WEST WINDSOR, NJ - The Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team finished up its season on Sunday morning at the 2023 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships with a fifth-place overall team finish on Mercer Lake.

After racing on Saturday for lane assignments, the Badgers competed in the grand finals on Sunday morning for a chance at the national championship in the double sculls, varsity four and varsity eight.

The double sculls started things off in the morning and came away with a fourth-place finish, the team's highest place of the day. The lightweight four finished in fifth place, only one second behind Stanford. Finally, the lightweight eight finished in sixth place to wrap up the season for the team. 

Straight from the Shore
Head coach Hadzo Habibovic

"This weekend we took a huge step in the right direction for our program. We've improved upon last year's finish in all three boat events. Of course you always want to place better if you're not at the top, but it's extremely important to recognize growth.

"This team continues to buy-in and trust the process and, as a coach, that's all I can ask for. 

"I'm extremely proud of this team and love each one of them. You gotta be in the conversation to have a chance of swinging for the top and we can firmly say we're in that conversation now.

"Can't wait to continue to build with this team and we're hungrier than ever. Only one goal in sight and I know this team will get there. We're very excited about the breakthrough we are poised to have next year."

2023 IRA National Championships
June 4, 2023
West Windsor, N.J.
Mercer Lake
2000 meters

Team Scores
1. Princeton, 72; 2. Boston University; 3. Georgetown; 4. Radcliffe, 49; 5. Wisconsin, 46; 6. Stanford, 45; 7. MIT, 30; 8. Gordon, 6

Lightweight Eight - Grand Final
1. Princeton, 6:40.030; 2. Stanford, 6:46.310; 3. Georgetown, 6:48.310; 4. Boston, 6:49.340; 5. Radcliffe, 6:50.730; 6. Wisconsin, 6:55.750
UW Lineup: Coxswain Sarah Rab, Madison Stack, Payton Tonnos, Evelyn Payne, Alicia Le Bars, Rianne Wagner, Falcon Jaacks, Victoria Moda, Aubrey Trimbach

Lightweight Four - Grand Final
1. Princeton, 7:28.745; 2. MIT, 7:29.617; 3. Boston, 7:32.859; 4. Georgetown, 7:36.019; 5. Wisconsin, 7:38.713; 6. Radcliffe, 7:39.333; 7. Stanford, 7:41.545
UW Lineup: Coxswain Emma Collins, Camila Darvin, Olivia Moore, Claire Friedlander, Miranda Gilbertson

LIghtweight Double Sculls - Grand Final
1. Princeton, 7:37.790; 2. Radcliffe, 7:42.260; 3. Boston, 7:50.540; 4. Wisconsin, 8:06.150; 5. MIT, 8:09.980; 6. Georgetown, 8:13.680; 7. Gordon, 8:29.230
UW Lineup: Helena Ikenberry, Morgan Gallagher