F(oar) things to know: Wisconsin travels to the Head of the Charles
October 13, 2026 | Women's Rowing
The Badgers are Boston-bound
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women's rowing team is Boston-bound for the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, Oct. 18.
As the Badgers prepare to hit the water, here are f(oar) things to know:
1. ABOUT THE COURSE:
The Head of the Charles Regatta is the world's largest 3-day rowing competition, attracting elite talent to Boston. The event hosts thousands of competitors.
The three-mile course begins near the Boston University Bridge and winds upstream the Charles River to Christian Herter Park. The route takes competitors under six bridges, where spectators can watch from.
2. HISTORY AT THE REGATTA:
The Badgers return to the Head of the Charles for their fourth appearance at the regatta since 2019. Wisconsin has competed in the women's collegiate eights in Boston since 1974 and holds four titles.
In 2025, the team placed 13th in the women's championship fours with a time of 18:12.529. Wisconsin's alumnae boat placed fourth in the women's alumnae eight, recording a time of 16:26.648.
3. ALUMNI RECOGNITION:
Wisconsin alumna Kris Thorsness and former head coach Bebe Bryans have earned honors as US Rowing 2025 Board-Selected award recipients. The Badger duo will receive recognition at the Head of the Charles this weekend for their contributions to the sport of rowing.
Thorsness, a 1979 national champion and 1984 Olympic gold medalist, has received the Jack Kelley Award as a result of her achievements in rowing and inspiration to American rowers. She appeared on seven national rowing teams and won silver at the World Championships in 1982, 1983 and 1987.
The longest-tenured head women's rowing coach in program history, Bryans earned the Ernestine Bayer Award for her leadership and rowing contributions. She led the program for 19 years, reaching 15 NCAA championships. In 2010, Bryans' team earned seventh place at the NCAA Championships—their best finish to date—as well as their first Big Ten title.
Additionally, head coach Vicky Opitz (2010) will be inducted to the National Rowing Foundation Hall of Fame with members of the US women's eights (2013-16) on Saturday, Oct. 17 alongside fellow Badger alum David Krmpotich (1979). Opitz rowed at Wisconsin where she earned honors as CRCA Pocock First-Team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten. In 2010, she and the team won the first Big Ten Rowing Championship in program history and placed seventh at the NCAA Rowing Championships, Wisconsin's best finish to date.
4. FOLLOW ALONG:
Race results and additional information can be found on the Head of the Charles website as well as options for livestream broadcasting. A recap on uwbadgers.com will follow the competition, alongside updates on the women's rowing Instagram and X accounts.
As the Badgers prepare to hit the water, here are f(oar) things to know:
1. ABOUT THE COURSE:
The Head of the Charles Regatta is the world's largest 3-day rowing competition, attracting elite talent to Boston. The event hosts thousands of competitors.
The three-mile course begins near the Boston University Bridge and winds upstream the Charles River to Christian Herter Park. The route takes competitors under six bridges, where spectators can watch from.
2. HISTORY AT THE REGATTA:
The Badgers return to the Head of the Charles for their fourth appearance at the regatta since 2019. Wisconsin has competed in the women's collegiate eights in Boston since 1974 and holds four titles.
In 2025, the team placed 13th in the women's championship fours with a time of 18:12.529. Wisconsin's alumnae boat placed fourth in the women's alumnae eight, recording a time of 16:26.648.
3. ALUMNI RECOGNITION:
Wisconsin alumna Kris Thorsness and former head coach Bebe Bryans have earned honors as US Rowing 2025 Board-Selected award recipients. The Badger duo will receive recognition at the Head of the Charles this weekend for their contributions to the sport of rowing.
Thorsness, a 1979 national champion and 1984 Olympic gold medalist, has received the Jack Kelley Award as a result of her achievements in rowing and inspiration to American rowers. She appeared on seven national rowing teams and won silver at the World Championships in 1982, 1983 and 1987.
The longest-tenured head women's rowing coach in program history, Bryans earned the Ernestine Bayer Award for her leadership and rowing contributions. She led the program for 19 years, reaching 15 NCAA championships. In 2010, Bryans' team earned seventh place at the NCAA Championships—their best finish to date—as well as their first Big Ten title.
Additionally, head coach Vicky Opitz (2010) will be inducted to the National Rowing Foundation Hall of Fame with members of the US women's eights (2013-16) on Saturday, Oct. 17 alongside fellow Badger alum David Krmpotich (1979). Opitz rowed at Wisconsin where she earned honors as CRCA Pocock First-Team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten. In 2010, she and the team won the first Big Ten Rowing Championship in program history and placed seventh at the NCAA Rowing Championships, Wisconsin's best finish to date.
4. FOLLOW ALONG:
Race results and additional information can be found on the Head of the Charles website as well as options for livestream broadcasting. A recap on uwbadgers.com will follow the competition, alongside updates on the women's rowing Instagram and X accounts.
Saturday, October 25
Tuesday, May 14
Monday, May 06
Thursday, March 14
