MADISON, Wis. - On a sunny Aug. 11, 2023, Friday afternoon on Wisconsin's Pewaukee Lake, over 60 UW rowers, wives and guests spent the afternoon catching up with fellow teammates and old friends. The venue was a 31-acre farm, with the barn set up with dining tables and chairs as well as with hundreds of rowing memorabilia items from newspaper clippings, banners and over 75 shirts won in rowing competitions around the country.

The excitement and pride-filled experience of the three Wisconsin eight-oared boats included several international races –

• The Guinness International races (June 30, 1973), UW racing as the U.S. entry – the varsity eight finished third of five. In the remaining races, UW raced as the college. 
• The Elite Eight races (July 1, 1973) – in Tier 1, the varsity eight finished third of six
• The Elite Eight races (July 1, 1973) – in Tier 2, the second varsity eight finished fourth of six
• The Elite Eight races (July 1, 1973) – in Tier 2, the frosh eight finished third of six

The Henley Royal Regatta Races (July 4-6, 1973)

• In the Grand Challenge Cup, the varsity eight placed third of six
• In the Ladies Challenge Plate, the second varsity eight placed third of 29
• In the Thames Challenge Cup, the frosh eight placed third of 36

The Henley experience was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity for these Badger rowers. One 1973 Badger rower in the varsity eight even returned this summer to see the Henley races as part of his own 50th anniversary commemoration.
 
In reality, the reunion was not just in celebration of their Henley trip, but also their successes reached earlier in that summer with the winning of all three of the 1973 heavyweight eight-oared events at the IRA (Intercollegiate Rowing Association) events in college rowing's annual college rowing championships.  As the Syracuse Herald Standard wrote in its headline of the June 2, 1973 races:  "Wisc…Wisc…Wisc" to describe the Badger men's sweep of the three top heavyweight eight-oared events – the Varsity eight, the second varsity eight and the frosh eight event.

At the reunion's various tables, groups of guests were re-calling the factors leading up to what might have been the Badgers best rowing year ever. A common theme in separate conversations with two rowers, and later from remarks of former head coach Randy "Jabo" Jablonic, was the uncommon quality of their freshman coach, Doug Neil.  All described Doug as soft-spoken but gifted, with an enthusiastic and inspirational way about him, which brought out the best in his athletes. No one ever wanted to let down Coach Neil.

Hired away from Purdue's Club Sport of rowing, Doug led the UW freshmen squads for the three years of 1971, 1972 and 1973, finishing first in 1972 and 1973 in their frosh eight-oared IRA championships. These strong frosh boatmen fed the varsity boats the following years. The varsity eight went on to win the IRAs for three straight years – 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Having long heard men's rowing turned out successful academic performances and then men with successful careers, it was interesting to learn some of the professions of these now 68-to-72 year-old former rowers. One host was a stockbroker; another a river-boat captain; an orthopedic surgeon; a doctor-turned business leader-turned investment banker and finally turned-board member of six companies; yet another founded a construction company in Denver now turned over to his son; a floor trader in Chicago; a successful insurance broker; a partner in a major Madison construction company; and yet another, an investment manager going through four acquisition roll-ups and ending up at Morgan Stanley.
 

Story by Brad Taylor
Photos by Jim Ricksecker