UVa hopes to get over NCAA hump

The phrase “Always a bridesmaid, never the bride” couldn’t possibly be more applicable than it has been to the Virginia women’s rowing team.

In the 12-year history of the NCAA Championships, UVa has participated 11 times and has finished as the runner-up three times — in 1999, in 2005, and again last year.

This morning, Virginia’s quest for its first title continues in Sacramento, Calif. as the championships get underway at 11 a.m. (EST) with heats and qualifying races.

UVa coach Kevin Sauer admits winning the whole enchilada would be huge, but nobody’s putting any added pressure on themself.

“We don’t think like, ‘Oh, we have a monkey on our back or anything like that,’” said Sauer by phone from Lake Natoma in Sacramento. “We just go out and try and do the best job we can each and every race and each and every year.”

Virginia, the No. 4 team in the country, will be part of a 12-team field that also includes Brown, California, Harvard, Michigan State, Ohio State, Princeton, Tennessee, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin and Yale.

“There are a lot of good teams out here and a lot of good competition,” Sauer said. “We’ll know a lot more after the heats [today]. We won’t know how we [stack up] until we actually start racing, but I think we’re well prepared and pretty fired up to see what we can do.”

Virginia is coming off strong performances in the South Region and South/Central Region championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn on May 18. UVa’s Varsity Eight swept all three of its races.

“We feel good about doing well at that regatta,” Sauer said, “but [NCAA’s] is a whole another level. It’s all about improving in the few weeks from the regionals until now. That’s what it’s all about.”

Virginia has had individual boats win national championships on six occasions. The Second Varsity Eight was victorious in 1998, 1999 and 2005; the Varsity Four won in 2004, 2005 and last year.

This year, Virginia’s Varsity Eight, which consists of Caitlin Mixter, Jennifer Cromwell, Rebecca Ryall, Lauren Hutchins, Kelsie Chaudoin, Desiree Burns, Augusta Stratos, Bridget Wandelt and Katrin Sydlik, is ranked No. 4 in the nation.

UVa’s Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four will also be in search of national titles, having each placed second at the regional races.

The championship semifinals will continue on Saturday at 11 a.m. The final races are slated for Sunday at 12:45 p.m.

“Everyone’s prepared and everyone’s psyched,” Sauer said. “We just need to find a way to do a little bit better than everybody else. That’s the challenge.”