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May 4, 2007 9:43 pm US/Central
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'U' Celebrates New Boathouse
by John Reger
Minneapolis (WCCO) ―
The University of Minnesota celebrated it's new boathouse with a grand opening Friday. Students, faculty and supporters got a tour of the $4.6 million facility.
"It's kind of like you didn't know what you didn't have until you have this great new facility," said Cheryl Vick, a member of the women's varsity rowing team.
The women share the facility with the men's club team. It's one of the few on-campus rowing facilities in the country.
The building sits on the banks of the Mississippi. It features lockers, laundry facilities, boat garages, and an ergonomic room with 27 rowing machines. The highlight is the "tank room," where athletes can simulate real conditions while pulling oars through water, a real benefit for athletes competing in a winter sport.
"We get to touch the water during the winter," said Coach Wendy Davis, "and it's a strength and fitness sport, it's also about timing so they can continue to perfect their timing "
Last week the Women's team won the Big Ten Championship, with some of the credit going to the new boathouse. "We might have won the Big Tens," said Davis, "we absolutely wouldn't have dominated, and boy we dominated last Saturday "
The teams started practicing in the facility in January.
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