NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion rowing team is back in action this weekend, as they compete in the Big 12 Rowing Championship on May 16-17. The 2015 championship marks the fourth season the event has been recognized as a fully supported conference championship. The event is hosted by the University of Tennessee and will be held on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
The Old Dominion Monarchs, along with the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers join Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia in the 2015 event as affiliate members competing for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Rowing Championship. The schedule for this year's event will be announced prior to the Championship.
Last season, the Monarchs placed eighth at the 2014 Conference USA Championships, ahead of San Diego State, West Virginia and Alabama with a total of 27 points. Paige Madison was also named to the All-Conference USA team for her efforts during the championship event.
ODU is led by Head Coach Dan Garbutt, who is in his fifth year at the helm of the program. The team has seen a lot of success this season, as the Monarchs have recorded 19 top-20 finishes, including 13 in the top-5. ODU also started a new tradition by dedicating the Varsity 8 and the Second Varsity 8 boats to President John Broderick and First Lady Kate Broderick.