Vitas (pronounced VEE-tahs) joined the UW program in the summer of 2024 as a graduate coaching assistant.
The Franklin, Wisconsin, native joins the Badgers after competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where finishing ninth in the double sculls.
A Badger rower from 2013 through 2016 after transferring from UW-Milwaukee, she helped her second novice eight to a Big Ten title in 2014, while rowing for the varsity eight that placed 13th at the 2015 NCAA Championships and the second varsity eight that finished 10th at the 2016 NCAA Championships.
Since her time at UW, the four-sport high school varsity letterwinner claimed fourth in the women's eight at the 2017 World Rowing Championships, seventh in the women's quadruple sculls at the 2019 World Rowing Championships, fifth in the double sculls at the 2022 World Rowing Championships and third in the double sculls at the 2023 World Rowing Championships. Most recently, Vitas won the double sculls at the 2024 World Rowing Cup II event.
"Sophia was a walk-on rower here at Wisconsin who embodies the true determination and spirit of the program," Opitz explained. "We could not be more thrilled for her to bring her national team experience and Badger pride to our team. She is a role model for all Wisconsin athletes."
