The Wisconsin women's crew team gets its first big test of the season this weekend as it travels to California for the 31st annual San Diego Crew Classic. The Classic will provide both the lightweight and the openweight rowing teams with an early challenge against a variety of ranked teams.
Both the openweight and lightweight teams enjoyed a good start to their season at the Florida Institute of Technology Invitational March 20. The openweights went undefeated in the event and the lightweights won all but one of their races.
The lightweight varsity eights share the No. 3 spot in the USRowing preseason poll with Stanford, a team the Badgers will compete against in San Diego. Wisconsin's varsity eights are the three-time defending champions at the Classic and are considered one of the favorites this weekend.
\You always go out there to win, and even though they have won the event three years in a row, it's a new team and everytime you have to re-win that trophy and that's obviously their goal,"" interim Director of Women's Crew Sue Ella said.
The openweight varsity eights opened the season ranked 19th in the country. It finished fourth in the petite final a year ago, and its only victory in the Classic came back in 1986.
The field at the Classic is one that will post a challenge to the Badgers for a number of reasons.
First, Wisconsin will be taking on a number of ranked opponents. The openweight field consists of eight ranked-opponents including sixth-ranked Stanford. The lightweight team's four-peat will not come easy, as they will have to get by Stanford, No. 7 California and No. 11 Purdue.
""This time there will also be a number of mid-section crews. It will be an advantage for us to row them now and give us an idea of what we need to do between now and our next big race,"" Ella said. ""The field is always tough this time of year, but it's good to measure up with the best of the West Coast field.""
The biggest trouble with the West Coast field and other??teams from warmer climates is the advantage of being able to row year-round. These teams get more practice in before the Classic, and the Badgers also have no way to gauge how quick they are on the water without having much head-to-head experience this spring.
""This will be a way to break in. And if they can win it then they know they are right on track,"" Ella said.
