University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Rowing Season Preview
February 11, 2010 | Rowing
Feb. 11, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. -
With a 13th Atlantic 10 title under its belt, the UMass Women's Rowing team is back in the driver's seat in the Atlantic 10 Conference heading into the 2010 season. The Minutewomen reclaimed the conference crown last season, defeating Rhode Island 141-117 while earning five gold medals and having four athletes named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference teams in the process.
Coming off a successful fall season that saw UMass compete in the 45th Head of the Charles Regatta on the snowy Charles River in Boston, Head Coach Jim Dietz is looking for the Minutewomen to build on the success of the fall season and defend their Atlantic 10 title. Dietz, currently in his 16th season at the helm of UMass Rowing, will be inducted in the National Rowing Hall of Fame in March and was recently named the Vice President of USRowing.
UMass will commence its spring season with a scrimmage on the Connecticut River against the Coast Guard Academy before traveling to Kingston, R.I. to compete in the Yankee Cup. Following a race against Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., the Minutewomen will have three races in Camden, N.J. culminating in the A-10 Championships.
Coach Dietz on his team's annual preseason Florida training trip:
We worked on trying to polish our technique and how we apply our power, while also continuing to build our base. Despite the cold weather, we logged more miles than we ever had before. Where we are unique is that we do so much work in small boats; you will never find that at most other schools. The boats are the ones that really teach you the most about technique because the balance is so acute.
The athletes have to think a lot more as they develop their core strength. We take our athletes out of their comfort zone by taking them out of the Eight Boat and put them in the small boat. I had 14 singles out in a row all down the lake, and we got to see the competitive nature of the athletes as some want to be in the front and others fall to the rear.
A lot of personal responsibility comes in as part of the training process in the small boats. They all make quick strides in the small boats, and we really see it when we get to the large boats. It makes me really optimistic this year going into the season. Most years I'll know my first and second boats, but those decisions are going to be much more difficult to make this year.
Dietz on his two captains and the leadership that they will provide:
I look to both Teresa O'Brien and Ana Tocco for a lot for leadership because I have upward of 65 women on the squad. The anchors of the program are really the captains because they stay in touch with the team. They identify who needs support, whether its training or with academic services. The motivation always comes through our captains. The athletes are here to get to their highest level, and we rely highly on the captains. They actually have a job here, and they are actually working.
Coach Dietz on the new Atlantic 10 points system and his freshman class:
We might have to look at the freshmen a lot more since the Atlantic 10 scoring has changed. In 2011, as we are no longer an emerging sport, the NCAA mandated that there will be automatic qualifiers in rowing, similar to many other NCAA Tournaments. Therefore the Atlantic 10 will have to produce a team to go to the NCAA Championships.
In 2011, the NCAA defines a team as two Eights and a Four. So in the past where there were nine events that we had to work the fill, now the focus is just on three of those events. Therefore freshmen who have the ability to move to varsity boats will be looked upon to move up. There are two or three freshmen that could make the break and move up. Come March, depending on their erg testing, there are three freshmen that could possibly move up.
Dietz on which Atlantic 10 teams will pose a threat to the Minutewomen this season:
The ones that are challenging the most are Rhode Island and St. Joseph's. They have sufficient scholarships for their programs , they have really nice boat houses, and they are drawing in really good athletes. Those two teams will be the ones to give us the most problems in the Atlantic 10.
Coach Dietz on being inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame and what it means to the UMass program:
For me, it's the culmination of a lifetime of rowing, and it's basically for my athletic performance. For the team, I think they're very happy for me. There is some credibility that comes with longevity, the ability to turn out successful crews year after year, and a lot of that is based on what I learned as an athlete.