Wisconsin Rowing Showcased at Midwest Rowing Championships
April 25, 2003 | Lightweight Rowing
The Wisconsin Badger rowers will showcase their talents to a Madison audience when they take part in the 31st annual Midwest Rowing Championships Saturday on Lake Wingra. Racing begins at 6:30 a.m. and runs until approximately 5 p.m.
Boats from Wisconsin have dominated the previous 31 years. The men 's varsity eight and women's openweight eight boats have taken 29 of 31 titles, while the women's lightweight eight boat has taken all five lightweight races. Wisconsin boats have also captured the majority of titles in varsity four, novice eight and novice four races.
The 2003 event returns to the original Midwest Rowing Championships format of open competition combining collegiate and club races. Also new to this year 's event is the location of the staging area. In year's past, the finish line was located at Vilas Park, with the staging area at Wingra Park. The staging area moves to Vilas Park this year.
Over 200 boats are expected to participate in this year's event, with shells representing at least 24 midwestern schools and clubs. In addition to the Badgers, entries from Kansas, Creighton, Marquette, Drake and the Mendota Rowing Club are expected to race.
First held in 1973, the Madison tradition of the Midwest Rowing Championships are held at the end of April on Lake Wingra. One of the largest regattas in the Midwest with upwards of 1,000 participants, this year's version takes place on Saturday April 26.
Entering the 2003 event, the UW men's varsity eight the UW lightweight women's eight both rank No. 3. The men are led by six seniors, including three, Paul Daniels, Beau Hoopman and Peter Giese, with international rowing experience. Each won gold with the men's eight at the 2002 Under-23 World Championships. The Badgers are fresh off their first W Cup victory over then-No. 2 Washington on Lake Mendota last Saturday.
The women's lightweights field an underclass boat, with only one senior on the entire roster. The youthful Badger lightweights raced the past two years in openweight races due to a weather-adjusted schedule at the championships. The lightweight varsity eight took second behind the UW openweight eight at last year 's event.
The women's openweights look for improvement as they get their first taste of Madison racing this season. The UW novices are fresh off a sweep of Minnesota and Iowa at the Big Ten Double Dual, while the varsity eight looks for more consistency.
The weather prediction for the regatta includes partly cloudy skies and high temperatures near 63 degrees. Admission for the regatta is free.
Additional information can be found at www.mwrc.org.
