Wisconsin Badgers
San Diego Crew Classic
F(oar) things to know: Badgers head West to San Diego Crew Classic
March 27, 2026 | Women's Rowing
Rowers to participate in program’s first San Diego Crew Classic since 2017
MADISON, Wis. – After opening its spring season at the Cardinal Invite in Tennessee on March 14-15, the Wisconsin women's rowing team is heading west for the San Diego Crew Classic on Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29.
Before they hit the water, here are f(oar) things to know:
1. REGATTA HISTORY: UW has a long history with the San Diego Crew Classic as it makes its first appearance at the regatta since 2017, when it placed third in the varsity eight.Â
UW first participated in the regatta in 1984, rowing in the varsity eight every year until 2017 except seven (2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2015).Â
Its best finish came in 1986, where the varsity eight placed first. The program also boasts multiple other top three finishes, including placing second three years in a row from 1987 to 1989 under head coach Sue Ela.Â
The San Diego Crew Classic was first held in 1973 by San Diegans who intended to bring the nation's top collegiate crews to Mission Bay in the spring for a showdown regatta. Today, the event is a three-day, nationally acclaimed regatta, consisting of over 140 races with more than 4200 athletes.
2. SCOUTING THE COMPETITION: Wisconsin will have boats in two events – the women's varsity eight and the women's collegiate novice eight.Â
The varsity eight features competition from around California and the country, with boats from Sacramento State, Tufts, UCLA, UC-San Diego, California, San Diego, Texas, Washington and Washington State set to compete across the two heats.
In the women's collegiate novice eight, UW will row against two Big Ten conference opponents – UCLA and USC — as well as San Diego.
The Badgers will be tested as multiple opponents are ranked in the top-25 of the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association's (CRCA) March 24th poll. Texas is ranked No. 2, including receiving a first-place boat, while Washington is ranked No. 5. California checks in at No. 10, and USC is No. 22.
Additionally, Tufts is ranked first in the CRCA's Division III poll with a unanimous 13 first-place votes.
3. LAKE MENDOTA REOPENS: The Badgers are officially back on the water in Madison!
After returning from the Cardinal Invite, which wrapped on Sunday, March 15, UW now has regular water time on its home lake as Lake Mendota has officially reopened after being frozen over the winter.
Before the start of the spring season, the Badgers most recently trained on the waters of Cocoa Beach, Florida, in early January for their annual winter training trip.Â
4. FOLLOW ALONG: Live results for this weekend's event can be found here.
2026 San Diego Crew Classic
March 28-29
Fiesta Bay-Crown Point Shores
San Diego, California
2000 meters
SATURDAY, MARCH 28 (Times are PT)
Wisconsin, Sacramento State, Tufts, UCLA, UC-San Diego, UC-Berkeley, University of San Diego, UT-Austin, Washington, Washington State
Women's Varsity 8+ Jessop-Whittier Cup/Cal Cup Collegiate Invitational
10 a.m. - Heat 1
10:08 a.m. - Heat 2
Wisconsin, UCLA, University of San Diego, USC
Women's Collegiate Novice 8+ Laurel Korholz Perpetual Trophy
12 p.m. - Heat 1
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
Women's Varsity 8+ Jessop-Whittier Cup/Cal Cup Collegiate Invitational
9:23 a.m. - Final A 1
9:43 a.m. - Final B 1
Women's Collegiate Novice 8+ Laurel Korholz Perpetual Trophy
11:19 a.m. - Final A 1
