REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. -- Early mistakes and inexperience challenged the Badgers as the No. 10 Wisconsin men's rowing team dropped races to No. 1 California and No. 12 Stanford at the Stanford Invitational Saturday in California. 
 
Wisconsin began the morning against host-team Stanford, but early errors during the opening strokes proved the difference for the Badgers varsity eight, who finished just behind the Cardinal with a time of 5:47.5.
 
Wisconsin's second eight found more success against Stanford, crossing the finish line nine seconds ahead of the Cardinal with a time of 5:54.3. The third eight also performed well, clocking in with a time of 6:03.6 to earn the Badgers' second win of the day.  
 
The Badgers' varsity eight showed promise against Cal to open the afternoon portion of the regatta. Despite finishing second with a time of 5:46.4, the Badgers shaved an entire second off their morning race and maintained one of their closest races with the formidable Bears in recent years. 
 
Wisconsin's second and third varsity eight crews also fell to Cal in the sweep, finishing with times of  5:50.3 and 6:10.6, respectively. 
 
Up Next
Wisconsin wraps up racing tomorrow against Oregon State. Day two of the meet is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. 
 
Straight From the Lake
Head coach Chris Clark
On today's meet: 
"One thing that happened today that was out of the ordinary at all, and the only real disappointment I felt, was that first eight race against Stanford. They tightened up, bobbled the first few strokes, were down by about three or four seats literally in the first three strokes, so it was game over. They compounded it by rowing beyond their pace. They had a six foot 10 or 11 stroke. You don't need to row a very high cadence, and they did anyway so they kind of got out of their game. Stanford's significantly better than they have been in at least five years so you get punished for a mistake like that and we were."
 
"The 2V and the freshmen did fine against Stanford, like I figured they probably would. Against Cal, there's no contest in the freshman level. We had five guys who had never rowed in a race until that race. They were way back, and that's fine. You have to learn to race, and that's almost another sport at first, but they'll get it." 
 
"The 2V was 14 or 15 back. Cal's 2V looks like a national championship 2V to me. The 1V was excellent, I felt. That was the closest we've been to Cal and they rowed their race much more controlled." 
 
On tomorrow's races: 
"Now we have Oregon State, who have always been good. You can't make mistakes against them because they'll punish you. It's always really profitable to be out here, and this is no exception. Once we're back, we'll be ready for the races that happen later in the season."
 
Stanford Invitational
Redwood Shores, Calif.
April 14, 2017
2,000 meters
 
Wisconsin vs. No. 12 Stanford

Varsity Eight
1. Stanford, 5:43.4; 2. Wisconsin, 5:47.5
Wisconsin Lineup: Theodore Van Beek (cox), Tristan Amberger, Nickolas Montalvo, Andrew Griffin, Jonah Van der Weide, Kyle McCarthy, James Bernard, Jacob Wenner, Thomas Walker

Second Varsity Eight
1. Wisconsin, 5:54.3; 2. Stanford, 6:03.4
Wisconsin Lineup: Cameron Pak (cox), John Hollow, Alexander Butler, Nathan Petersen, Kurt Mueller, William Alt, Dylan Adams, Andrew Flannery, Tyler Stevens

Third Varsity Eight
1. Wisconsin, 6:03.6; 2. Stanford, 6:08.1
Wisconsin Lineup: Ian Tunney (cox), Adam Wehking, Paul Sagraves, Samuel Williams, Caleb Sorenson, Tyler Berstein, Luke VandenHeuvel, Jacob Buboltz, Christoph Bub
 
Wisconsin vs. No. 1 California

Varsity Eight
1. California, 5:36.6; 2. Wisconsin, 5:46.4
Wisconsin Lineup: Theodore Van Beek (cox), Tristan Amberger, Nickolas Montalvo, Andrew Griffin, Jonah Van der Weide, Kyle McCarthy, James Bernard, Jacob Wenner, Thomas Walker

Second Varsity Eight
1. California, 5:35.9; 2. Wisconsin, 5:50.3
Wisconsin Lineup: Cameron Pak (cox), John Hollow, Alexander Butler, Nathan Petersen, Kurt Mueller, William Alt, Dylan Adams, Andrew Flannery, Tyler Stevens

Third Varsity Eight
1. California, 5:50.2; 2. Wisconsin 6:10.6
Wisconsin Lineup: Ian Tunney (cox), Adam Wehking, Paul Sagraves, Samuel Williams, Caleb Sorenson, Tyler Berstein, Luke VandenHeuvel, Jacob Buboltz, Christoph Bub