Wisconsin Badgers
Knecht Cup
F(oar) things to know: Lightweights take on Knecht Cup
April 10, 2026 | Lightweight Rowing
Wisconsin lightweights race 10 boats across the weekend
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team looks to continue its spring season success at the Knecht Cup on Saturday and Sunday at Cooper River Park in Camden County, New Jersey.
Before the Badgers hit the water, here are f(oar) things to know:
1. LAST TIME OUT
Wisconsin wrapped up two consecutive weekends in San Diego, California, competing at the Crew Classic on March 28-29 before taking on the University of San Diego and the Wisconsin openweights in a dual on April 4. Last weekend, the Badgers varsity four first and second crews sealed commanding victories, hedging out the Hoyas and openweights by over nine seconds. The lightweights' first crew finished on the heels of the Hoyas in the varsity eight first event, before the second varsity eight crew fell just narrowly to the openweights.
2. SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
The Badgers will have 10 boats competing over the course of the weekend, competing in the women's double sculls, lightweight varsity four, novice four and lightweight varsity eight events.
The double sculls features competition from across the country, with boats from MIT, Boston University, Georgetown, Radcliffe, Monmouth University, Gordon College and New Hampsire, amongst others, competing across three heats.
In the lightweight four events, Wisconsin is set to face Boston University, MIT, Radcliffe, Temple, George Mason and West Virginia University across two heats. Wisconsin's novice four is set to compete against Temple, Rhode Island, Merrimack College and Albany.
Wisconsin's No. 4 lightweight eight crew will be put to the test against ranked opponents in the lightweight eight heat. Listed in the CRCA Week Five Poll, the Badgers will face competition from No. 1 Radcliffe, No. 3 Georgetown, No. 6 MIT and No. 8 Sacred Heart.
3. WHERE TO NEXT
Following the conclusion of the Knecht Cup, Wisconsin will return to the East Coast in three weeks for the Eastern Sprints Conference Championships in Worcester, Massachusetts, on May 3 before wrapping up its season at the IRA National Championships on Lake Natoma, California, at the end of May.
4. FOLLOW ALONG
Live results for the weekend can be found here, and fans can follow along on the livestream here. The Badgers will compete in preliminary heats on Saturday, with finals for each event slotted for Sunday.
2026 Knecht Cup
April 11-12
Cooper River
Camden County, New Jersey
2000 meters
SATURDAY, MARCH 28 (Times are ET)
Wisconsin, Monmouth University, MIT, Boston University, Gordon College, Radcliffe, Georgetown, New Hampsire, Adrian College, Susquehanna University, Oklahoma City
Women's Double
8:19 a.m. - Heat 2
8:26 a.m. - Heat 3
8:33 a.m. - Heat 4
Wisconsin, Boston University, MIT, Radcliffe
Women's Lightweight Four
8:54 a.m. - Heat 1
Wisconsin, Temple, Rhode Island, Merrimack College, Albany
Women's Frosh/Novice Four
9:36 a.m. - Heat 1
Wisconsin, Temple, George Mason, West Virginia University
Women's Second Varsity Four
10:39 a.m. - Heat 6
Wisconsin, Villanova, Colgate, Lehigh, Old Dominion
Women's Varsity Four
10:46 a.m. - Heat 2
Wisconsin, Sacred Heart, MIT, Radcliffe, Boston University, Georgetown
Women's Lightweight Eight
1:38 p.m. - Heat 1
Wisconsin, Boston College, George Mason, MIT, Bucknell, Delaware
Women's Third Varsity Eight
2:06 p.m. - Heat 2
Wisconsin, MIT, Bucknell, Mercyhurst, Boston College
Women's Second Varsity Eight
2:27 p.m. - Heat 3
