Women's Rowing Squads Open at Milwaukee Challenge
September 22, 2001 | Women's Rowing
On a perfect day, with calm winds and temperatures in the 70s, the Badger women 's rowing teams opened their 2001-02 campaign at the inaugural Milwaukee River Challenge on the Milwaukee River, Saturday.
The Badgers openweight and lightweight teams raced in varsity eight and varsity four competition in the nation's first two-way race in 70 years. The teams raced 2.2 miles one way, before turning around and racing back to the start.
In the varsity eight race, the UW openweights finished second in 22:22. Notre Dame's top boat won the event in 22:14. Wisconsin's lightweight 'A' boat finished sixth in 24:18. The lightweight 'B ' boat finished eighth in 24:35. A boat called Picnic Point, made up of Wisconsin Alumni, raced to a fourth-place finish in 23:25.
In the varsity four event, Wisconsin boats took the first three spots. The openweight crew put 11 seconds between itself and the lightweight 'B ' boat for the victory. The openweight finished in 25:59, while the lightweights raced to a time of 26:10. Wisconsin's lightweight 'A' boat crossed the finish in third place, 26:61 after starting the race. Marquete's openweight boat and Notre Dame's openweight 'B' boat rounded out the top five.
'It was a good day,' head openweight coach Mary Browning said. 'We were very happy. It was pretty close to a scrimmage and we were happy with the results. We took all our seniors and the lightweights raced with mixed boats. Men's coach Chris Clark put a lot of work and effort into this regatta and we really appreciated it. We had a perfect day for a race.'
Both Badger women's teams spend the next three weeks practicing, in preparation for their next event, the Head of the Rock. The Oct. 14 event takes place on the Rock River in Rockford, Ill.
Varsity Eight
1. Notre Dame 'A' - 22:14; 2. UW Openweight - 22:22; 3. Notre Dame 'B' - 23:18; 4. Picnic Point - 23:25; 5. Notre Dame 'C' - 24:15; 6. UW Lightweight 'A' - 24:18; 7. Marquette 'A' - 24:19; 8. UW Lightweight 'B' - 24:35; 9. Marquette 'B' - 25:42
UW Boatings:
Openweight - Coxswain - Meredith Blair, Jenny Pofahl, Bridgid Myers, Tara Gedman, Kylie Fredrickson, Rachel Rogozinski, Alissa Adler, Nicole Weir, Erin Conlin.
Lightweight A - Coxswain - Jade Brueckner, Stacey Langenecker, Leah Hanson, Joni Wiebelhaus, Eva Payne, Diane Martins, Katie Devitt, Sarah Weis, Heather Heeren.
Lightweight B - Coxswain - Tessa Molter, Eileen Ruzicka, Lindsay Gorsuch, Alison Frohberg, Margaret Miller, Megan DeLonge, Katie Childs, Ginger Hamrick, Lisa Cass.
Varsity Four
1. UW Openweight - 25:59; 2. UW Lightweight 'B' - 26:10; 3. UW Lightweight 'A' - 26:21; 4. Marquette - 26:25; 5. Notre Dame 'B' - 27:07; Three other teams.
UW Boatings
Openweight - Coxswain - Erin Buchanan, Erin Bye, Jeannette Moore, Alyssa Elver, Rochelle Jacques
Lightweight A - Coxswain - Emily Poster, Stacey Langenecker, Leah Hanson, Lindsay Gorsuch, Katie Bohren
Lightweight B - Coxswain - Clara Bien, Eileen Ruzicka, Joni Wiebelhaus, Alison Frohberg, Alexandra Endress
