OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The Wisconsin Badgers women faced their first test of the season at the Cardinal Invitational, Saturday on Melton Hill Lake.

Wisconsin's second novice eight claimed a first-place finish in their first race of the day over Tennessee and Indiana. 

The Badgers competed against boats from host Louisville, Yale, Duke, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Navy, Clemson, Alabama, and UW's lightweights.  Both Yale (fifth place) and Duke (16th place) competed at the 2022 NCAA Championships.

Straight from the shore
Head coach Bebe Bryans
On the afternoon
"Today's racing in the afternoon was a little bit of a mixed bag. I think that the race of the day was probably the 2V, the second varsity eight. They had a pretty good pace and were very consistent and aggressive in some challenging conditions. The wind came up and caused some trouble for a couple of our boats. It was an overall great performance.

On the morning
"For all of the boats, being in a racing situation rattled them a little bit and we are looking forward to using that experience to put together a full 2K piece.  Their starts and first half of the race was pretty solid. We haven't done the full 2K distance on the water at racing speed yet this season, and you have to get through the first one to remember what it really feels like. Ergs help you train, but the reality of being in a team boat on the water is a completely different experience. We're glad we have 3 shots at it this weekend!"

On the first day in total
"We're happy but we're still looking for more so tomorrow is our last chance to be on the water a little bit and I think that's going to raise the sense of urgency a little bit to have a great morning. It's supposed to be really cold in the 20s so there's that, but hopefully it won't cause too much trouble. Hopefully we'll have our best day of racing so far."

Up Next: The Badgers close out spring break with the second and final day of the Cardinal Invitational. Follow the live race results here.

Cardinal Invitational
March 18, 2023
Melton Hill Lake
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
2000 meters

Varsity Eight
Race 1
1. Duke, 6:27.503; 2. Indiana, 6:32.299; 3. Notre Dame, 6:36.025; 4. Wisconsin, 6:37.443
UW Lineup - Coxswain Lindsey Meyer, Anna Ardito, Julia DiNapoli, Grace Belson, Brandi Gueths, Kylie Magnus, Oona Zilavy, Katherine Breen, Susie Bruce

Race 2
1. Tennessee, 6:22.416; Alabama, 6:23.487; 3. Wisconsin, 6:31.989
Coxswain Paula Filios, Anna Ardito, Julia DiNapoli, Grace Belson, Brandi Gueths, Kendra Davis, Nora Byrne, Tassneem Arafa, Sky Teegen

Second Varsity Eight
Race 1
1. Duke, 6:29.704; 2. Indiana, 6:38.494; 3. Notre Dame, 6:48.958; 4. Wisconsin, 6:49.289
UW Lineup - Coxswain Paula Filios, Tassneem Arafa, Sky Teegen, Georgia Morrow, Sophia Ortega, Kendra Davis, Nora Byrne, Genevieve Whitehead, Masa Bezbradica

Race 2
1. Tennessee, 6:22.623; 2. Alabama, 6:30.346; 3. Wisconsin, 6:32.281
Coxswain Lindsey Meyer, Katherine Breen, Susie Bruce, Georgia Morrow, Sophia Ortega, Allison Elli, Oona Zilavy, Kylie Magnus, Masa Bezbradica

Varsity Four
Race 1
1. Duke, 7:10.159; 2. Notre Dame, 7:14.752; 3. Indiana, 7:36.374; Wisconsin, 7:40.534
UW Lineup - Coxswain Alexandra Bogner, Morgan Jensema, Lizzy Hanemann, Evelyn Schauer, Rebecca Sands

Race 2
1. Tennessee, 7:14.410; 2. Alabama, 7:16.760; 3. Wisconsin, 7:30.380
Coxswain Nora Clements, Morgan Jensema, Lizzy Hanemann, Jadyn Schensky, Rebecca Sands

Second Varsity Four
Race 1
1. Duke, 7:11.553; Notre Dame, 7:26.828; 3. Wisconsin, 7:31.533
UW Lineup - Coxswain Caitlin Cowan, Allison Elli, Sophia Henshue, Jadyn Schensky, Katelyn Mamrick

Race 2
1. Alabama, 7:16.828; 2. Tennessee, 7:17.446; 3. Wisconsin, 7:39.589
Coxswain Sarah Chan, Evelyn Schauer, Macy Mosner, Sophia Henshue, Katelyn Mamrick

Novice Eight/Third Varsity Eight
Race 1
1. Duke, 6:53.535; 2. Indiana, 6:57.756; 3. Wisconsin 7:02.925
Coxswain Elisabeth Wu, Grace Fragakis, Sophia Gruenling, Marian Cracraft, Anna Mueller, Kira Funk, Jacki Szelagowski, Daphne Koutsoukos, Jordan Morrissey

Race 2
1. Alabama, 6:48.716; 2. Wisconsin, 7:03.928; 3. Tennessee, 7:12.100
Coxswain Mara Zwicker, Sophia Gruenling, Grace Fragakis, Anne Thornton, Kira Funk, Jacki Szelagowski, Marian Cracraft, Jordan Morrissey, Daphne Koutsoukos

Second Novice Eight
Race 1
1. Wisconsin, 7:03.538; 2. Tennessee, 7:08.005
Coxswain Mara Zwicker, Anne Thornton, Taite Miller, Eva McKinley, Allie Swietlik, Leah Wolfe, Jordan Roethel, Hannah Zander, Ella Peterson

Race 2
1. Tennessee, 7:01.855; 2. Wisconsin, 7:06.187
Coxswain Elisabeth Wu, Eva McKinley, Allie Swietlik, Taite Miller, Jordan Roethel, Leah Wolfe, Talia Lunken, Hannah Zander, Ella Peterson