Alabama rowing heads to Oakridge, Tenn.

TUSCALOOSA | From their first race of the season to now, the University of Alabama rowing team has improved each week, a trend the Crimson Tide hopes to continue as they spend Halloween in Oakridge, Tenn., at the Secret City Head Race.

Alabama will send three varsity 8+ boats, three varsity 4+ boats, three varsity doubles, two novice 8s and one novice 4+ to the Volunteer state, with all squads in medal contention after a two-week break from competition.

The Tide’s last time out, on Oct. 18, the team was split, with the novices in Huntsville for the Hobbs Island Regatta, while the varsity sent two boats to Cambridge, Mass., for the Head of the Charles Regatta. The Tide experienced great success at both events, bringing home two gold medals from Huntsville and placing third for the bronze at the legendary Head of the Charles.

After a two-week period between their last racing weekend, the team looks to come back strong and continue its trend of medaling. And while Davis is confident that his squad will be successful in Tennessee, the work over the last two weeks has been more focused on developing the program and seeing who is willing to step it up a notch. The team spent a whole week doing seat-racing, seeing who is capable and dedicated to increasing boat speed, which will help in the long run, but might slow the Tide a touch this weekend.

The Tide’s expectations this fall have grown from trying to catch up with some of the established squads, to winning, especially this weekend.