RESULTS 

INDIANAPOLIS – After extended delays due to debris near the start of the course at Eagle Creek Park, the 2019 NCAA Rowing Championships opened with a format change. That meant every boat in Friday's heats needed to finish in the top three to advance to Saturday's A/B semifinals.

For Wisconsin, it was the second varsity eight that came through in a top-three position, jumping up from the No. 14 seed to guarantee its place in the top-12 by beating 11th-seeded Duke to the 2000-meter line with a furious finish.

Stanford and Texas took the top two spots over 10 seconds ahead of the Badgers, but Wisconsin closed a half-deck deficit over the final 250 meters to beat out Duke by more than a second at the finish line. UW crossed in 6:32.664, ahead of the Blue Devils' time of 6:33.850.

UW's varsity eight and varsity four, both entering as No. 13 seeds, finished fourth in their respective heats and will race in Saturday's C/D semifinals.

Saturday Schedule (CT) - Watch
Varsity Eight C/D Semifinal – 7:12 a.m.
Second Varsity Eight A/B Semifinal – 8:36 a.m.
Varsity Four C/D Semifinal – 8:48 or 9 a.m.

Straight from the Lake
Head Coach Bebe Bryans
"It was a pretty long day, mostly sitting in the hotel waiting, but finally we got to race. Conditions were really good. It was a good day. We raced hard. I don't think any of the three boats thought it was the best day they've ever had, but it was strong racing."

On the second varsity eight
"The highlight of the day was the second varsity eight. They just raced really well and really hard. It was a very tight race. They just kept their heads down and responded to everything that got thrown at them and were able to earn a spot in the A/B semifinal in the end. They are thrilled to get a chance to go up in the A/B semifinal and fix some of the stuff that they know they can do better.

On the varsity eight
"They had a good race. They got dropped at the start a little bit and weren't able to get back in it after that. Virginia was really strong and countered every move we made. It was a little disappointing to not get the outcome we had really been working towards and training for, but at the end of the day it was a good piece. Again, they learned some lessons and hopefully we can come back tomorrow and continue to get faster and find the speed that we know we have."

On the varsity four
"Pretty much it was the same story in the four as in the eight. They had a little bit of a rough go at the start and just weren't able to really claw their way back into it, although they did make up some ground.

On the competition
"Overall, good racing [for us], but we're at the national championships. You've got to be at your absolute best in this kind of competition. Our goal now is to finish better than our seeds and win out."

2019 NCAA Rowing Championships
May 31, 2019
Eagle Creek Park
Indianapolis
2000 meters

Varsity Eight
Heat Four (Top three advance to Saturday A/B semifinals, rest to C/D semifinals)
1. Texas, 6:07.284; 2. Washington, 6:09.394; 3. Virginia, 6:20.047; 4. Wisconsin, 6:23.960; 5. Gonzaga, 6:31.404; 6. Northeastern, 6:36.115
UW Lineup - Coxswain Saylor Martin, Alicia Evans, Eliza Clifford, Lauren O'Connor, Sarah Gibbons, Isa Darvin, Katherine Grose, Allie Lohrenz, Renee Olley

Second Varsity Eight
Heat Three (Top three advance to Saturday A/B semifinals, rest to C/D semifinals)
1. Stanford, 6:20.693; 2. Texas, 6:21.829; 3. Wisconsin, 6:32.664; 4. Duke, 6:33.850; 5. Iowa, 6:41.614; 6. Marist, 7:14.917
UW Lineup - Coxswain Emma Smith, Elisabet Pietz, Makayla Stow, Grace Joyce, Kaylee Steeno, Adrienne Kisting, Taylor Caudle, Charlotte Melcher, Rebekah Armstrong

Varsity Four
Heat Four (Top three advance to Saturday A/B semifinals, rest to C/D semifinals)
1. Ohio State, 7:05.275; 2. Michigan, 7:06.741; 3. Indiana, 7:09.447; 4. Wisconsin, 7:14.518; 5. Northeastern, 7:31.777; 6. Gonzaga, 7:43.125
UW Lineup - Maggie Mandarano, Elizabeth Clarke, Niamh Martin, Becca Kite, Carissa Witthuhn