OKLAHOMA CITY – The Wisconsin women's rowing team kicked off its fall 2024 season by competing at the Head of the Oklahoma on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6, on the Oklahoma River.

The team competed in a split-squad format this weekend, with half the group racing at the Milwaukee River Challenge in Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 5, and the other half rowing at the Head of the Oklahoma.

The Badgers were led by seniors Oona Zilavy and Sophia Ortega, who came in first place in the women's collegiate pairs race on Saturday morning with a time of 16:40.1, over two seconds ahead of Oklahoma's D pairs in second place.

Wisconsin also made it to the podium in its last race of the day, the women's collegiate eights head race. UW's entry, led by senior coxswain Nora Clements, came in second place with a time of 14:29.3.

UW had several boats qualify to participate in the Head of the Oklahoma's signature night sprints event grand finals where competitors spent their Saturday evening racing a memorable 500 meters under stadium lighting with fireworks at the finish. Wisconsin took first place in the women's fours night sprint and came in third in the women's eights.

On Sunday, Wisconsin kept its momentum going in the women's open fours race, with the A team coming in first place with a time of 15:48.0 and the C team coming in third with a time of 16:15.0.

To cap off the weekend, the Badgers took home gold, silver and bronze in the women's open pairs event. The pair of senior Kylie Magnus and sophomore Bella Moore came in first with a time of 17:16.6, while junior Kira Funk and senior Jordan Morrissey took home second place. Juniors Anna Mueller and Jacki Szelagowski finished in third.

Up Next: The Badgers will compete in a scrimmage at the University of Minnesota on Oct. 12 in Minneapolis. 

Head of the Oklahoma
Oct. 5-6, 2024
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Oklahoma River
2.5 miles

Women's Collegiate Pairs (30 entries)
1. Wisconsin A (Zilavy/Ortega), 16:40.1; 2. Oklahoma D, 16:42.3, 3. Oklahoma C, 16:44.6; 9. Wisconsin D, 17:05.2; 19. Wisconsin C, 17:32.3; 21. Wisconsin E, 17:37.0; 23. Wisconsin F, 18:01.3; 25. Wisconsin G, 18:24.5; 28. Wisconsin H (scratched)

Lineups - stroke, bow
Oona Zilavy, Sophia Ortega
Bella Moore, Anna Mueller
Kylie Magnus, Jacki Szelagowski
Marian Cracraft, Jadyn Schensky
Eva McKinley, Evelyn Schauer

Women's Collegiate Fours (30 entries)
1. Kansas, 15:47.2; 2. Alabama B, 15:55.0; 3. Alabama, 16:01.1; 5. Wisconsin (lightweights), 16:05.7; 10. Wisconsin C, 16:32.3; 11. Wisconsin A, 16:33.1

UW A - Coxswain Nora Clements, Jordan Morrissey, Jacki Szelagowski, Anna Mueller, Evelyn Schauer
UW C - Coxswain Emma Hefner, Marian Cracraft, Jadyn Schensky, Kira Funk, Eva McKinley

Women's Collegiate Eights (16 entries)
1. Oklahoma, 14:12.7; 2. Wisconsin A, 14:29.8; 3. Oklahoma B, 14:34.9; 6. Wisconsin B (lightweights), 14:54.8

UW A - Coxswain Nora Clements, Kylie Magnus, Oona Zilavy, Sophia Ortega, Bella Moore, Jordan Morrissey, Jacki Szelagowski, Anna Mueler, Evelyn Schauer

Women's Collegiate Fours 500m Grand Final (Six entries)
1. Wisconsin A, 1:48.6; 2. Oklahoma, 1:50.6; 3. Alabama, 1:52.5; 4. Wisconsin B (lightweights), 1:53.6

UW A - Coxswain Emma Hefner, Marian Cracraft, Jadyn Schensky, Kira Funk, Eva McKinley

Women's Open/Collegiate Eights 500m Grand Final (Six entries)
1. Oklahoma, 1:30.3; 2. Oklahoma B, 3. 1:31.5; Wisconsin A, 1:34.2; 5. Wisconsin B (lightweights), 1:41.1

UW A - Coxswain Nora Clements, Kylie Magnus, Oona Zilavy, Sophia Ortega, Bella Moore, Jordan Morrissey, Jacki Szelagowski, Anna Mueller, Evelyn Schauer

Women's Open Fours (Eight entries)
1. Wisconsin A, 15:48.0; 2. Wisconsin B (lightweights); 15:58.3; 3. Wisconsin C, 16:15.0

UW A - Emma Hefner, Marian Cracraft, Jadyn Schensky, Kira Funk, Eva McKinley
UW C - Coxswain Nora Clements, Kylie Magnus, Oona Zilavy, Anna Mueller, Jacki Szelagowski

Women's Open Pairs (Nine entries)
1. Wisconsin D (Magnus/Moore), 17:16.6; 2. Wisconsin B (Funk/Morrissey), 17:47.7; 3. Wisconsin E (Mueller/Szelagowski), 17:55.1; 4. Wisconsin F, 18:00.1; 5. Wisconsin G, 18:20.2; 6. Wisconsin I, 18:31.4; 7. Wisconsin H, 18:34.8

Lineups - stroke, bow
Kira Funk, Jordan Morrissey
Kylie Magnus, Bella Moore
Marian Cracraft, Eva McKinley
Jadyn Schensky, Evelyn Schauer
Anna Mueller, Jacki Szelagowski