2014 SSC Rowing Championship Set for Friday in Sarasota

SARASOTA, Fla. - The 2014 Sunshine State Conference Rowing Championship is set for Friday, April 25 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. Florida Tech will serve as the host institution.

There will be three nationally-ranked teams competing for the conference championship in 2014. The defending NCAA Division II National Champion Nova Southeastern Sharks have held the top spot in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll all season long. The defending SSC Champion Barry Buccaneers are currently third in the national poll, though they began the year at No. 2, and Florida Tech ranks seventh.

Joining Barry, Florida Tech and Nova Southeastern at the 2014 SSC Rowing Championship will be Rollins and Tampa.

It is the second-straight year for the regatta to be held at the state-of-the-art rowing facility at Nathan Benderson Park.

The championship will begin with an Exhibition 4 race at 8:45 a.m. The Varsity 4 boats will take the water for their race at 9 a.m., and the Varsity 8 race will begin at 9:15 a.m.

There will be an awards ceremony following at 10 a.m. to recognize the All-SSC Team, the Varsity 4 and Varsity 8 winners and the 2014 SSC Champions.

In the latest NCAA Division II South Region rankings, Nova Southeastern is the No. 1 ranked team, as well as the top Varsity 4 and 8 boats. Barry's team and Varsity 8 boat are both ranked No. 2, while the Buccaneers' Varsity 4 boat is ranked fourth in the region. Florida Tech's team and Varsity 8 boat are ranked No. 4, while the Panthers' Varsity 4 boat is ranked No. 2 in the region. Rollins' Varsity 8 boat is ranked No. 5 in the region.

The NCAA Championship is set for May 31 to June 2 at the Indianapolis Rowing Center at Eagle Creek Park.

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