Wisconsin Badgers Crew
Encyclopedia
The Wisconsin Badgers Crew is the rowing team that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Rowing
at the University dates back to 1874.
The women's openweight team is a NCAA
Division I team. The men's and lightweight women's programs compete at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta (IRA) because the NCAA does not sanction a men's or lightweight women's national championship. Chris Clark has been the men's head coach since 1996 and Bebe Bryans has been the head women's coach since 2004.
in 1874, though the only evidence of this is a letter written in 1912 by a Wisconsin alumnus. By 1878 rowing had become an intramural sport at the university. Wisconsin's first national championship was won in 1900 by the men's freshman eight team. Since then, the Wisconsin crew has won 48 Intercollegiate Rowing Association
titles.
The men's varsity eight won their first IRA national championship in 1951, the first of eight such titles. The 1990 win brought an invitation to the Henley Royal Regatta
, the fourth visit for Wisconsin. The Wisconsin varsity eight has placed in the top three at the IRA National Championship Regatta 20 times since 1950. Only the University of Washington has won more medals in that time. The Badgers won the 2008 Intercollegiate Rowing Association Title over second-place Washington, capping off an undefeated season.
Wisconsin's women first began actively competing in the early 1970s, and at that time, the National Women’s Rowing Association Championship served as the national championship for collegiate boats. The women's varsity eight won the club title in 1975, and was the highest placed collegiate boat in 1976, 1977, and 1978. In 1986, the Wisconsin women won the National Collegiate Championship
, which first began in 1981. In 2009 the Varsity Four were runners up at the D-1 NCAA Championships. This was the highest ever finish for a Wisconsin boat in the history of the NCAA Championships.
During the 2010 season, the openweight women won the schools first Big Ten Conference Rowing Championship. The team won 4 of the 6 events (1st and 2nd novice 8, varsity 4, and second varsity 8) and finished 2nd in the varsity 8 and 3rd in second varsity four.
. Porter Boathouse is 50000 square feet (4,645.2 m²) and was completed Spring 2005. It includes a moving water rowing tank for 24, five boat bays, including one repair bay, coaches offices, and locker rooms for three teams.
Eastern Sprints
Head of the Charles
Cochrane Cup
1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973–1977, 1980, 1981, 1984–1991, 1996, 1998–2000, 2002, 2008
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Rowing
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
at the University dates back to 1874.
The women's openweight team is a NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I team. The men's and lightweight women's programs compete at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta (IRA) because the NCAA does not sanction a men's or lightweight women's national championship. Chris Clark has been the men's head coach since 1996 and Bebe Bryans has been the head women's coach since 2004.
History
The first crew is thought to have set out on Lake MendotaLake Mendota
Lake Mendota is the northernmost and largest of the four lakes near Madison, Wisconsin. The lake borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest....
in 1874, though the only evidence of this is a letter written in 1912 by a Wisconsin alumnus. By 1878 rowing had become an intramural sport at the university. Wisconsin's first national championship was won in 1900 by the men's freshman eight team. Since then, the Wisconsin crew has won 48 Intercollegiate Rowing Association
Intercollegiate Rowing Association
The Intercollegiate Rowing Association runs the IRA Championship Regatta, which is considered to be the United States collegiate national championship of rowing. Since 1995, it has been held on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and includes both men's and women's events for sweep boats...
titles.
The men's varsity eight won their first IRA national championship in 1951, the first of eight such titles. The 1990 win brought an invitation to the Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
, the fourth visit for Wisconsin. The Wisconsin varsity eight has placed in the top three at the IRA National Championship Regatta 20 times since 1950. Only the University of Washington has won more medals in that time. The Badgers won the 2008 Intercollegiate Rowing Association Title over second-place Washington, capping off an undefeated season.
Wisconsin's women first began actively competing in the early 1970s, and at that time, the National Women’s Rowing Association Championship served as the national championship for collegiate boats. The women's varsity eight won the club title in 1975, and was the highest placed collegiate boat in 1976, 1977, and 1978. In 1986, the Wisconsin women won the National Collegiate Championship
NCAA Rowing Championship
The NCAA Rowing Championship is a rowing championship held by the NCAA for Division I, II and III women's heavyweight collegiate crews. It was first held in 1997. In 2002, the NCAA added championships for Division II and Division III. All races are 2,000 meters long...
, which first began in 1981. In 2009 the Varsity Four were runners up at the D-1 NCAA Championships. This was the highest ever finish for a Wisconsin boat in the history of the NCAA Championships.
During the 2010 season, the openweight women won the schools first Big Ten Conference Rowing Championship. The team won 4 of the 6 events (1st and 2nd novice 8, varsity 4, and second varsity 8) and finished 2nd in the varsity 8 and 3rd in second varsity four.
Location
The Wisconsin crew's boathouse is located on Lake Mendota in Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. Porter Boathouse is 50000 square feet (4,645.2 m²) and was completed Spring 2005. It includes a moving water rowing tank for 24, five boat bays, including one repair bay, coaches offices, and locker rooms for three teams.
Men's varsity coaches
- Amos W. MarstonAmos W. MarstonAmos W. Marston was an lawyer, amateur rower and rowing coach. He was a graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York with a B.L. in 1892 and an LL.B. in 1893. After leaving Cornell he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he practice law.- Amateur rower :...
- 1894 - Andrew M. O'Dea - 1895-1898
- Curran C. McConville - 1899
- Andrew M. O'Dea - 1900-1906
- Edward H. Ten EyckEdward Ten EyckEdward H. “Ned” Ten Eyck was a champion rower/crew coach. He is best known for becoming the first American to win the Diamond Sculls championship at the Henley Royal Regatta in 1897....
- 1907-1910 - Harry E. "Dad" VailHarry VailHarry Emerson "Dad" Vail, was a rowing coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA. The Dad Vail Regatta, held annually in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is named in his honor.Harry Emerson Vail was born in Gagtown, New Brunswick, Canada....
- 1911-1928 - George W. "Mike" Murphy - 1929-1934
- Ralph Hunn - 1935-1940
- Allen W. Walz - 1941-1942
- George A. Rea - 1943
- Curt P. Drewes - 1944-1945
- Allen W. Walz - 1946
- Norm Sonju - 1947-1968
- Randal T. "Jabo" Jablonic - 1969-1995
- Chris H. Clark - 1996–present
D1 NCAA Championships
- Women's Varsity 4 - Runners Up 2009
- Women's Second Varsity 8 - 3rd Place 2006
- Women's Varsity 4 - 3rd Place 2010
NCAA South/Central Regionals
- Women's novice 8 - 2008
- Women's novice 8 second place - 2009
- Women's novice 8 first place- 2010
Big Ten Championship
- Women's second varsity eight - 2008
- Women's 1st novice eight - 2008
- Women's 2nd novice eight - 2008
- Women's 1st novice eight - 2009
- Women's 2nd novice eight - 2009
- Women's 2nd varsity four - 2009
- Women's 2nd varsity eight - 2010
- Women's 1st varsity four - 2010
- Women's 1st novice eight - 2010
- Women's 2nd novice eight - 2010
- Big Ten Team Champions - 2010
Eastern SprintsEastern SprintsEastern Sprints refers to the annual rowing championship for the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges . Since 1974, the "Women's Eastern Sprints" has been held as the annual championship for the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges league.*For the women's regatta, see Women's Eastern...
- Men's freshman eight - 2000
- Men's second freshman eight - 2000
- Men's varsity eight - 1946, 2002, 2008
- Men's second varsity eight - 1987, 2001, 2007, 2008
- Men's third varsity eight - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006
Head of the CharlesHead of the Charles RegattaThe Head of the Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR or HOTC, is a rowing race held on the penultimate complete weekend of October each year on the Charles River, which separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The race is named the "Head" of the Charles because it is a head race...
- Women's club fours - 1998
- Women's youth fours - 1992
- Women's lightweight eight - 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010
- Men's championship eight - 1966, 1972, 1973, 2007
- Men's championship four - 2008, 2009
- Women's championship eight - 1977, 1978, 1979, 1988
American Heritage Regatta
- Men's collegiate eight - 2007
- Men's novice eight - 2007
- Men's novice four w/ - 2007
Cochrane CupCochrane CupThe Cochrane Cup has been competed for since 1961 by the Men's Varsity Eight rowing teams of Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Wisconsin....
1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973–1977, 1980, 1981, 1984–1991, 1996, 1998–2000, 2002, 2008External links
- WiscoRowingHistory.org — Wisconsin Rowing History
- UWBadgers.com — UW Men's Crew official site