IU returns from trip with silver medal

The IU women's rowing team traveled to Chattanooga, Tenn., this weekend to compete in the 26th annual Head of the Hooch regatta. The rowers on the first novice boat left with a silver medal, just 0.8 seconds shy of capturing the gold. \n"We all went out really hard and enthusiastic about the race, and we had our goals set from the very beginning to finish in the top three," freshman novice eight rower Laura Jones said. "This was our first real race, and considering we had five walk-ons and only three recruits on this boat, it was pretty incredible how well we did."\nThe crew finished the three-mile race in 16:41.2, placing second to the University of Texas. The second novice boat, which competed in the same race, finished in seventh, clocking in at 17:38.0.\n"The novices did great, and we're really excited about that," IU coach Steve Peterson said. "That boat is a sign of the future, and it shows the potential we have to do well down the line."\nThe varsity boat did not see the same success that the novices did. It placed 11th in the women's championship eight race, an event in which members expected to finish in the top two. The second varsity eight placed 13th in the same event.\n"After seeing success at the Head of the Charles a few weeks ago, we felt like we'd made a big step, and we have been working with really high intensity, and we didn't meet our expectations," senior varsity eight coxswain Betsy Hibbard said. "At the Head of the Charles, we got a taste of what it's like to race, what it's like to row so hard you die. We rowed better than any of the crews at the Head of the Hooch, but we just didn't pull." \nA variety of factors contributed to the varsity boat's sub-par performance, Peterson said. Three of the rowers obtained injuries in the past week that prevented them from rowing, and a few of the athletes who did race were ill. Problems at the race threw off the rowers, as well. The course was closed Friday, a day designated for practice time to enable crews to get a feel for the course before racing it, and delays on race day left the rowers waiting more than an hour on the water before being able to start. \nDespite facing disappointment after the varsity boat's performance Saturday, the Hoosiers are looking forward and focusing on preparing for their spring season, Peterson said.\n"The nice thing about rowing is that this is just the fall preseason," Peterson said. "We have a lot of time now to learn from our mistakes in the fall and work better for the spring, and I'm very optimistic about what's going to happen then"