Photo by: Paul Capobianco
Knippen makes Team USA for World Rowing Championships
August 09, 2018 | Men's Rowing
Opitz qualifies for second event with trials victory in the women’s pair
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – Former Wisconsin men's rower Michael Knippen will compete for Team USA at the 2018 World Rowing Championships that are set for Sept. 8-16 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He will join three other Badgers already named to the team, including women's rower Vicky Opitz, who qualified for a second time with a victory in the women's pair in this week's trials.
Knippen made the team with a victory in the men's quadruple sculls in a composite boat with athletes from Penn Athletic Club, as well as the Seattle Rowing Club, where he trains. His crew cruised to victory in the final in a time of 5:56.19, over 20 seconds better than an entry from Penn Athletic Club.
​​​​​​​Knippen, who tried to make the 2017 team in the men's pair, will represent Team USA at the world championships for the first time in his career.
The Germantown, Wisconsin, native competed in the Badgers' second varsity eight for the majority of his Wisconsin career, highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the 2016 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships in the event. His second varsity eight crew took 12th at the 2015 IRAs during a season in which he spent much of the year with UW's varsity eight. As a sophomore, his second varsity eight was eighth at the 2014 IRA championships.
​​​​​​​Opitz, a Middleton, Wisconsin, native, won the women's pair in a close race to gain a second spot at this year's world championships. Already a member of the women's eight, an event she helped Team USA set the world record in during the 2013 World Championships, Opitz now doubles up after clocking a time of 7:13.7 with partner Gia Doonan. They beat out second place by under a second, as well as the third-place boat, which included former Badger Sophia Vitas.
A three-time world championships gold medalist in the women's eight, Opitz also made the 2016 Olympic Team as an alternate during an injury-plagued season.
​​​​​​​Opitz is the daughter of former Badger rowers KC and Kay Opitz, and the granddaughter of legendary men's rowing coach Randy Jablonic.
Two other former Badgers will also be competing at the 2018 World Rowing Championships including Dariush Aghai in the men's four and Maddie Wanamaker in the women's four.
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Knippen made the team with a victory in the men's quadruple sculls in a composite boat with athletes from Penn Athletic Club, as well as the Seattle Rowing Club, where he trains. His crew cruised to victory in the final in a time of 5:56.19, over 20 seconds better than an entry from Penn Athletic Club.
​​​​​​​Knippen, who tried to make the 2017 team in the men's pair, will represent Team USA at the world championships for the first time in his career.
The Germantown, Wisconsin, native competed in the Badgers' second varsity eight for the majority of his Wisconsin career, highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the 2016 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships in the event. His second varsity eight crew took 12th at the 2015 IRAs during a season in which he spent much of the year with UW's varsity eight. As a sophomore, his second varsity eight was eighth at the 2014 IRA championships.
​​​​​​​Opitz, a Middleton, Wisconsin, native, won the women's pair in a close race to gain a second spot at this year's world championships. Already a member of the women's eight, an event she helped Team USA set the world record in during the 2013 World Championships, Opitz now doubles up after clocking a time of 7:13.7 with partner Gia Doonan. They beat out second place by under a second, as well as the third-place boat, which included former Badger Sophia Vitas.
A three-time world championships gold medalist in the women's eight, Opitz also made the 2016 Olympic Team as an alternate during an injury-plagued season.
​​​​​​​Opitz is the daughter of former Badger rowers KC and Kay Opitz, and the granddaughter of legendary men's rowing coach Randy Jablonic.
Two other former Badgers will also be competing at the 2018 World Rowing Championships including Dariush Aghai in the men's four and Maddie Wanamaker in the women's four.
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/ Men's Rowing
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