Trio of former Badger women make 2019 World Rowing Championships boats
August 01, 2019 | Women's Rowing
Two former Badger men made team earlier this summer
MADISON, Wis. – USRowing announced its five camp-selected boats for the 2019 World Rowing Championships that begin later this month in Austria and three former Wisconsin women's rowers are among the chosen.
Middleton native, Vicky Opitz, now a five-time national team rower, will race in the women's four with fellow Wisconsin alum Maddie Wanamaker, who is from Neenah.
Opitz, also an alternate for the 2016 Olympics, pulled a double at last year's world championships and won gold in the women's eight and ninth in the women's pair. She also remains part of the world's fastest crew when her eight set the world's fastest time in 2013 at the Lucerne World Cup.
Wanamaker is on her second senior national team and owns a pair of under-23 national team appearances. She captured a gold medal at last year's world championships in the women's four and helped the eight finish second at the 2017 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
Joining Opitz and Wanamaker is Franklin native Sophia Vitas, who makes her second national team appearance. Vitas rowed with the women's eight that placed fourth at the 2017 FISA World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida.
Vitas will race this time with the women's quadruple sculls.
The 2019 World Rowing Championships take place Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 in Linz, Austria.
Former Badger men's rowers Michael Knippen and Tristan Amberger will be boatmates at this year's event as well, racing in the men's quadruple sculls.
Middleton native, Vicky Opitz, now a five-time national team rower, will race in the women's four with fellow Wisconsin alum Maddie Wanamaker, who is from Neenah.
Opitz, also an alternate for the 2016 Olympics, pulled a double at last year's world championships and won gold in the women's eight and ninth in the women's pair. She also remains part of the world's fastest crew when her eight set the world's fastest time in 2013 at the Lucerne World Cup.
Wanamaker is on her second senior national team and owns a pair of under-23 national team appearances. She captured a gold medal at last year's world championships in the women's four and helped the eight finish second at the 2017 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
Joining Opitz and Wanamaker is Franklin native Sophia Vitas, who makes her second national team appearance. Vitas rowed with the women's eight that placed fourth at the 2017 FISA World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida.
Vitas will race this time with the women's quadruple sculls.
The 2019 World Rowing Championships take place Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 in Linz, Austria.
Former Badger men's rowers Michael Knippen and Tristan Amberger will be boatmates at this year's event as well, racing in the men's quadruple sculls.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
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