Photo by: David Stluka
Big Ten champ, All-American and Olympian Opitz named lightweight assistant row coach
October 18, 2021 | Lightweight Rowing
Middleton native returns home to coach her alma mater
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin rowing All-American and two-time Olympic alternate Vicky Opitz has joined the Badger women's lightweight rowing program as its lightweight assistant coach.
"I am beyond thrilled that Vicky will be joining our Wisconsin women's lightweight coaching staff," lightweight coach Hodge Habibovic said. "Vicky brings a massive amount of elite rowing experience and is extremely passionate about the University of Wisconsin. She is also one of the most humble human beings I have ever met. We align on much of our coaching philosophy and I can't wait to get to work together. We have every intention of turning some heads this year when Wisconsin races down the course."
At Wisconsin, Opitz was a 2010 CRCA Pocock First-Team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten pick when she helped the Badgers to their first Big Ten rowing championship and a program-best seventh-place finish at the NCAA rowing championships.
After her time as a UW rower, she won four world championships in the women's eight and served as an alternate for Team USA at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Summer Games held in Rio, Brazil, and Tokyo, Japan, respectively. Opitz was part of the world fastest crew in 2013 with the U.S. women's eight at the 2013 World Rowing Cup III, a mark that stood until this past summer at the 2020 Olympics.
She was named the 2018 USRowing Female Athlete of the Year after winning with the women's eight and competing in the women's pair at the world championships.
Granddaughter of former Wisconsin men's rowing coach Randy Jablonic and the daughter of former UW rowers Kay and KC Opitz, the Middleton native played tennis, soccer and basketball before embarking on her rowing career.
"She is the ultimate rowing athlete, and now coach - team oriented with an incredibly determined attitude," women's rowing head coach and Opitz' coach at UW Bebe Bryans added. "Everyone gains by having her around. She is a standout role model."
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"I am beyond thrilled that Vicky will be joining our Wisconsin women's lightweight coaching staff," lightweight coach Hodge Habibovic said. "Vicky brings a massive amount of elite rowing experience and is extremely passionate about the University of Wisconsin. She is also one of the most humble human beings I have ever met. We align on much of our coaching philosophy and I can't wait to get to work together. We have every intention of turning some heads this year when Wisconsin races down the course."
At Wisconsin, Opitz was a 2010 CRCA Pocock First-Team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten pick when she helped the Badgers to their first Big Ten rowing championship and a program-best seventh-place finish at the NCAA rowing championships.
After her time as a UW rower, she won four world championships in the women's eight and served as an alternate for Team USA at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Summer Games held in Rio, Brazil, and Tokyo, Japan, respectively. Opitz was part of the world fastest crew in 2013 with the U.S. women's eight at the 2013 World Rowing Cup III, a mark that stood until this past summer at the 2020 Olympics.
She was named the 2018 USRowing Female Athlete of the Year after winning with the women's eight and competing in the women's pair at the world championships.
Granddaughter of former Wisconsin men's rowing coach Randy Jablonic and the daughter of former UW rowers Kay and KC Opitz, the Middleton native played tennis, soccer and basketball before embarking on her rowing career.
"She is the ultimate rowing athlete, and now coach - team oriented with an incredibly determined attitude," women's rowing head coach and Opitz' coach at UW Bebe Bryans added. "Everyone gains by having her around. She is a standout role model."
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