Wisconsin Badgers
Knecht Cup
Lightweights wrap up competition at Knecht Cup
April 12, 2026 | Lightweight Rowing
Badgers place grabs seven top-three finishes
CAMDEN COUNTY, N.J. — The Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team closed out competition at the Knecht Cup Regatta on Sunday in Camden County, New Jersey. With ten boats competing across nine finals events, the Badgers grabbed seven top-three finishes.
How it happened:
The Wisconsin duo of Becca Rasmussen and Maya King set the tone early for the Badgers in the doubles, capturing the Petite Final crown by covering the distance in 9:18.41 to beat out MIT by just over two seconds.
UW continued their success in the doubles finals, stacking two boats in the top four finishers. The C boat of Liliana Elliott and Quenby Swanson led the charge for the Badgers with a runner-up finish in 8:50.93, as the A boat of Claire Rulyak and Romy McCarthy followed closely behind in fourth in 8:59.50.
Wisconsin's lightweight four and frosh four delivered strong performances en route to wins in their respective events. The lightweight four held off Radcliffe to win in 8:19.86, as the frosh four beat out Boston College by just over a second in 8:44.72 to seal another event win. The second varsity four crew, led by coxswain Charlotte Wise, secured a runner-up finish in 8:35.13.
The Badgers closed out the competition in the eights, with the third varsity eight crew earning a podium finish with third place by covering the distance in 7:25.83. The second varsity eight also put up an impressive performance, taking third in 7:24.85.
From the Shore
Lightweight coach Hadzo "Hodge" Habibovic
"This weekend was a great racing experience for our team. We had some highs and lows throughout the weekend, but overall, some pretty strong finishes. This being our fourth weekend in a row of racing was very challenging, but we are proud of how the team showed up and carried themselves. We are very much looking forward to being able to spend the next few weeks in Madison to be able to slow things down and be able to prepare for Sprints."
UP NEXT: The Badgers will return to Madison before heading out East to Worcester, Massachusetts, to take on the Eastern Sprints Conference Championships on May 3.
At the Knecht Cup
April 12
Cooper River
Camden County, New Jersey
2000 Meters
Women's Double Petite Final (Six Entries)
1. Wisconsin B, 9:18.41; 2. MIT A, 9:20.73; 3. Georgetown A, 9:27.72; 4. Georgetown B, 9:32.36; 5. Boston University D, 9:33.03; 6. Boston University C, 9:50.23
UW Lineup: Becca Rasmussen, Maya King
Women's Double Final (Six Entries)
1. Boston University A, 8:48.60; 2. Wisconsin C, 8:50.93; 3. MIT A, 8:57.16; 4. Wisconsin A, 8:59.50; 5. Boston University B, 9:03.36; 6. Radcliffe A, 9:12.78
UW C Lineup: Liliana Elliot, Quenby Swanson
UW A Lineup: Claire Rulyak, Romy McCarthy
Women's Lightweight Four Final (Six Entries)
1. Wisconsin, 8:19.86; 2. Radcliffe A, 8:22.06; 3. Boston University A, 8:26.92; 4. MIT A, 8:33.37; 5. Georgetown, 8:40.34; 6. Boston University, 8:42.40
UW Lineup: Coxswain Charlotte Wise, Rylie Cordella, Libby Walker, Addie Hinkie, Margot Quist
Women's Frosh/Novice Four Final (Six Entries)
1.Wisconsin, 8:44.72; 2. Boston College, 8:45.73; 3. Robert Morris, 8:51.55; 4. MSOE, 8:55.98; 5. Delaware, 9:00.59; 6. Monmouth University A, 9:24.95
UW Lineup: Coxswain Anna Bares, Ellie Kovalick, Ava Hodgson, Maya King, Wil D'Loughy
Women's Second Varsity Four Final (Six Entries)
1. Temple A, 8:30.96; 2. Wisconsin, 8:35.13; 3. Drexel, 8:35.87; 4. UMass, 8:38.74; 5. Colgate, 8:41.41; 6. Bryant, 8:48.66
UW Lineup: Coxswain Charlotte Wise, Charlotte Mirzaian, Ellie Vogel, Bailey Hunn, Elsa Rolfs
Women's Varsity Four Final 1 (Six Entries)
1. Drezel, 8:09.73; 2. Boston College, 8:12.13; 3. Jacksonville University, 8:14.01; 4. UMass, 8:18.35; 5. Eastern Michigan, 8:30.97; 6. Wisconsin, 8:36.05
UW Lineup: Coxswain Maggie Wagner, Olivia Moore, Jame Wild, Sophie Vande Slunt, Estelle Stout
Women's Lightweight Eight Final (Six Entries)
1. Radcliffe, 6:52.37; 2. Boston University, 6:55.72; 3. Georgetown, 6:59.56; 4. MIT A, 7:03.44; 5. Wisconsin, 7:06.64; 6. Sacred Heart, 7:32.53
UW Lineup: Coxswain Emilie Rochon, Alex Palmberg, Georgia Harlow, Claire Rulyak, Anika Hanson, Payton Bradford, Olivia Palmberg, Audra Chesny, Romy McCarthy
Women's Third Varsity Eight Final (Six Entries)
1. Boston College, 7:15.13; 2. UMass, 7:22.46; 3. Wisconsin, 7:25.83; 4. MIT, 7:27.23; 5. Drexel, 7:36.55; 6. Connecticut, DNS
UW Lineup: Coxswain Anna Bares, Ellie Kovalick, Shannon Saccomando, Jame Wild, Bailey Hunn, Ellie Vogel, Ava Hodgson, Elsa Rolfs, Wil D'Loughy
Women's Second Varsity Eight Final (Six Entries)
1. Bucknell, 7:16.95; 2. Colgate, 7:23.39; 3. Wisconsin, 7:24.85; 4. Albany, 7:33.38; 5. La Salle, 7:33.38; 6. Fairfield, 7:35.51
UW Lineup: Coxswain Maggie Wagner, Rylie Cordella, Libby Walker, Quenby Swanson, Olivia Moore, Estelle Stout, Sophie Vande Slunt, Liliana Elliott, Becca Rasmussen
Players Mentioned
