The Wisconsin Women’s lightweight rowing team headed to Redwood Shores on Saturday for a head to head race against the Stanford Cardinal. The Badgers brought three boats to California, their first varsity 8+, first varsity 4+, and their first varsity 2x. The Badgers have had a history of success, having won five national championships since their inception in 1995.
So far this season, they are ranked in the top five in all categories and are coming off a successful showing at the Knecht Cup Regatta last weekend.
The varsity double team of sophomores Abbey DiChiara and Romy McCarthy started the day with a decisive win of almost 20 seconds for the Badgers. The first varsity fours followed, with another win for the Wisconsin team of junior coxswain Charlotte Mirzaian, sophomore Anika Hanson, freshman Payton Bradford and junior Adeline Hinkie.
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The first varsity eights faced off to finish the day, with Stanford edging out the boat led by senior coxswain Sarah Rab and her team of freshman Alex Palmberg, senior Evelyn Payne, freshman Claire Rulyak, freshman Olivia Palmberg, senior Rianne Wagner, sophomore Ella Springer, junior Payton Tonnos and sophomore Georgia Harlow.
The Badgers have a two-week break before their championship season begins on May 4. The lightweight team will head to Worcester, Massachusetts, for the 2025 Eastern Sprints, where they will compete in their final races before the IRA National Championships.