OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- The Wisconsin women's rowing team opened the spring season with a strong showing on the first day of the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational, earning top-three finishes in each of its races on Saturday.

In the morning session against Michigan, Minnesota and Tulsa, the Badgers posted three second-place finishes. The varsity eight put up a time of 6:14.746 seconds, placing just behind Michigan's 6:10.294. Minnesota (6:16.154) and Tulsa (6:20.398) finished third and fourth respectively. The boat, coxed by Saylor Martin, raced to the Badgers' fastest time of the day.

Wisconsin and its three opponents placed in the exact same order for their last two morning races - the varsity four, coxed by Maggie Mandarano, raced to a 7:02.600 time, and the second varsity eight placed second in its race with a time of 6:18.862.

In the afternoon against crews from Michigan State, Minnesota and Clemson, both of Wisconsin's eights came in first place while the varsity four placed third among its opponents. 

The varsity eight notched a time of 6:20.361, edging out second-place Michigan State (6:20.675) by less than half a second. The second varsity eight, coxed by Lily Hansen, won in a more decisive fashion, topping Michigan State by almost five seconds for the afternoon victory with a time of 6:30.852.

The varsity four completed the course in 7:32.690, good for third place. Michigan State came first with a time of 7:24.682, while Minnesota placed second with a 7:29.966 time.
 

Straight From the Lake
Head coach Bebe Bryans
"The weather was great, we were a little worried about a thunderstorm coming through but it missed us so we had beautiful water. The current was moving very quickly which made the times really fast, which was kind of fun. 

"We're really happy with the first go. We saw a lot that we know will come along with some time. All three boats raced well, rowed well and came off the water really excited and with really good ideas of what they were going to work on and improve upon as we went forward. I think this is a mature group of women and I'm really excited about the season. I always have been, but now that we've gotten started its just that much more fun."
 

Up Next
Wisconsin closes out the Cardinal Invitational on Sunday, scheduled for a 9:10 a.m. CT start with the varsity eight. The three Badger boats will all take on Clemson, Tulsa and Yale, and live results can be found at https://go.wisc.edu/6hc1ej

Cardinal Invitational
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Melton Lake
2000 meters

AM Session
Varsity Eight
1. Michigan, 6:10.294; 2. Wisconsin, 6:14.746; 3. Minnesota, 6:16.154; Tulsa ,6:20.398 
UW Lineup - Coxswain Saylor Martin, Maren Schultz, Lexi Siverling, Megan Whitehouse, Morganne Freeman, Callie Hebert, Niamh Martin, Lisbet Pietz, Renee Olley

Second Varsity Eight
1. Michigan, 6:16.602; 2. Wisconsin, 6:18.862; 3. Minnesota, 6:25.886; 4. Tulsa, 6:32.762
UW Lineup - Coxswain Lily Hansen, Alicia Evans, Katherine Grose, Alexandra Lohrenz, Eliza Clifford, Orennia Goetzinger, Molly Jennerman, Gabby Simons, Hannah Cooper

Varsity Four
1. Michigan, 6:56.200; 2. Wisconsin, 7:02.600; 3. Minnesota, 7:04.900; 4. Tulsa, 7:13.300 
UW Lineup - Coxswain Maggie Mandarano, Cheyenne Brandt, Rebekah Armstrong, Taylor Caudle, Jessie Bowden

PM Session
Varsity Eight
1. Wisconsin, 6:20.361; 2. Michigan State, 6:20.675; 3. Minnesota, 6:26.757; 4. Clemson, 6:40.415

Second Varsity Eight
1. Wisconsin, 6:30.852; 2. Michigan State, 6:35.200; 3. Minnesota, 6:39.028; 4. Clemson, 6:42.876

Varsity Four
1. Michigan State, 7:24.682; 2. Minnesota, 7:29.966; 3. Wisconsin, 7:32.690; 4. Clemson, 7:41.382