OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Despite a late venue change, 11th-ranked Alabama will still compete in a dual meet against No. 8 Tennessee on Saturday, March 20 with four races starting at 8 a.m. CT.
The Crimson Tide and Lady Vols were slated to compete on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa but storms and rain during the week flooded the river and increased the current to dangerous speeds, forcing a venue change. The teams will now head to Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn., where the Tide just competed last weekend at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational.
Mirroring the same scoring races the teams will see later this season at the Big 12 Championships, each will field a pair of 8+ boats and 4+ boats.
FROM HEAD COACH GLENN PUTYRAE
“This is going to be great race between two teams that are showing they are among the best in the country. While we are disappointed we cannot host this race on our home course in Tuscaloosa and won’t able to celebrate the contributions our seniors have made, we are grateful for all the people associated with the Oak Ridge Rowing Association for making it possible for us to hold this race. We are committed to acknowledging the great contributions of the class of 2021 at a date to be determined later this season.”
RACE SCHEDULE
- Saturday, March 20 (Starts at 8 a.m. CT)
- First Varsity 8+
- Second Varsity 8+
- First Varsity 4+
- Second Varsity 4+
SCOUTING ALABAMA
- This weekend marks the third competition of the spring for Alabama, previously hosting a dual meet against Eastern Michigan on March 6 and competing in the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational March 13-14
- Alabama had a successful weekend against a competitive field at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational last weekend, winning nine of its 14 races including a sweep of the morning session on Saturday against Minnesota and Tulsa
- The Crimson Tide is ranked No. 11 in the latest Division I Pocock CRCA Preseason Poll, moving up five spots from its No. 16 preseason ranking
- Head Coach Glenn Putyrae is in his third season at the helm of the Crimson Tide, leading the team to a program-best second place finish at the Big 12 Championships in his first season in 2019, earning Big 12 Coach of the Year honors
ALABAMA CLIMBS TO NO. 11 IN CRCA RANKINGS
- In the second Division I Pocock CRCA national poll of the 2021 season, Alabama moved up five spots to No. 11, its highest-ever spot on the national rankings
- Alabama rowing entered the 2021 spring season at No. 16 in the preseason poll, its first appearance in the preseason rankings
- Prior to this season, Alabama earned votes outside the top 25 in last year’s preseason poll and made its first ever appearance in the top 25 in 2019, placing as high as 17th under then-first year head coach Glenn Putyrae
UP NEXT: LAKE LAS VEGAS PAC-12 WOMEN’S INVITATIONAL
- Las Vegas, Nev. – April 10-11
For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaRow on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Rowing on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
