Benning joined the Badgers as a volunteer assistant coach in 2022.
She arrived at Wisconsin after teaching science and serving as head coach of the rowing team at The Forman School in Connecticut. During that time, Benning also coached masters at Litchfield Rowing Club.
Benning attended Brown University from 2015-19 where she majored in environmental studies. During that time she was selected to race at NCAA’s all four years (varsity four, second varsity eight, varsity eight, varsity eight) and helped her team place in the top 10 in the nation in all four appearances.
In 2017, she won an Ivy League title and placed fifth with the second varsity eighth at the NCAA championship.
Benning earned CRCA Scholar-Athlete honors her senior year and placed first with the varsity eight at the Ivy League Championship and helped Brown place second as a team.
During her junior year, Benning studied abroad at the University of Otago and joined their rowing club where she competed in an 18k race, the longest of her career.
Benning’s passion for rowing started when she rowed with her dad on the Charles River in Boston at the Cambridge Boat Club. She rowed for her high school team, St. Marks, and also ran cross country.
In 2014, Benning won the junior women’s eight event at USRowing Club Nationals.
