UW Successful at Double Dual
April 14, 2007 | Women's Rowing
Traveling just across the state border, the No. 18 Wisconsin women's openweight rowing team faced four opponents, including Minnesota and Oregon St., in double dual action Saturday on Lake Phalen in St. Paul, Minn.
Racing began under perfect conditions at 9:15 a.m. for UW, who prior to the weekend, had not participated in a 2,000-meter event this season. Before the noon hour, Wisconsin's varsity boats raced against No. 17 Oregon St., while the afternoon welcomed Border Battle action against No. 10 Minnesota.
In addition to racing OSU and Minnesota, UW's second boats and novice rowers also competed against Drake and Iowa.
'The racing was really successful for us,' head coach Bebe Bryans said. For our first races, I think we learned a lot. Our novices got their oars wet on the race course and did a great job of pulling out some really close ones.'
Wisconsin's varsity four hit the water at 10:30 a.m. against Oregon St. The Badgers recorded a 7:44.71 split to defeat the Beavers by less than one second, earning the win. OSU ended with a time of 7:45.27.
Claire Geiger steered the boat at coxswain, while Anna Clauson stroked in the four seat. Stacey Nelson was in the three spot, with Nicole Trumper in the two seat and Annie Walsworth at bow.
Wisconsin's second varsity four also won its race, finishing with a time of 7:38.67 ahead of Minnesota at 7:44.28 and Iowa at 8:03.17.
In their first race of the spring, Wisconsin's novice rowers swept all competition in the morning. The first novice eight boat defeated OSU by less than a second, finishing victorious in the neck-and-neck battle. Wisconsin finished the course in 6:47.29, while their counterpart finished in 6:47.94.
UW's second novice eight finished in 6:59.57, beating Drake who came in 24 seconds later.
Wisconsin's only losses of the morning came in the varsity eight category. UW's top boat was just over six seconds shy of overcoming its opponent. The Badgers crossed the finish line in a time of 6:42.58, while the Beavers clocked a time of 6:36.28.
Three seniors rowed in the varsity eight including coxswain Jess Bartlet from Jackson, Wis. In addition, seniors Susan Masterson and Kirsten Kuhn rowed in the fourth and bow seats, respectively. Sophomore Bailey Thompson stroked the boat, while Maggie Galloway, Theresa Shields, Denise Kragness, Sarah Wrenshall and Stephanie Koepp finished off the line-up.
UW's second varsity eight experienced a similar ending, finishing just 4.81 seconds behind Oregon St. Wisconsin's raced in a time of 6:53.84, while OSU finished in 6:49.03.
UW's novice boats and second varsity four boat defeated Minnesota in the afternoon. The varsity eight boats and second varsity four boats had a strong performance against the Gophers, but lost each by nine seconds, 14 seconds and 12 seconds, respectively.
'Both of the varsity crews we were up against were some really top quality crews, so we were pretty pleased,' Bryans said. We were able to make some good improvements from the morning to the afternoon.'
Next up for the Badgers is the annual Midwest Rowing Championships in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, April 21. The event hosted by the UW will take place on Lake Wingra near Vilas Park.
A complete list of results from the Double Dual in Minnesota can be found below.
