough crews."\nThe accolade did keep IU from gearing up for the contest with Georgetown and North Carolina in the nation's capital tomorrow. \nPeterson wants to extend the distance his crew holds a higher stroke rating off the start and in the early stages of the 2,000-meter contest. \n"We want a really solid first thousand (meters)," he said. "That's our big goal."\nPeterson also worked on the crew's sprint in the final 250 meters. His analysis of last week's race indicated that the Hoosiers eased off before cranking it up for the final push -- the hallmark of a crew's toughness.\nIn addition to the Varsity 8, IU will enter a second Varsity 8, Varsity 4 and a Novice 8 in their respective events this weekend. \nAssistant coach Carmen Mirochna said the second Varsity 8 is getting more aggressive and hopes to tap its supply of potential, while the Varsity 4 wants "to unleash some of (its) speed." But it is IU's top boat the others hope to emulate.\n"The Varsity 8 has found a comfortable, long and aggressive rhythm that we'd like to pick up throughout the rest of the team," said Mirochna, who last year at Cornell was selected Eastern Sprints Novice Coach of the Year. \nGeorgetown's Varsity 8 and second Varsity 8 recorded second-place finishes and the Novice 8 a first in its season-opener last week. North Carolina will launch its season tomorrow.\nThe task for the Hoosiers, however, might be dealing with the temperamental Potomac River, the race venue. Peterson, who coached at George Washington University in the nation's capital for seven years before arriving at IU, said the current is "tricky and shifts around a lot." It can be a challenge for any a crew. But one of the reasons Peterson came to IU is the benefit that comes from rowing on Bloomington's Lake Lemon.\n"Having a still-water lake on which to develop boat feel is a huge advantage," he said. "Hopefully, that advantage will carry over on the Potomac."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Bill Meehan at wmeehan@indiana.edu.