Rowing Team Kicks Off Season with Home Race
TONAWANDA, NY – The University at Buffalo rowing team held its first event Saturday morning. The Bulls had 70 rowers practicing and racing on a beautiful morning on Tonawanda Creek.
Racing the 5k course, the Varsity 4 boat finished with a time of 19:21.67 to beat out the Second Varisty 4 boat that finished with a time of 20:25.28.
The Varsity 8 boats raced against D'Youville College. UB's Second Varsity 8 boat finished with a time of 18:33.18 to edge out Buffalo's Lightweight 8 boat that finished with a time of 19:18.12. D'Youville finished third with a time of 22:10.54.
Overall, head coach Rudy Wieler was pleased with his team's performance.
"The practices have been tough and this is one of our weekly scrimmage races," Wieler said "I really feel the kids are doing a good job under tough training conditions. Before the race, our kids did the 5k erg and then raced 5k on the water and that's not easy."
Following the race, the team christened its newest shell. The boat is named in honor of head coach Rudy Wieler who is in his ninth year as the head coach of the program.
Buffalo will next race at the Head of the Genesee in Rochester, NY on Oct. 15.