Hoosiers honored for first time since 2005 with Big Ten Boat of the Week

The IU rowing team picked up its first weekly award from the Big Ten on Tuesday, as the first varsity eight boat was named Co-Big Ten Boat of the Week along with Michigan State’s varsity four.\nThe Hoosiers defeated Dayton and Eastern Michigan last Saturday at Lake Lemon in the final home regatta of the Hoosiers this season. In the boat for the Hoosiers were junior coxswain Madison Spruell, sophomore Molly Sinks, sophomore Katie Liston, junior Ashley Johnson, junior Jamie Spoto, senior Cassady Bethel-Thompson, freshman Ellie Benson, senior Kiri Crane and sophomore \nEmily Kasavana.\n“The Big Ten Boat of the Week honors are a great reward for these athletes, and the team as a whole, for all of the hard work they have put in through the winter months preparing for the spring season,” said IU coach Steve Peterson. \nThe award is the first weekly award for the Hoosiers since March 21, 2005 when the first varsity eight claimed \nthe honors.\n“To get Big Ten Boat of the Week is very exciting for us as a crew,” Johnson said in an e-mail. “It is rewarding to see the work we did during winter training pay off. We are all looking forward to seeing how competitive we can be for the duration of \nour season.”\nThe team could not have received this award without each other, though, said assistant coach Fran O’Rourke.\n“Our team knows that only if the whole team wins, will we truly have done our job as a team,” O’Rourke said.\nThe athletes have not had as much preparation on the water, so when they compete in regattas with 20-mile-per-hour headwinds and white caps, it is not easy for the team to perform to its expectations.\n“This year has been extremely hard on the athletes because we haven’t been able to get on the water to practice like we normally do because of the weather,” O’Rourke said. “Instead they have been stuck inside on the rowing machines and in the weight room, much more than they normally have to.”\nWhile they continue to work harder, the Hoosiers are focused on the Big Ten championships at the end of the season.\n“I have been really proud of the athletes because they have done a great job keeping their focus on improving on those things they could work on while training off the water, instead of worrying about the fact that they haven’t been on the water,” Peterson said. \nLess-than-perfect conditions were present on Lake Lemon last Saturday. considering both the strong winds and water current. Only the two varsity eight races took place before the conditions were determined no longer safe for the remainder of \nthe boats.\nComing off a successful week, Hoosiers will travel Saturday to East Lansing, Mich., to compete against Michigan State and Miami.