Testing the waters
April 30, 2015 | Women's Rowing
April 30, 2015
BY CHRISTIAN BLATNER | UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
It is the most popular state park in Wisconsin, known for its beauty and recreational options. From hiking to the top of its large bluffs, to rock climbing, swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, camping, scuba diving and birdwatching, Devil's Lake is a magnet for outdoor lovers. Now, add collegiate rowing to the list of activities.
For the second time in four years, the Wisconsin rowing program will host a race at Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo, with the May 2-3 competition featuring three women's teams and six men's programs.
Wisconsin, Boston University, MIT, Northeastern, Georgetown and Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) will compete on the men's side, while the women's races will include the Badgers, Michigan State and Minnesota.
This will be the first time the women's squad has raced at Devil's Lake. With its high bluffs, the course is well protected from the elements.
"Racing at Devil's Lake is something that (Wisconsin men's) coach (Chris) Clark has been talking about for a long time," UW women's head coach Bebe Bryans said. "When I got up there as a hiker, with my dogs, just the beauty of the place and the length of the water looked just about right. Also when I was up there, the wind was blowing pretty hard and it was flat, or pretty flat, (on the water).
"So that is a combination of circumstances that doesn't come along every day, and the men have had good success up there in the past, so we decided why not?"
The men's team previously raced at Devil's Lake in 2012. After forecasting high winds on Lake Mendota for their races against Boston University, Dartmouth and MIT, the Badgers moved their races about an hour north.
"When we first approached the state park people in 2011 or 2012," Clark said, "I didn't understand how state parks worked. I thought, it's a pristine place, it's the most popular state park, maybe they don't want anyone there, except people hiking and boating. I didn't realize they want the parks to have uses and as a revenue producer."
The Wisconsin men will compete for the Jablonic Cup and Cochrane Cup, while the women will race for the Burnin' Blade and The Hammer.
The Jablonic Cup is named after longtime UW head coach Randy Jablonic (1969-97) and has been contested by Wisconsin and Boston University since 1989. The Badgers have won 20 of 24 races, but BU currently owns a two-year win streak in the race for the cup.
As a rower, Jablonic was a part of the Badgers' 1959 Intercollegiate Rowing Association varsity eight title -- the school's second of eight wins in the event.
The Cochrane Cup is named after Admiral Edward L. Cochrane, former president of MIT and director of the Navy's Bureau of Ships. Wisconsin has raced for the cup since 1961 against Dartmouth and MIT, though this marks the third-consecutive year the competition will include just the Badgers and MIT.
UW owns victories in nine consecutive races for the Cochrane Cup, and 36 of 54 races all-time.
The Wisconsin openweight women will race for the Burnin' Blade when they take on Minnesota. The schools have raced for the trophy for four years, with the Badgers winning three times, including last season. The trophy goes to the winner of the varsity eight race between UW and the Gophers.
In addition, the winner of the novice eight race between the two schools is awarded The Hammer. Wisconsin has won all four races in the rivalry.
Because of the geography surrounding Devil's Lake, which creates great course conditions for rowers, there is promise it could host even bigger events in the future.
"It's something that the Big Ten women's coaches are excited about because if this goes well -- and we're pretty much all in here -- we're putting in a really good race course," Bryans said. "All the mechanics will be in place, we're racing Big Ten teams up there, so if this goes well we are primed to hopefully host the Big Ten championships in the very near future."
Clark added more praise for the Devil's Lake course.
"It's in a bowl," Clark said, "and it can howl, but the waves don't build up too much. Really, it's a championship venue.
"There is a place in Lucerne, Switzerland, called the Rotsee. It's a bigger version of the Rotsee. It's an incredible place. It can howl there and you can row, and it's very fair. That's another problem with rowing courses. Invariably if you win something, and it's even slightly unfair, it's because you got the good lane. I've heard that many times."
Teams will launch from the south shore, which will also serve as the finish line.
Fans should enter the park near the South Shore Visitor's Center. Entry fee is $7 for vehicles with Wisconsin license plates and $10 for out-of-state vehicles. More information is available at DevilsLakeWisconsin.com, including a map of the park and directions to the south shore.
| Race Number | Teams/Event | Time |
| SATURDAY | ||
| Race 1 | (M) Georgetown vs. MIT V8 | 9:30 a.m. |
| Race 2 | (M) BU vs. Wisconsin V8 | 9:45 a.m. |
| Race 3 | (M) BU vs. Wisconsin 2V8 | 10 a.m. |
| Race 4 | (M) BU vs. Wisconsin 1F/3V | 10:15 a.m. |
| Race 5 | (M) MSOE vs. Wisconsin 4V/2F/3F | 10:30 a.m. |
| PRACTICE | 10:30-11:45 a.m. | |
| Race 6 | (W) Minnesota/UW/Michigan St V4 | Noon |
| Race 7 | (W) Minnesota/UW/Michigan St 2N | 12:15 p.m. |
| Race 8 | (W) Minnesota/UW/Michigan St 1N | 12:30 p.m. |
| Race 9 | (W) Minnesota/UW/Michigan St 3V4 | 12:45 p.m. |
| Race 10 | (M) Georgetown vs. BU V8 | 1 p.m. |
| Race 11 | (W) Minnesota/UW/Michigan St 2V4 | 1:15 p.m. |
| Race 12 | (W) Minnesota/UW/Michigan St 2V8 | 1:30 p.m. |
| Race 13 | (W) Minnesota/UW/Michigan St V8 | 2 p.m. |
| Race 14 | (M) BU 2V/3V vs. Wisconsin 3V | 2:15 p.m. |
| Race 15 | (M) MSOE/UW/MIT 4s | 2:30 p.m. |
| Race 16 | (M) MIT vs. Wisconsin V8 | 2:45 p.m. |
| Race 17 | (M) MSOE vs. Wisconsin LW4 | 3 p.m. |
| SUNDAY | ||
| Race 1 | (M) Northeastern vs. Wisconsin | 1 p.m. |
(M) indicates men's race
(W) indicates women's race
