Photo by: Jessica Hoffman
Wisconsin dancing to its 11th consecutive NCAA rowing championships
May 15, 2018 | Women's Rowing
Current NCAA bid streak the longest of any Badgers’ team
MADISON, Wis. – Fresh off its ninth-consecutive, top-three finish at the Big Ten championships, the Wisconsin women's rowing program earned its 11th-consecutive invitation to the NCAA championships on Tuesday. Twenty-two teams will compete.
The 2018 NCAA Rowing Championships take place at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, from May 25-27.
"It really makes me proud to be among the teams that have been able, not only make it this year, but continually rise to that level for a number of years now," head coach Bebe Bryans on the team's 11th-straight NCAA bid. "Women's rowing has accelerated its growth so quickly, even just in the last five years, that to be to keep up and compete at a high level makes me really proud of this program."
The Badgers placed ninth as a team during the 2017 event, their second top-10 finish in as many years. Should the Badgers grab another top-10 finish this year, it would give them an unprecedented three-straight, top-10 results.
Across the UW athletic department, the women's rowing program holds the longest current team NCAA streak with its 11-consecutive bids.
"It's really special," Bryans said. "It shows we've been able to create a level of consistency that has allowed us to keep evolving. We haven't always been happy with what we've been able to do there, but being good enough to get there helped us become the faster team we are today. Our athletic department is so outstanding that to have that distinction makes me really proud of what we are doing as a staff and what these women are doing.
"It is a really big deal and it isn't easy. To be at the top level of anything requires excellence."
Things to Know
- Wisconsin's 11th-straight NCAA bid is the longest active team streak for any Badger athletics program.
- The Badgers have been to the NCAA championships in 13 of 14 seasons under Head Coach Bebe Bryans, after earning two bids in the previous eight seasons dating back to the first championships in 1997.
- The Badgers top NCAA result was seventh place in 2010.
- Wisconsin's varsity eight was 11th in 2017, while its second varsity eight was sixth and its varsity four was seventh.
- Washington is the defending NCAA champion. Former Badger Yasmin Farooq is the Huskies head coach.
Joining Wisconsin from the Big Ten will be Big Ten-champion Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa and Indiana, giving the Conference a record five-selections for the second year running. That is tied for the most bids of any conference in the country this year.
The Badgers are the No. 12 seed in the varsity eight, which slates them in Heat 4 with No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 13 Brown, No. 20 UCF and No. 21 Rhode Island. UW's top boat placed 11th in 2017.
The UW second varsity eight is the 10 seed and rows in Heat 2 against No. 2 California, No. 7 Stanford, No. 15 Washington State and No. 18 Gonzaga. The second varsity eight was UW's top performing crew at the 2017 NCAA championships, placing sixth, the highest finish for any UW boat since 2011.
"Last year and we ended up qualifying straight to the semifinals, which was huge for our success," senior stroke Maren Schultz said. "We ended up going to the grand final. For outcome goals, we would love to do that again.
"I think we have some more speed in us. I think we can throw a little bit more onto it."
Finally, Wisconsin's varsity four is at No. 10, which puts the in Heat 2 against No. 2 California, No. 7 Michigan, No. 15 Syracuse and No. 18 UCF. The Badgers won the petite final in 2017 to finish seventh, overall, in the four.
In addition to Wisconsin's NCAA rowing streak, six other schools, including Brown, California, Ohio State, Princeton, Virginia and Washington, have made at least 11 consecutive NCAA championships.
"This is what we've been planning on all year – to go to NCAAs and hopefully get on the podium," senior Morganne Freeman stated. "It is part of the training plan.
"I think to exceed our seed is one of our biggest goals. I still we are still itching for that perfect race. We've had pieces of it throughout all the races we've had, but there is always one more thing to make that happen -- Putting our hearts out there and racing as fast as we can as we always do is what I am really looking forward to."
2018 NCAA COMPETITORS
Automatic
Gonzaga, Jacksonville, Navy, Northeastern, Ohio State, Princeton, Rhode Island, Texas, UCF, Virginia, Washington
At-Large
Brown, California, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Stanford, Syracuse, USC, Washington State, Wisconsin, Yale
The 2018 NCAA Rowing Championships take place at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, from May 25-27.
"It really makes me proud to be among the teams that have been able, not only make it this year, but continually rise to that level for a number of years now," head coach Bebe Bryans on the team's 11th-straight NCAA bid. "Women's rowing has accelerated its growth so quickly, even just in the last five years, that to be to keep up and compete at a high level makes me really proud of this program."
The Badgers placed ninth as a team during the 2017 event, their second top-10 finish in as many years. Should the Badgers grab another top-10 finish this year, it would give them an unprecedented three-straight, top-10 results.
Across the UW athletic department, the women's rowing program holds the longest current team NCAA streak with its 11-consecutive bids.
"It's really special," Bryans said. "It shows we've been able to create a level of consistency that has allowed us to keep evolving. We haven't always been happy with what we've been able to do there, but being good enough to get there helped us become the faster team we are today. Our athletic department is so outstanding that to have that distinction makes me really proud of what we are doing as a staff and what these women are doing.
"It is a really big deal and it isn't easy. To be at the top level of anything requires excellence."
Things to Know
- Wisconsin's 11th-straight NCAA bid is the longest active team streak for any Badger athletics program.
- The Badgers have been to the NCAA championships in 13 of 14 seasons under Head Coach Bebe Bryans, after earning two bids in the previous eight seasons dating back to the first championships in 1997.
- The Badgers top NCAA result was seventh place in 2010.
- Wisconsin's varsity eight was 11th in 2017, while its second varsity eight was sixth and its varsity four was seventh.
- Washington is the defending NCAA champion. Former Badger Yasmin Farooq is the Huskies head coach.
Joining Wisconsin from the Big Ten will be Big Ten-champion Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa and Indiana, giving the Conference a record five-selections for the second year running. That is tied for the most bids of any conference in the country this year.
The Badgers are the No. 12 seed in the varsity eight, which slates them in Heat 4 with No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 13 Brown, No. 20 UCF and No. 21 Rhode Island. UW's top boat placed 11th in 2017.
The UW second varsity eight is the 10 seed and rows in Heat 2 against No. 2 California, No. 7 Stanford, No. 15 Washington State and No. 18 Gonzaga. The second varsity eight was UW's top performing crew at the 2017 NCAA championships, placing sixth, the highest finish for any UW boat since 2011.
"Last year and we ended up qualifying straight to the semifinals, which was huge for our success," senior stroke Maren Schultz said. "We ended up going to the grand final. For outcome goals, we would love to do that again.
"I think we have some more speed in us. I think we can throw a little bit more onto it."
Finally, Wisconsin's varsity four is at No. 10, which puts the in Heat 2 against No. 2 California, No. 7 Michigan, No. 15 Syracuse and No. 18 UCF. The Badgers won the petite final in 2017 to finish seventh, overall, in the four.
In addition to Wisconsin's NCAA rowing streak, six other schools, including Brown, California, Ohio State, Princeton, Virginia and Washington, have made at least 11 consecutive NCAA championships.
"This is what we've been planning on all year – to go to NCAAs and hopefully get on the podium," senior Morganne Freeman stated. "It is part of the training plan.
"I think to exceed our seed is one of our biggest goals. I still we are still itching for that perfect race. We've had pieces of it throughout all the races we've had, but there is always one more thing to make that happen -- Putting our hearts out there and racing as fast as we can as we always do is what I am really looking forward to."
2018 NCAA COMPETITORS
Automatic
Gonzaga, Jacksonville, Navy, Northeastern, Ohio State, Princeton, Rhode Island, Texas, UCF, Virginia, Washington
At-Large
Brown, California, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Stanford, Syracuse, USC, Washington State, Wisconsin, Yale
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
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