The Wisconsin Badgers men’s and women’s rowing teams delivered impressive performances at the 2026 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships held at Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. The men’s team, ranked 12th nationally, saw their second varsity eight and varsity four boats win their semifinals, while the women’s lightweight team advanced to the grand finals in multiple events.
Men’s Team Highlights
The men’s varsity eight boat finished third in their semifinal, clocking a time of 5:56.400, narrowly trailing Navy and Columbia. This result secured them a spot in Sunday’s Third-Level Final for places 13-18. The second varsity eight boat claimed victory in their CD semifinal with a time of 6:03.110, outperforming competitors like Columbia and Holy Cross. They will also compete in the Third-Level Final.
The varsity four boat achieved a first-place finish in their final race, completing the course in 6:58.100, placing them 25th overall. Head Coach Beau Hoopman expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, noting the improvements and determination shown by the athletes.
Women’s Team Achievements
The women’s lightweight rowing team also had a strong showing. The lightweight varsity doubles team, featuring Liliana Elliott and Becca Rasmussen, finished second in their heat, just behind Radcliffe, and advanced to the grand finals. The lightweight varsity four, led by coxswain Charlotte Wise, secured a second-place finish in their heat, trailing only Princeton, and will compete in the grand finals as well.
Although the lightweight varsity eight finished fourth in their heat, they will race in the petite final, aiming to achieve the fastest time possible. Coach Hadzo “Hodge” Habibovic praised the team’s efforts and highlighted their potential to earn medals in the upcoming finals.
As the Badgers prepare for the final rounds of racing, both the men’s and women’s teams remain focused on delivering strong performances and representing the University of Wisconsin with pride.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
