Five women, one man excel at USRowing’s Winter Speed Order

SARASOTA, Fla. – With next month's first National Selection Regatta on the horizon, six former Badgers, including five women and one man, raced last weekend in USRowing's 2023 Winter Speed Order at Nathan Benderson Park.

Led by first- and second-place finishes in the women's single sculls by Sophia Vitas and Lauren O'Connor, respectively, former Badgers took a step towards representing the United States at the 2023 World Cup II this June in Italy and at the 2023 World Rowing Championships set for September in Serbia. Both earn automatic invitations to the first Olympic Events Selection Camp that runs April 30-May 21 in Chula Vista, California.

Vitas and O'Connor made their way through last Friday's time trial by placing first and second, respectively, then won their quarterfinal and semifinal races on Saturday, before taking first and second in Sunday's final.

Former Badger Grace Joyce also reached the final and placed sixth. She was sixth in Friday's time trial in the 26-entry event, then took second in a Saturday quarterfinal and third in a Saturday semifinal to reach the top six.

Two other Badger women also raced, competing in the women's pair. 2020 All-American nominee Isa Darvin and her partner ended up in seventh place overall, while two-time Olympic alternate, 2018 USRowing Female Athlete of the Year, All-American and current UW lightweight assistant coach Vicky Opitz finished eighth with her partner.

Finally, three-time, national-team member and former Badger Michael Knippen placed eighth in the men's pair.

2023 Winter Speed Order
March 3-5, 2023
Nathan Benderson Park
Sarasota, Florida
2,000 meters

Complete Results

WOMEN'S SINGLE SCULLS
Final A (Sunday)
1. Sophia Vitas (Texas RC), 7:27.21; 2. Lauren O'Connor (ARION), 7:29.88; 6. Grace Joyce (Craftsbury), 7:45.55

Semifinals (Saturday)
Semifinal A/B 1 (Six Entries – Top three advance to Final A)
1. Sophia Vitas (Texas RC), 7:36.51; 2. Kristi Wagner (ARION), 7:40.61; 3. Grace Joyce (Craftsbury), 7:43.69

Semifinal A/B 2 (Six Entries – Top three advance to Final A)
1. Lauren O'Connor (ARION), 7:33.55; 2. Kara Kohler (Texas RC), 7:36.35

Quarterfinals (Saturday)
Quarterfinal 1 (Six Entries – Top three advance to Semifinals A/B)
1. Kara Kohler (Texas RC), 7:37.56; 2. Grace Joyce (Craftsbury, 7:39.86

Quarterfinal 3 (Six Entries – Top three advance to Semifinals A/B)
1. Lauren O'Connor (ARION), 7:39.36

Quarterfinal 4 (Six Entries – Top three advance to Semifinal A/B)
1. Sophia Vitas (Texas RC), 7:35.54

Time Trial (Friday - 26 entries)
1. Sophia Vitas (Texas RC), 7:05.92; 2. Lauren O'Connor (ARION), 7:07.94; 6. Grace Joyce (Craftsbury), 7:11.73

WOMEN'S PAIR
Final B (Sunday - Places 7-12)
1. Isa Darvin/Boxberger (Penn AC/GRP Composite), 7:19.90; 2. Vicky Opitz/Baker (USRowing Training Center), 7:22.74

Semifinals (Saturday)
Semifinal A/B 1 (Six Entries – Top three advance to Final A, rest to Final B)
1. Reelick/Bruggeman, 7:04.07; 5. Vicky Opitz/Baker (USRowing Training Center), 7:26.64

Semifinal A/B 2 (Six Entries – Top three advance to Final A, rest to Final B)
1. Collins/Cohen (USRowing Training Center), 7:06.66; 4. Isa Darvin/Boxberger (Penn AC/GRP Composite), 7:16.62

Time Trial (Friday - 12 entries)
1. Reelick/Bruggeman (USRowing Training Center), 6:42.33; 7. Isa Darvin/Boxberger (Penn AC/GRP Composite), 6:54.28; 8. Vicky Opitz/Baker (USRowing Training Center), 6:55.35

MEN'S PAIR
Final B (Places 7-8)
1. Hudgins/Edmundson (California RC), 6:43.00; 2. Clougher/Michael Knippen (Penn AC, CRC Composite), 6:43.24

Semifinal A/B 1 (Saturday - Four Entries – Top three advance to Final A, rest to Final B)
1. Bub/Bender (California RC), 6:29.00; 4. Clougher/Michael Knippen (Penn AC/CRC Composite), 6:47.48

Time Trial (Friday - Eight entries)
1. Corrigan/Grady (California RC), 6:00.21; 7. Clougher/Michael Knippen (Penn AC/CRC Composite), 6:19.53

University of Wisconsin Athletics

Five women, one man excel at USRowing’s Winter Speed Order

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