PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Eight BIG EAST schools will compete on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., for the 2012 BIG EAST Rowing Championship on Sunday, May 13. Preliminary races will begin at 8 a.m. Eastern time, with the first final to start at 11:00 a.m. This year marks the eighth annual BIG EAST Rowing Championship but will be the 12th time the BIG EAST will crown a conference champion. The championship was formerly referred to as a “challenge” from 2001-2004. Notre Dame has claimed each of last eight titles dating back to 2004.
The Irish will look to improve on their streak by winning ninth-straight BIG EAST rowing title. The eight consecutive BIG EAST titles is the longest current active streak in the conference in any sport. Notre Dame enters as the favorite in all five scoring events; including the varsity eight, second varsity eight, varsity four, second varsity four and third varsity eight. Entering the competition, the Irish are the only BIG EAST team in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/USRowing team rankings, coming in at No. 15.
Notre Dame’s varsity eight earned a win over No. 2 seed Syracuse at Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 28. The Irish crossed the line 0.6 seconds ahead of the Orange the varsity eight Grand Final.
In other varsity eight action this season, No. 3 Louisville won a head-to-head race against No. 4 Georgetown on April 29 at Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Cardinals finished in a time of 6:49.3, while the Hoyas crossed the line at 6:55.0.
The remaining varsity eight seeds include No. 5 West Virginia, No. 6 Rutgers, No. 7 Connecticut and No. 8 Villanova.
Championship Central
For Complete coverage of the2012 BIG EAST Rowing Championship checkout the Championship Central Page. Results and other exclusive content can be seen free of charge.
All-Time BIG EAST Rowing Champions
2001* Syracuse
2002* Syracuse
2003* Syracuse
2004* Notre Dame
2005 Notre Dame
2006 Notre Dame
2007 Notre Dame
2008 Notre Dame
2009 Notre Dame
2010 Notre Dame
2011 Notre Dame
*Known as BIG EAST Challenge from 2001-2004.
