Clemson Ranked #13 in USRowing/CRCA NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll

March 12, 2009

Clemson, SC – Clemson’s varsity eight boat is ranked 13th in the latest USRowing/CRCA poll, marking the highest preseason ranking in program history. The Tigers finished last season ranked #14 after finishing 14th at the NCAA Rowing Championships.

“It is good to begin the season with a pre-season ranking but every coach would say that there is so much more to see,” said Head Coach Richard Ruggieri. “We will keep trying to get faster and do what is necessary to create an overall team push as the season progresses.”

Yale University, who won the varsity eight race at last year’s NCAA Championships, earned 22 of 25 first-place votes to earn the No. 1 ranking. The University of Virginia earned a sixth place ranking, the only ACC crew ranked ahead of the Tigers.

Clemson began the 2009 season on February 28th in a scrimmage against Eastern Michigan. The Varsity 8+ defeated the Eagles in three 1500-meter pieces. The Tigers will return to the water on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM on Lake Hartwell against Alabama, Penn and Marist.

Women’s NCAA Division I Varsity Eights

Team (1st-Place Votes) Points

1. Yale University (22) 494

2. Brown University (1) 425

3. University of Washington 420

4. Stanford University (2) 413

5. University of California 400

6. University of Virginia 366

7. Michigan State University 327

8. Princeton University 321

9. Harvard University 314

10. University of Southern California 280

11. Washington State University 255

12. The Ohio State University 221

13. Clemson University 201

14. University of Wisconsin 174

15. University of Michigan 165

16. University of Tennessee 98

17. Boston University 93

18. Oregon State University 70

19. University of Minnesota 66

20. University of Louisville 30

Not Ranked But Receiving Votes: University of Pennsylvania 29, Northeastern University 28, University of Notre Dame 24, Syracuse University 14, University of California at Los Angeles 12, Dartmouth College 6, Bucknell University 2, University of Iowa 1, and St. Mary’s College of California 1.