Pro Hockey News

Thursday, May 18, 2023

JU: Women's Rowing Learns Seeding, Future Opponent

JACKSONVILLE (www.sportsdayjax.com)- The Jacksonville women's rowing team gathered at the River House on the campus of Jacksonville University Tuesday where they learned their seeding and opponents ahead of the upcoming NCAA Rowing Championships.

Just days removed from the team's seventh MAAC Championship in program history and securing their second consecutive automatic bid to this year's NCAA Championships, the Dolphins now know who they will face off against in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. 

Texas received the top seed after being the only school to have a boat in the top three of each of the competition's events, including taking the first overall seed in the Varsity Four's. There were 11 conference champions who earned automatic bids and an additional 11 at-large selections to complete the field of 22 teams.Looking at the at-large selections, the Dolphins will compete against some of the fastest schools in the country, including five-time NCAA champions Washington, and four-time champions California. The remaining at-large selections include Brown, Duke, Indiana, Ohio State, Pennsylvania, Rutgers, Southern California, Syracuse and Yale.After the announcement of the field, JU and other schools learned their boats seeding's ahead of the upcoming events. The Dolphins were seeded 22nd in both the Varsity and Second Varsity Eight's while their Varsity Four was seeded 21st, ahead of George Washington.After the selection show, head coach Mike Lane and Director of Athletics Alex Ricker-Gilbert spoke in front of the team to congratulate and offer words of encouragement to the Dolphins."Making it to the NCAA Championships is the ultimate goal," said coach Lane. "I am so proud of this team and their hard work. However, this year is different. We not only wanted to make it but we want to do something special. We want to beat some teams and have the best MAAC finish ever! We truly are the little engine that could, I know we can!"The Dolphins will now prepare for the next week before they head up to Cherry Hill for the NCAA Championships, which begin on May 26th.