OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team hit the water for the first time in competitive action today, using different lineup combinations as they search for the best plan for later in the season.

Two teams of lightweights competed in the two separate varsity four races. The first crew finished in second place behind Indiana with a time of 6:28.997, and the second boat did the same, finishing behind Indiana with a time of 6:42.234.

In the afternoon, two boats competed in varsity four races once again, with a different lineup for the second crew. The varsity four A beat out openweight crews from Notre Dame and Clemson to take first place with a time of 6:12.342.

The varsity four B finished in second behind Notre Dame in their race with a time of 6:31.223.

The Badgers are back in action again tomorrow at the Cardinal Invitational, facing Minnesota and Yale in a pair of varsity four races.

Straight from the river
Head Coach Dusty Mattison

On the benefits of the Cardinal Invitational:
"The lightweights are extremely excited to be racing this weekend. To be racing against such high-level competition in the beginning of the season is something we are taking full advantage of to get prepared for two great races coming up, the San Diego Invite and the Knecht Cup. Just having the ability to race three times over two days is huge, especially having a younger team. It's a really great way to see how the last eight weeks have gone since our winter training camp. Just see where our fitness is at, there's been a big focus on making technical changes over these eight weeks and it's been fun to see them implement those changes into racing."

On the morning races:
"Both fours raced against Indiana and Tulsa. With the varsity four they had an awesome first half of the race, a really great start. And then I would say the second half is where they felt they could improve and just be sharper. And in the varsity four B, we had a little younger crew and would say the same, that midway through the race the conditions threw them off a bit. They had a nice first half, but fell off a little bit through the second half."

On the afternoon races:
"With the varsity four racing against Notre Dame and Tulsa, they were able to post a faster time. They just did a really nice job of being sharper which was the goal they had set for themselves going into the afternoon session. They were super aggressive all the way down and added that finesse that they were really excited to see. Very excited to take on Yale and Minnesota tomorrow. And in the varsity four B, they did a better job of keeping aggressive and holding a stronger rhythm all the way through the race course. Going into tomorrow, I know they want to build on that, just in terms of being able to respond at moments when that is needed, and also keep their rhythm."

On the conditions:
"The conditions were pretty challenging. The flow of the river was really fast and having a tailwind on top of that is something we clearly aren't used to yet and it's something that we just keep talking about it being a really great opportunity to be put into a situation where you have to adapt to these conditions, which will be the case in our next two races. They are really taking that to heart and doing all they can to keep making those tweaks to take advantage of each racing opportunity."

Cardinal Invitational
Mar. 16, 2019
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Melton Hill Lake
2000 Meters

Varsity Four A
PM
1. Wisconsin, 6:12.342; 2. Notre Dame, 6:17.501; 3. Clemson, 6:24.091

AM
1. Indiana, 6:23.419; 2. Wisconsin, 6:28.997; 3. Tulsa, 6:34.425
UW Lineup – Coxswain Mya Lebakken, Grace D'Souza, Marilyn Garberg, Payton James, Brianna Ohm

Varsity Four B
PM
1. Notre Dame, 6:23.175; 2. Wisconsin, 6:31.223; 3. Tulsa, 6:39.842
UW Lineup – Coxswain Eden Rane, Julia Johnson, Monica Rodriguez, Tori Kost, Kate Concannon

AM
1. Indiana, 6:37.890; 2. Wisconsin, 6:42.234; 3. Tulsa, 6:49.191
UW Lineup – Coxswain Eden Rane, Tori Kost, Monica Rodriguez, Julia Johnson, Kate Concannon