Rowing Heads to the Buckeye State this Weekend for the Big Ten Invitational

BETHEL, Ohio – The No. 18-ranked Washington State rowing team continues life on the road this weekend, as the Cougars travel cross-country to participate in the Big Ten Invitational. The two-day regatta on Harsha Lake in Bethel, Ohio gets underway this Saturday, April 17, with races in both the morning and afternoon and concludes Sunday, April 18.

The Cougs will be racing against some of the nation's top programs this weekend, as a total of 13 ranked teams will be in attendance at the Big Ten Invitational. This weekend's regatta will mark the first time WSU has raced east of the Mississippi River since the spring of 2018, when the Cougars competed in the Clemson Invite in Clemson, South Carolina.

No. 18-ranked Washington State will be paired up with No. 6 Michigan No. 10 Duke, and No. 11 Rutgers in the first leg of the Big Ten Invitational. Races on Saturday morning get underway at 5:30 a.m. PT with the first varsity eight race. The second varsity eight race will follow at 5:40 a.m. PT, while the varsity four race will conclude WSU's Saturday morning at 5:50 a.m. PT.

The No. 18 Cougs will be matchup up against No. 3 Ohio State, No. 15 Wisconsin and Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon. The first varsity eight race will kick things off at 2 p.m. PT, while the second varsity eight race will follow at 2:10 p.m. PT. WSU will conclude its first day at the Big Ten Invitational at 2:20 p.m. PT with the varsity four race.

Washington State will return to Harsha Lake on Sunday. The Cougars will race against No. 11 Rutgers, No. 12 Indiana and No. 20 Syracuse in the regatta's second day. Sunday's races will get underway at 6 a.m. PT with the first varsity eight race. The second varsity eight race will follow at 6:10 a.m. PT and the weekend will wrap-up the Big Ten Invitational with the varsity four race at 6:20 a.m. PT.

"We look forward to three big races this weekend," said head coach Jane LaRiviere. "Each race is important and we're excited to see how we match up against teams from outside of the Pac-12. We had a very productive training period down in Las Vegas after the Pac-12 Invitational. It was a pretty awesome place to row and Jim Anderson is a great host. We feel prepared and ready to row this weekend."

Washington State is coming off a strong performance at last weekend's Pac-12 Invitational, where the Cougs placed second to No. 5 California on Saturday, April 10, in the varsity four race and second to No. 1 Washington in both the varsity four and first varsity eight races on Sunday, April 11. That effort moved the Cougs into a tie for 18th in this week's Pocock/CRCA Poll with Oregon State, moving up one spot from last week's ranking.

Fans can watch every race at the Big Ten Invitational free of charge on YouTube. Fans can click the links above to watch each Washington State race.

For more information on the Washington State rowing team, follow @WSUCougarRowing on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Big Ten Invitational Schedule (All Times in PT)

Saturday, April 17
5:30 a.m. - First Varsity 8+ Race, vs. No. 6 Michigan, No. 10 Duke, No. 11 Rutgers
5:40 a.m. - Second Varsity 8+ Race, vs. No. 6 Michigan, No. 10 Duke, No. 11 Rutgers
5:50 a.m. - Varsity 4+ Race,vs. No. 6 Michigan, No. 10 Duke, No. 11 Rutgers

2:00 p.m. - First Varsity 8+ Race, vs. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 15 Wisconsin, Notre Dame
2:10 p.m. - Second Varsity 8+ Race, vs. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 15 Wisconsin, Notre Dame
2:20 p.m. - Varsity 4+ Race, vs. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 15 Wisconsin, Notre Dame

Sunday, April 18
6:00 a.m. - First Varsity 8+ Race, vs. No. 11 Rutgers, No. 12 Indiana, No. 20 Syracuse
6:10 a.m. - Second Varsity 8+ Race, vs. No. 11 Rutgers, No. 12 Indiana, No. 20 Syracuse
6:20 a.m. - Varsity 4+ Race, vs. No. 11 Rutgers, No. 12 Indiana, No. 20 Syracuse