University of Virginia Library

Hosts Marietta Monday

Crew Faces Irish

By Randy Wert
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Panos Eliades' Rowers Race Five Other Schools Including Notre Dame In Richmond

VCU, East Carolina, UNC, Salisbury State Also Row In Saturday's Warmup For Marietta

Saturday is the big day for the
Virginia Rowing Association as the
sturdy mariners trek to Richmond
for their first regatta of the spring
season.

After training all winter in every
kind of cold, including days which
saw ice form on oars and boards
alike, the gentlemen of the crew
team under coach Panos Eliades are
eagerly anticipating the race on the
James River against boats from
Virginia Commonwealth, East
Carolina, North Carolina, Salisbury
State and big name Notre Dame.
With three eights and a four
scheduled to attend the event, the
oarsmen are set for the grudge
battle with VCU after splitting two
races during the fall season. The
2,000 meter races in the Varsity,
Junior Varsity, and Freshman
divisions will begin in the 9 a.m.
gloom and must be completed by
10 due to tide conditions on the
course.

With only one day rest, the crew
will host Marietta College from
Ohio Monday afternoon in a very
important race which should go far
to enhance Virginia's stature in the
world of rowing. Marietta, on their
way home after a tour of Florida, is
a traditionally strong team which
has spent its spring break honing
the rough edges in several southern
races. The sport of crew is rather
grueling to have two big races so
close together, but the prestige and
challenge of scheduling Marietta
makes the effort worthwhile. The
Monday afternoon meet will be
held at the crew's Rivanna
Reservoir course and will begin at
about 4:00. The Rivanna course is
considered by many as one of the
finest is the south due mainly to its
straightness near the finish and the
relative calmness of the surface.
Interested fans may reach the site
by turning left from Route 29
north onto Hydraulic road at
K-mart and continuing past
Albemarle High School for just a
few miles.

The Coach Eliades has two
nearly equal boats from which to
choose his Varsity and JV
representatives. With neither shell
having an advantage, only a trial
race will decide which boat gets the
Varsity nod. One eight man crew
has a distinct height and weight
edge but the second shell
compensates by using a longer,
slightly faster stroke. The freshman
boat is strong but reasonably
inexperienced.

Chances of victories in
Saturday's regatta in Richmond are
good while the race against the well
established Marietta eight will be
challenging as well as taxing.