After a triumphant performance at the Big Ten Rowing Championship this past weekend, the No. 13 Wisconsin women's crew team is now celebrating the recognition of four rowers in particular. Senior captains Nicole Weir, Christina Strasser junior Nikki Lennart and sophomore Kari Harmon were all named to the all-Big Ten Rowing team following the weekend.
Both Weir and Strasser received Academic all-Big Ten honors last season but this year both were named to the first team all-Big Ten. These two are the only seniors on the Varsity eight boat but they have done their share in leading the team to one of their best seasons ever. Their experience helped the team take third in the varsity eight and a second-place team result, this past weekend. The 115 points scored was the most the program has tallied during the tournament's five year run.
Though Lennart and Harmon may not have the same experience as Weir and Strasser, they took home second team honors. Lennart was a part of the Wisconsin varsity four's Big Ten Boat of the Week during her freshman season but it was not until midway through last year that she found her spot in the varsity eight.
As a sophomore, Harmon has already made an impact on the rowing program. She is the first Badger sophomore to ever be named to the all Big-Ten list and last year as a freshman she rowed with Wisconsin's 2003 Big Ten Champion novice eight.
Before this season, there were only six Wisconsin women rowers who were named to the all-Big Ten team. Last year the Badgers got two on the list with Marianna Waters and Erin Gladding. Waters was recognized two consecutive years as was Bridgid Meyers in 2001 and 2002.
With the positive showing at the Big Ten championships, the women's rowing team has extra momentum heading into the remainder of the season. The team is off of competition this weekend but will return May 15-16 in Oak Ridge, Tenn. After the South-Central Regional Regatta the team will have to wait around to hear if they compete again this season. Selections for the NCAA Championship in Sacramento, Calif. will be announced May 18. If the Badgers are picked to compete, this will be their first appearance in the championships since 1999 and second during the team's history.
