Wisconsin Badgers
Knecht Cup
Lightweights shine on first day of Knecht Cup
April 11, 2026 | Lightweight Rowing
Badgers place first in five of 10 heats
CAMDEN COUNTY, N.J. — The Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team put together a strong performance on the first day of competition at the Knecht Cup Regatta on Saturday in Camden County, New Jersey. The Badgers entered 10 boats in the competition, collecting in five of the 10 of the heats they competed in.
How it happened:
Wisconsin set the tone early on the day in the women's double sculls, where the A boat pair of Claire Rulyak and Romy McCarthy powered to a decisive win in Heat 2 in 8:03.91. The Badgers showed depth in the event, with the C boat of Liliana Elliott and Quenby Swanson also capturing first place in their heat to finish in 8:08.27.
Coxswain Maggie Wagner led the Badgers to an impressive performance in the varsity four event, winning Heat 2 by over 12 seconds to cover the distance in 8:12.98. The second varsity four crew, led by coxswain Charlotte Wise, also sealed the victory in their heat in 8:12.39. Freshman coxswain Anna Bares led the frosh four crew to a commanding victory in their heat, finishing in 8:31.02 to beat out the second-place finisher by over 45 seconds.
Wisconsin added podium finishes in Heat 3 of women's doubles and Heat 1 of the lightweight four events. The duo of Becca Rasmussen and Maya King added to the Badgers' success with a second-place finish in doubles, just six seconds behind Radcliffe in first, as the lightweight four remained within three seconds of Radcliffe to finish second in 7:39.27.
In the lightweight eight event, coxswain Emilie Rochon helped keep the Badgers within 10 seconds off the lead for a fifth-place finish in 6:48.55. The third varsity eight earned a solid second-place finish in 7:25.21, as the second varsity eight took fourth in their heat in 7:17.72.
UP NEXT: The Badgers will wrap up competition at the Knecht Cup Sunday morning. The day begins at 8:47 a.m. CT for the Badgers, with the Women's Double Finals.
Knecht Cup
April 11
Cooper River
Camden County, New Jersey
2000 Meters
Women's Double Heat 2 (Five Entries)
1. Wisconsin A, 8:03.91; 2. Boston University B, 8:06.12; 3. MIT A, 8:19.12; 4. Monmouth University, 9:23.61; Gordon College, 9:24.73
UW Lineup: Claire Rulyak, Romy McCarthy
Women's Double Heat 3 (Six Entries)
1. Radcliffe A, 8:24.94; 2. Wisconsin B, 8:30.23; 3. Boston University D, 8:43.22; 4. Georgetown B, 8:44.03; 5. Adrian College, 10:27.68; New Hampshire, 11:06.72
UW Lineup: Becca Rasmussen, Maya King
Women's Double Heat 4 (Six Entries)
1. Wisconsin C, 8:08.27; 2. Georgetown A, 8:29.40; 3. Boston University C, 8:35.56; 4. Oklahoma City, 8:45.39; 5. Susquehanna University, 10:43.81; 6. Radcliffe B, DNS
UW Lineup: Liliana Elliott, Quenby Swanson
Women's Lightweight Four Heat 1 (Four Entries)
1. Radcliffe A, 7:36.34; 2. Wisconsin, 7:39.27; 3. Boston University B, 7:44.06; 4. MIT A, 7:54.14
UW Lineup: Coxswain Charlotte Wise, Rylie Cordella, Libby Walker, Addie Hinkie, Margot Quist
Women's Frosh/Novice Four Heat 1 (Five Entries)
1. Wisconsin, 8:31.02; 2. Rhode Island, 9:18.92; 3. Merrimack College, 9:23.47; 4. Albany, 9:44.60; 5. Temple, Scratch
UW Lineup: Coxswain Anna Bares, Ellie Kovalick, Ava Hodgson, Maya King, Wil D'Loughy
Women's Second Varsity Four Heat 6 (Four Entries)
1. Wisconsin, 8:12.39; 2. Temple B, 8:15.84; 3. West Virginia University A, 8:18.61; 4. George Mason, 9:34.47
UW Lineup: Coxswain Charlotte Wise, Charlotte Mirzaian, Ellie Vogel, Bailey Hunn, Elsa Rolfs
Women's Varsity Four Heat 2 (Five Entries)
1. Wisconsin, 8:12.98; 2. Villanova, 8:24.78; 3. Lehigh, 8:32.75; 4. Old Dominion, 8:39.27; 5. Colgate, 8:44.04
UW Lineup: Coxswain Maggie Wagner, Olivia Moore, Jame Wild, Sophie Vande Slunt, Estelle Stout
Women's Lightweight Eight Heat 1 (Six Entries)
1. Radcliffe, 6:38.18; 2. Boston University, 6:41.72; 3. MIT A, 6:44.44; 4. Georgetown, 6:47.54; 5. Wisconsin, 6:48.55; 6. Sacred Heart, 7:22.58
UW Lineup: Coxswain Emilie Rochon, Alex Palmberg, Georgia Harlow, Claire Rulyak, Anika Hanson, Payton Bradford, Olivia Palmberg, Audra Chesny, Romy McCarthy
Women's Third Varsity Eight Heat 2 (Six Entries)
1. Boston College, 7:14.81; 2. Wisconsin, 7:25.21; 3. MIT, 7:29.79; 4. Delaware, 7:31.03; 5. Bucknell, 7:37.09; 6. George Mason, 9:15.00
UW Lineup: Coxswain Anna Bares, Ellie Kovalick, Shannon Saccomando, Jame Wild, Bailey Hunn, Ellie Vogel, Ava Hodgson, Elsa Rolfs, Wil D'Loughy
Women's Second Varsity Eight Heat 3 (Five Entries)
1. Boston College, 7:04.60; 2. MIT B, 7:11.72; 3. Bucknell, 7:15.12; 4. Wisconsin, 7:17.72; 5. Mercyhurst University, 8:04.09
UW Lineup: Coxswain Maggie Wagner, Rylie Cordella, Libby Walker, Quenby Swanson, Olivia Moore, Estelle Stout, Sophie Vande Slunt, Liliana Elliott, Becca Rasmussen
Players Mentioned
