MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin Badgers women's lightweight rowing team kicked off its season in winning fashion at the Milwaukee River Challenge Saturday afternoon.

Rowers competed on a challenging three-mile course that took them through the heart of downtown Milwaukee along the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers. The Badgers showed up against teams from across the Midwest, including Purdue, Marquette, Milwaukee and Lincoln Park. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Wisconsin's lightweight A boat, led by coxswain Emilie Rochon, set the pace for the day with a first-place finish in the women's open fours event with a time of 17:40.914. They finished just over two seconds ahead of Wisconsin's lightweight B boat.

The lightweights capped off the regatta going two and three in the open eights. The Badgers built off their earlier momentum in the lightweight A boat, led by coxswain Emilie Rochon, taking second place just 02.082 seconds behind Wisconsin B. The lightweight C boat rounded out the top three with a time of 16:49.607. 

Up Next: The Badgers will head to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta on Oct. 19.

Milwaukee River Challenge
Oct. 5, 2024
Milwaukee
Menomonee River / Milwaukee River
3 miles

Women's Open Fours
1. Wisconsin A, 17:40.914; 2. Wisconsin B, 17:43.511; 3. Wisconsin E (openweight), 17:50.794; 4. Wisconsin E (openweight), 18:08.662; 5. Wisconsin E (openweight), 18:22.740; 7. Wisconsin E (openweight), 18:34.823; 8. Wisconsin D, 18:53.403; 9. Wisconsin C, 18:53.703.
Wisconsin A - Coxswain Emilie Rochon, Payton Tonnos, Georgia Harlow, Claire Rulyak, Romy McCarthy
Wisconsin B - Coxswain Maggie Wagner, Alexandra Palmberg, Olivia Palmberg, Payton Bradford, Anika Hanson
Wisconsin D - Coxswain Charlotte Wise, Tara Laschever, Maya King, Wilhelmina D'Loughy, Fredericka D'Loughy
Wisconsin C - Coxswain Anna Bares, Rylie Cordella, Malia Burt, Elsa Rolfs, Ava Hodgson

Women's Open Eights
1. Wisconsin B, 16:12.349; 2. Wisconsin A, 16:14.431; 3. Wisconsin C, 16:49.607; 4. Wisconsin E, 16:50.843; 7. Wisconsin F, 17:25.310; 8. Wisconsin G (openweight), 17:27.024. 
Wisconsin B - Coxswain Maggie Wagner, Georgia Harlow, Margot Quist, Romy McCarthy, Libby Walker, Jameson Wild, Anika Hanson, Mia Hartley, Bailey Hunn
Wisconsin A - Coxswain Emilie Rochon, Payton Tonnos, Adeline Hinkie, Charlotte Mirzaian, Rylie Cordella, Olivia Moore, Eleanor Vogel, Daisy Hester, Ellie Kovalick
Wisconsin C - Coxswain Charlotte Wise, Alexandra Palmberg, Olivia Palmberg, Claire Rulyak, Audra Chesny, Payton Bradford, Estelle Stout, Rebecca Rasmussen, Liliana Elliott