Wisconsin Badgers
Milwaukee River Challenge
Wisconsin lightweights open the season with wins at Milwaukee River Challenge
October 03, 2026 | Lightweight Rowing
Badgers take open eight and open four events
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team opened up their season today with two wins at the Milwaukee River Challenge.
The Milwaukee River Challenge spans Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers on a challenging three-mile course.
How it happened:
Wisconsin's women's lightweight rowing team produced a great start to the fall at the Milwaukee River Challenge, earning multiple top finishes across the open fours and open eight races, with two race wins and four podium finishes.
Wisconsin's lightweight C boat set the pace for the open eights with a first-place finish, crossing the line in 17:35.764.
The Badgers' lightweight E boat followed closely, finishing second with a time of 17:56.988.
The lightweights continued their strong showing, placing two more boats in the top six. Wisconsin's lightweight A boat finished fifth in 18:16.645, while the lightweight G boat rounded out the Badgers' top-six finishes in sixth with a time of 18:20.310.
Wisconsin continued its strong showing in the open fours, placing three boats in the top four. The lightweight A boat earned another first-place finish, crossing the line in 18:36.732. The lightweight B boat followed in second at 18:44.544, while the lightweight C boat finished fourth in 19:09.066.
Straight from the Shore
Lightweight Coach Hodge Habibovic
"One of our biggest focuses this fall has been leaning into a greater sense of urgency, and I've been really pleased with how the team has embraced that through our first few weeks. We're trending quite a bit faster across the board than we were at this point last year, which is exciting to see. This was a good first step and a good indication of the progress we've made, but the next few weeks will tell us a lot about where this group can go."
Milwaukee River Challenge
Oct. 3, 2026
Menominee River / Milwaukee River
3 miles
Women's Open Fours
1. lightweight A boat, 18:36.732; 2. lightweight B boat, 18:44.544; 4. lightweight C boat, 19:09.066; 12. lightweight G boat, 20:06.120
Wisconsin A - Charlotte Wise, Alexandra Palmberg, Rylie Cordella, Audra Chesny, Georgia Harlow
Wisconsin C - Charlotte Fisher, Olivia Palmberg, Libby Walker, Molly Walbrun, Becca Rasmussen
Wisconsin E - Finley Jorgensen, Romy McCarthy, Quenby Swanson, Anika Hanson, Sophie Vande Slunt
Wisconsin G - Anna Bares, Malia Burt, Maya King, Shannon Saccomando, Clara Kownas
Women's Open Eights
1. lightweight C boat, 17:35.764; 2. lightweight E boat, 17:56.988; 5. lightweight A boat, 18:16.645; 6. Lightweight G boat, 21.224
Wisconsin A - Charlotte Wise, Georgia Harlow, Libby Walker, Anika Hanson, Sophie Vande Slunt, Romy McCarthy, Mia Hartley, Jame Wild, Margot Quist
Wisconsin C - Finley Jorgensen, Alexandra Palmberg, Olivia Palmberg, Claire Rulyak, Audra Chesny, Payton Bradford, Estelle Stout, Becca Rasmussen, Liliana Elliott
Wisconsin E - Anna Bares, Rylie Cordella, Malia Burt, Quenby Swanson, Bailey Hunn, Maya King, Fredericka D'Loughy, Wilhelmina D'Loughy
Wisconsin G - Charlotte Fisher, Alexandra Nestoros, Molly Walbrun, Lauren Raines, Riley Garrison, Lillian Collins, Corinne Davies, Mariella Lehrmann, Sophia Hoyer
