Wisconsin Badgers
Eastern Sprints Conference Championships
F(oar) things to know: Lightweights take on Eastern Sprints
May 01, 2026 | Lightweight Rowing
Wisconsin lightweights will race six boats across the day
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin lightweight rowing team will head out east to compete in its penultimate regatta of the spring season, taking on Eastern Sprints on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Sunday.
Before the Badgers hit the water, here are f(oar) things to know:
1. LAST TIME OUT
Wisconsin wrapped up two days of competition at the Knecht Cup Regatta just over two weeks ago on April 11 and 12 on Cooper River in New Jersey. The Badgers grabbed seven top-three finishes across nine events, taking home first in three of them. The duo of Maya King and Becca Rasmussen set the tone early by capturing the Petite Final in the double sculls, as the lightweight four and frosh four also delivered commanding victories in each of their events.
2. BADGERS IN THE RANKINGS
The Badgers enter the weekend with three boats holding firmly in the rankings. The lightweight varsity four sits second overall for the third week in a row, just narrowly behind the Princeton lightweights ranked first. Wisconsin's double sculls follow suit, also sitting in second for its third consecutive week, in line right behind Boston University. The lightweight eight sit seventh overall after facing tough competitors at the Knecht Cup.
3. SPRINT TO THE FINISH
The lightweights are nearing the end of their spring season, with only one more regatta slated on their spring calendar after the six crews take to the water at Eastern Sprints. Wisconsin will wrap up its season at the 2026 IRA National Championships on Lake Natoma in Northern California for a three-day regatta on May 29-31. Last year, the Badgers placed fifth overall with 51 total points thanks to a silver showing from the double sculls crew and a pair of fifth-place finishes from the lightweight eight and lightweight four crews.
4. FOLLOW ALONG
Live results for the weekend can be found here, and fans can follow along on the livestream here. The Badgers will start the day with the first heat of the women's lightweight varsity eight at 8:20 a.m. (CT).
Read what Varsity Lightweight Coach Hadzo "Hodge" Habibovic has to say before the team heads into the weekend!
"We're excited to see how this weekend's racing goes. We've had a few weeks to prep for sprints but we know we still have speed to find this season so this weekend is just another opportunity to see where we stand as we head into the postseason training stretch."
2026 Eastern Sprints
Sunday, May 3 (Times are ET)
Worcester, Massachusetts
Lake Quinsigamond
2000 Meters
Women's Lightweight Varsity 8+
Wisconsin A, Wisconsin B, Boston University, Stanford, Radcliffe
9:20 a.m. - Heat 1
1:56 p.m. - Final
Women's Lightweight Varsity B 2x
Wisconsin, MIT, Radcliffe, Georgetown, Boston University
1:10 p.m. - Final
Women's Lightweight Varsity B 4+
Wisconsin, Boston University, MIT, Princeton, Radcliffe
1:20 p.m. - Final
Women's Lightweight Varsity 2x
Wisconsin, Boston University, MIT, Georgetown, Sacred Heart, Radcliffe, Princeton
1:32 p.m. - Final
Women's Lightweight Varsity 4+
Wisconsin, Boston University, MIT, Georgetown, Sacred Heart, Radcliffe, Princeton
1:44 p.m. - Final
Players Mentioned
