MADISON, Wis.—While the Head of Charles regatta in Boston is known for its festive and party-like atmosphere surrounding the river, it is all business for teams competing on the Charles River.
The Wisconsin women's rowing team was all business in the first of two days at the event, taking second place in the women's club fours race.
The boat, coxed by Nikki Levy and filled by Taylor Caudle, Elizabeth Clarke, Katherine Grose and Elizabet Pietz, finished in a time of 19:12.848.
"We're really proud of them, they rode great and had a great experience and we're really fired up about it," openweight head coach
Bebe Bryans said. "We were able to break out the new uniforms, which is the first new uniforms we've had since the early 90s, so they wore it with pride and executed the race really well."
The second-place finish marks UW's best ever finish in the club fours race.
"Head" races are a class of regattas generally three miles in length. Boats compete against one another and the clock, which starts sequentially, approximately 15 seconds apart.
The women's club fours race featured the second-most participants in the first day of the Head of Charles, with 59 entries from schools around the country. UW was the third boat to race in the competition.
The only team that finished ahead of the UW boat came from the University of Pennsylvania, who finished a little more than four seconds ahead. Notre Dame rounded out the top three, finishing 17 seconds behind the Badger boat.
"The weather was a bit of a concern, it poured earlier in the day but it seemed ok for the fours," Bryans said. "Hopefully it will hold up for us tomorrow as well."
The club fours was the only event in which the women competed during day one, and they will send out one more boat on day two in the women's championship eights race. The contest is set to begin at 1:36 p.m. CT.
Head of Charles Regatta
Charles River
Boston
Oct. 22, 2016
3 miles
Club Fours (59 Entries)
1. University of Pennsylvania, 19:08.815;
2. University of Wisconsin, 19:12.848; 3. Notre Dame, 19:29.856
UW Lineup
Coxswain Nikki Levy, Taylor Caudle, Elizabeth Clarke, Katherine Grose and Elizabet Pietz
