Badger Crew Alumni Shine in Boston
October 24, 2003 | Men's Rowing
Seven former Badger rowers competed for the United States national team last weekend at the 39th annual Head of the Charles regatta.
In preparation for the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens, the U.S. national team boated three men's eights, two women's eight, one lightweight eight, and a myriad of smaller boats filled with athletes vying for a coveted position on the Olympic roster. While the final boatings will not be set until the spring, the treacherous Charles River course in an ideal testing ground to begin the selection process.
In heavyweight men's competition, five Badgers began their Olympic bid. Brian McDonough ('02), a member of the U.S. `B' boat entry, rowed seven seat and helped set the blistering pace needed to win the prestigious Championship Eight event on Sunday afternoon. In doing so, McDonough and his fellow oarsmen stunned the two-time defending world champion Canadian eight, beating them by 9 seconds over the three mile course.
While the `B' boat's victory over Canada rekindled a North American rivalry, their defeat of the U.S. `A' boat, and former Badger rower Ryan Torgerson ('94), will undoubtedly intensify intra-squad rivalry upon return to the National training center in Princeton, N.J.
The U.S. `C' Boat entry contained the largest Badger contingent with Eric Mueller (`93), last year's Badger captain Beau Hoopman ( '03), and classmate Paul Daniels ('03).
Earlier Sunday afternoon, Matt Smith ('00) and three other Olympic men's lightweight hopefuls won the lightweight four event under the auspices of the New York Athletic Club.
On the women's side, Katie Hammes (`00) and the U.S. `A ' eight finished second to the Canadian National team entry by 18 seconds.
