Wisconsin rowers erg for Connor to raise money for brain cancer research
March 03, 2026 | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing, Lightweight Rowing
Badger programs combine to raise nearly $9000
Connor's Erg
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin rowing programs have found a way to bring some extra light to Februarys over the past dozen years with Connor's Erg, an annual erg challenge relay to raise money for brain cancer research.
Originally a 100-kilometer erg challenge between the Wisconsin and Stanford in 2014, it has since expanded to interested rowing programs around the county.
The Badgers held their erg event this year on Feb. 19 at Porter Boathouse.
Leading the Badgers' fundraising efforts were women's rower Piper Garcia Hall ($1,693) and men's rower Jack Wagner ($1,199). As a program, Wisconsin rowing has raised just shy of $9,000 towards the cause.
"It means a lot to me, fundraisers like these, to be able to give back and raise money for research because my family has been affected by cancer in many different ways," Garcia Hall said. "Friends too. When I was younger, my best friend's dad passed away from brain cancer and that was really hard."
"As a society we can join together and find a cure, find better treatment for it, so I think things like this are really important and it's fun to do it as a team and have fun while doing it."
Unfortunately, Garcia Hall isn't the only current Badger rower affected.
"I've had family with cancer, friends with cancer, the same one that Conner had," Wagner stated.
Connor's Erg is named after prospective University of Wisconsin and Stanford University student and rower who succumbed to a brain tumor in 2013. The event benefits the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation.
Wisconsin born, Connor was the son of Liz and Scott, both UW graduates. Connor spent his life in both the United States and Australia.
"It's a big deal," Garcia Hall said. "Everyone knows Connor's Erg happens every year. It is very important for the men's team and the women's team, and we're just happy to be a part of it."
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MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin rowing programs have found a way to bring some extra light to Februarys over the past dozen years with Connor's Erg, an annual erg challenge relay to raise money for brain cancer research.
Originally a 100-kilometer erg challenge between the Wisconsin and Stanford in 2014, it has since expanded to interested rowing programs around the county.
The Badgers held their erg event this year on Feb. 19 at Porter Boathouse.
Leading the Badgers' fundraising efforts were women's rower Piper Garcia Hall ($1,693) and men's rower Jack Wagner ($1,199). As a program, Wisconsin rowing has raised just shy of $9,000 towards the cause.
"It means a lot to me, fundraisers like these, to be able to give back and raise money for research because my family has been affected by cancer in many different ways," Garcia Hall said. "Friends too. When I was younger, my best friend's dad passed away from brain cancer and that was really hard."
"As a society we can join together and find a cure, find better treatment for it, so I think things like this are really important and it's fun to do it as a team and have fun while doing it."
Unfortunately, Garcia Hall isn't the only current Badger rower affected.
"I've had family with cancer, friends with cancer, the same one that Conner had," Wagner stated.
Connor's Erg is named after prospective University of Wisconsin and Stanford University student and rower who succumbed to a brain tumor in 2013. The event benefits the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation.
Wisconsin born, Connor was the son of Liz and Scott, both UW graduates. Connor spent his life in both the United States and Australia.
"It's a big deal," Garcia Hall said. "Everyone knows Connor's Erg happens every year. It is very important for the men's team and the women's team, and we're just happy to be a part of it."
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