ACC loss drives Virginia

At last month’s ACC championships in Tennessee, the Virginia women’s rowing team finished second behind Clemson. It was the first time in 10 years that UVa didn’t come away with the ACC title.

While the setback might have been a harbinger for some programs, it has proved just the opposite for the Cavaliers.

A week after the defeat, Virginia responded with resounding wins in an event on the Charles River in Boston. Then, two weeks ago, won the South/Central Regional championships for the third straight year.

As the NCAA championships get under way this morning in Cherry Hill, N.J., one thing is pretty clear: Losing at the ACCs may have been a blessing in disguise.

Virginia coach Kevin Sauer agreed that losing to Clemson in the event was a turning point of sorts.

“We had to identify what was holding us back,” Sauer said. “Basically, we just said, ‘Let’s just cut all the B.S. and do what we’re capable of doing.’

“I think the kids took that to heart.”

In the Varsity Eight race at regionals, UVa defeated Clemson, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin — all teams that will compete at the NCAA championships this weekend — in the grand final. Rounding out the 16-team field are Brown, California, Dartmouth, Harvard, Oregon State, Princeton, Southern California, Stanford, Washington and Yale.

“There are a lot of crews out there that could do something here,” Sauer said. “It’s pretty wide open.”

At regionals, Virginia took the overall team title and victories in the Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Novice Eight. Following the competition, Varsity Eight rowers Desiree Burns, Amanda Chase, Jennifer Cromwell and Augusta Stratos were named all-region by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA).

Sauer likes where his team is heading into this year’s championship.

“All the boats have responded really well,” he said. “Everyone’s been really consistent over the last couple of weeks. The two eights have acquired even more speed since the regionals and the 4s have gotten faster as well. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

At last year’s NCAA championship, Virginia finished fifth in the team standings behind champion Brown, Washington, California and Yale. UVa’s Varsity Four finished second, its Second Varsity Eight finished fourth and its Varsity Eight finished eighth.

Virginia has earned a berth to 12 NCAA championships in the 13-year history of the regatta. The Cavaliers have finished as runner-up at the NCAA championships three times in school history, most recently in 2007. That year, the Varsity Four was the national champion. In addition to that boat, five Virginia crews have been NCAA champions: the Second Varsity Eight (1998, 1999, 2005) and the Varsity Four (2004, 2005 and 2007).

Could this be Virginia’s year to win its first team championship?

“We really don’t go in saying, ‘This is our year to win,’” Sauer said. “It’s hard to know. It’s what you can bring, but also what other crews can bring. I told the kids the other day that we’re in the hunt and that means that we have a shot. Now it’s just up to us over the next few days to do it.”