Saturday, April 16
Boston
All Day
Wisconsin Badgers
vs
Charles River Lightweight Invite
Busy weekend pays dividends for Badgers
April 14, 2016 | Lightweight Rowing
Taste of competition has lightweights excited for the rest of the season
MADISON, Wis.-- Wisconsin didn't let a little rain spoil its fun when it opened the spring season, earning three medals at the Knecht Cup last weekend in West Windsor, New Jersey.
Racing began Saturday but weather conditions forced all of the afternoon events to be postponed, which meant teams competed in nearly twice as many races as originally scheduled on Sunday. Wisconsin welcomed the extra races.
"If anything I think (the rain suspension) actually got them more excited to race," UW head coach Dusty Mattison said. "They came down Sunday morning with smiles on their faces saying, 'I'm so excited to race.' That goes a long way. They were not intimidated at all about performing four times in one day. They had confidence in their fitness and just wanted to execute."
Wisconsin translated its spring training into third-place finishes in the varsity eight, the lightweight eight, and the novice eight, as well as a fourth-place finish in the second varsity eight. One thing the Badgers had hoped to get out of the weekend was experience and the chance to improve each run down the course. With four to five races under their belts, Mattison saw improvements from each of her boats.
"In hindsight, it think it was actually good to have the races suspended on Saturday," Mattison admitted. "They got one race down the course to get the jitters out and then were more relaxed and excited going into Sunday. The goals for the weekend were to learn from each trip down the course, execute to their greatest ability and have fun. They certainly achieved all of those goals.
"The energy from the team this weekend was overwhelmingly positive. They gained valuable confidence in their racing and mental toughness abilities which is a great foundation for future racing. They should be very proud of themselves."
The Badgers will see familiar competition this weekend, since a number of teams that competed at the Knecht Cup also will head to Boston for the Charles River Lightweight Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.
Wisconsin enjoyed impressive finishes at the regatta, formerly called the Boston Round Robin, last year by placing second in the lightweight eight grand final and first in the lightweight eight petite final. However, Mattison and her team will not be worried about what past teams have done, nor will they be looking left or right to their competition.
"Nothing changes in our preparation for this weekend," Mattison said. "Yes, we have some information about how other teams perform, but ultimately we are focused on what we need to do and how we are progressing; basically using our performances at the Knecht Cup as a base to continue to build off of."
Racing began Saturday but weather conditions forced all of the afternoon events to be postponed, which meant teams competed in nearly twice as many races as originally scheduled on Sunday. Wisconsin welcomed the extra races.
"If anything I think (the rain suspension) actually got them more excited to race," UW head coach Dusty Mattison said. "They came down Sunday morning with smiles on their faces saying, 'I'm so excited to race.' That goes a long way. They were not intimidated at all about performing four times in one day. They had confidence in their fitness and just wanted to execute."
Wisconsin translated its spring training into third-place finishes in the varsity eight, the lightweight eight, and the novice eight, as well as a fourth-place finish in the second varsity eight. One thing the Badgers had hoped to get out of the weekend was experience and the chance to improve each run down the course. With four to five races under their belts, Mattison saw improvements from each of her boats.
"In hindsight, it think it was actually good to have the races suspended on Saturday," Mattison admitted. "They got one race down the course to get the jitters out and then were more relaxed and excited going into Sunday. The goals for the weekend were to learn from each trip down the course, execute to their greatest ability and have fun. They certainly achieved all of those goals.
"The energy from the team this weekend was overwhelmingly positive. They gained valuable confidence in their racing and mental toughness abilities which is a great foundation for future racing. They should be very proud of themselves."
The Badgers will see familiar competition this weekend, since a number of teams that competed at the Knecht Cup also will head to Boston for the Charles River Lightweight Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.
Wisconsin enjoyed impressive finishes at the regatta, formerly called the Boston Round Robin, last year by placing second in the lightweight eight grand final and first in the lightweight eight petite final. However, Mattison and her team will not be worried about what past teams have done, nor will they be looking left or right to their competition.
"Nothing changes in our preparation for this weekend," Mattison said. "Yes, we have some information about how other teams perform, but ultimately we are focused on what we need to do and how we are progressing; basically using our performances at the Knecht Cup as a base to continue to build off of."
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