Hoosiers hope to "get enemy" for conference title, aim for top 5 finish

There's blood in the water.\nMaybe not literally, but the IU rowing team is looking to avenge losses and prove they are capable of hanging with the best of the Big Ten. This Saturday, the crew travels to Minneapolis to kick off the Big Ten Championships, where they plan to settle old scores with the likes of Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin.\nOut of home turf and rowing into foreign waters, the Hoosiers have one thing on their minds -- cracking the top five.\n"You can't have a bad day in the Big Ten or else you'll be looking out for everybody," assistant coach Carmen Mirochna said. "It all comes down to the athlete's desire to see us (coaches) through to their senior year -- they have to want it and need to see their future."\nMirochna added that IU wants to beat Wisconsin the most. Having lost to the Badgers by the largest gap out of any crew this season, the Hoosiers hope to get revenge and prove their staying power.\nRanked sixth among 10 teams on the lake this weekend, IU understands they are sitting in tight company. The five crews seated ahead are ranked in the top 20 in the nation, said assistant coach Fran O'Rourke.\n"Mental intimidation definitely plays into this sport," O'Rourke said. "It's a really tough conference, but the girls are confident in their abilities, skills and talents."\nCoach Steve Peterson said teams aim to psych each other out, sometimes even before the race commences. Peterson said it plays a huge factor in how well his team races because there's no stopping and regrouping once the horn is sounded.\n"You've got to get the enemy to put you on a pedestal, because once you're there you have their confidence," he said.\nThough the opposition remains stiff, the season's pinnacle rests in the Hoosiers' youngest hands. Both novice teams have given the coaches something to cheer for and a future that looks impressive. Going into the Big Ten tournament, the first novice eight crew was ranked third in conference, the highest seed in school history.\nThis season, the first novice eight garnered a 10-2 record, the first double-digit winning season from any division in IU records. The second novice eight has also turned in a noteworthy performance. By season's end, they acquired a 7-3 record, beating out last year's by four victories.\nPeterson added that race refinement is critical for the Hoosiers. He said mental preparation and positive thinking will be what gets them through the upcoming weeks.\n"All boats have better records than IU has seen before," O'Rourke said. "We're putting in a lot of work at the boathouse, and they're getting faster. We're excited to see what they can do."\nThe Hoosiers head to Minneapolis this weekend to battle the boats for the Big Ten Championships.