As the nation’s top team in its respective category, the Wisconsin women’s lightweight rowing team is showing there’s nothing small about its sport.
The Badgers defeated defending national champion and previously top-ranked Princeton at the San Diego Crew Classic on April 7, putting them at the top spot in the nation. After defeating Princeton again on April13 at the Knecht Cup and on April 14 at the Villanova Invitational, they justified their ranking.
These victories over the Tigers are significant for UW in more than the polls, as Princeton is one of three rivals the Badgers have. The other two competitors of Wisconsin are Radcliffe and Villanova.
But for lightweight coach Maren LaLiberty, it isn’t just the wins that are important, it’s the opportunity the team gives her rowers.
“[It’s about] giving smaller women a chance to row, as well as reach their potential,” LaLiberty said.
Unlike its counterpart, the openweight rowing team, LaLiberty’s team has to meet weight requirements in order to be eligible to compete. Lightweight rowers must weigh under 130 pounds, a weight that is checked during weigh-ins before each regatta. In order to obey this rule, LaLiberty has adjusted her recruiting techniques.
“We’ve committed to only recruiting kids under 130 pounds,” LaLiberty said.
This tactic prevents LaLiberty’s rowers from having to deal with eating disorders and dieting situations.
“We’re a weight-based sport and not a weight-loss-based sport,” LaLiberty said.
In fact, LaLiberty said that not only have the struggles with food decreased because of her recruiting techniques, but her rowers are eating more as the lightweight team’s food budget has increased.
With the weight requirement enforced for lightweight rowing, many schools opt for only holding an openweight rowing team, mostly due to financial reasons. UW is one of only four schools, joining Princeton, Radcliffe and Stanford, that have separate programs for the under 130-pound rowers. However, LaLiberty said there are about 40 teams that compete in lightweight regattas, with other schools entering their smaller openweight rowers in the lightweight competition.
The interchanging of lightweights and openweights goes both ways, as LaLiberty said her team will occasionally compete with the heavier rowers if they can’t get the competition they want in the lighter category.
One of these instances occurred last year at the Midwest Rowing Championships in Madison. The lightweight race was cancelled due to weather conditions, so UW competed in the openweight race, where they finished fourth.
This weekend the Badgers will compete at the Midwest Rowing Championships again here in Madison, a race that LaLiberty is excited about.
“[The Midwest Rowing Championship is] more about tradition and having a home race for the athletes,” LaLiberty said.
This race really is a home event for UW, as 13 members of LaLiberty’s team are from Wisconsin.
The Badgers will try to hang onto their No.1 ranking at the Midwest Rowing Championship, with the race beginning at 6:24 a.m at Lake Wingra.
