Golden State warriors: Badgers set for IRA national championships

Saturday, June 3

Gold River, CA

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Wisconsin Badgers

IRA National Championships

Photo by: Paul Capobianco

Golden State warriors: Badgers set for IRA national championships

May 31, 2017 | Lightweight Rowing

Badgers boast six consecutive years with a national title-winning boat

WATCH: SATURDAY

| SUNDAY

RESULTS | IRA CHAMPIONSHIPS INFORMATION | SATURDAY SCHEDULE AND LINEUPS

MADISON, Wis. – The last time the University of Wisconsin women's lightweight varsity eight hoisted the Camden County Freeholders Trophy as the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) national champions was 2012.

Could this be the year the Badgers bring it back to Madison again, and for the seventh time since winning in 2004?

"What we've seen all spring is that it has been very close, especially within the top 4-5 boats out there," lightweight coach Dusty Mattison said. "There has been a lot of moving back and forth. I think we are right in there, which we've seen at Sprints and Dad Vails.

"That is exciting, because besides Stanford, who we've seen be very fast all year long, it is really up for grabs in terms of the medal stand.

"We are working on sharpening up and finding an extra gear, which is what we need in that last 500 meters in order to take it up. I think it is going to come down to the last 250 to 500 meters."

While a lightweight eight national title is the ultimate goal, the Badgers boast a six-year streak with at least one of its crews taking home an IRA national title.

The UW lightweight eight enters as the No. 4 seed, but there are no seeds set in the lightweight four or in the lightweight double sculls.

Last year, the Badgers took home the lightweight four crown, as it has done in five of the last six seasons. During the one year that the four didn't win, UW captured the lightweight double.

The four again looks to be a strong contender, as the Badgers show off the depth of the squad.

"In the fours we've only seen Boston University and MIT, so we were really successful out at Dad Vails," Mattison said. "Hopefully we have enough speed to repeat again this year. I think it is definitely a good possibility.

"We talk a lot about everyone pushing from the bottom. We have a lot of people and not a lot of spots. That boat probably gets pushed the most, because there could be 6-10 people who could be in that boat."

The lone lightweight event that is featured in the Olympics is the lightweight double and there is a new twist to the even at this year's championships.

"This year it actually counts for points, which is really exciting," Mattison stated. "There is more emphasis on the whole team doing really well.

"We don't scull a ton, so those two (Shannon Lipe and Anna Leach) have a little more experience and so are at an advantage.

"One of my goals over the next year is getting more of our team sculling over the summer and to put it more into our schedule in the fall and at training camps. That way, more of the team gets more opportunities there so we could really have a good pool of participants to choose from for the double."

The overall team trophy for the lightweight women is in its infancy, having been awarded just twice (2015 and 2016). Stanford owns both team titles to date.

The Badgers will open their competition on the second day of the IRA national championships, starting at 10:30 a.m. (CT) with the double sculls seeding heat against Boston University, Princeton, Radcliffe, MIT and Stanford.

2017 IRA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Gold River, Calif.
Lake Natoma
June 3-4
2000 meters

WISCONSIN'S SATURDAY SCHEDULE - UPDATED
Varsity Lighweight Eight Heat 1 – 10:32 a.m. CT
(Top two to Sunday Grand Final, rest to Saturday afternoon repechage)
Princeton, Stanford, Wisconsin, Georgetown

UW Lineup – Coxswain Audrey Dalgarno, Brianna Wynne, Agathe Denis, Grace Joyce, Mirha Girt, Kathryne Ruffalo, Janet Titzler, Alexandra Fochios, Marilyn Garberg

Varsity Lightweight Four Heat – 12:24 p.m. CT
(Winner to Sunday Grand Final, rest to Saturday afternoon repechage)
Princeton, Wisconsin, MIT, Radcliffe

UW Lineup - Coxswain Eleanor Martin, Claire Kelley, Brianna Ohm, Ariel Tallo, Payton James

Lightweight Double Sculls Heat – 12:32 p.m. CT
Boston University, Princeton, Radcliffe, Wisconsin, MIT, Stanford

UW Lineup - Shannon Lipe, Anna Leach

If Necessary
Varsity Lightweight Eight Repechage – 12:40 p.m. CT
Top two to Sunday Grand Final, rest to petite final