Rowing | Badgers get best of Huskies for rowing crown

CHERRY HILL, N.J. — When the Washington Huskies' unbeaten varsity-eight crew darted out to an entire deck lead after just 15 strokes and increased that margin to three-quarters of a boat length through 600 meters, it served notice it was the team to beat in the grand final of Saturday's Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships.

As it turned out, the undefeated Wisconsin Badgers had the Huskies right where they wanted them. A surprising and impressive burst of speed by the Badgers in the final 700 meters was too much for the Huskies to overcome and their bid to repeat as national champions fell just short as they crossed the finish line on Cooper River four seats behind Wisconsin.

It was the Badgers' first national title since 1990.

"People always remember your last race and it stings," first-year UW coach Michael Callahan said. "But these guys should feel very proud of the season they had. They were aggressive and they put everything they had into that race."

Washington and Wisconsin entered Saturday's grand final as the only two unbeaten varsity crews and were ranked 1-2 by USRowing. On an oppressively hot and muggy day with a heat index above 100 degrees, the Huskies flexed their muscles early and took a two-seat lead on California after 800 meters. It marked the first time all season Wisconsin, which had never raced against Washington, trailed by any margin.

"We could have taken a lead in the first 500 if we wanted," Wisconsin coach Chris Clark said. "I think what happened was Washington and Cal probably gassed a little too hard in the first 500 meters. We were down, but my stern pair [junior twins Grant and Ross James] were super cool. Sometimes panic can be contagious, but those twins are absolutely unflappable."

Aided by a slight tailwind, Washington and Wisconsin turned in their best times of the season, but it was the Badgers' late push that provided the difference.

"It was a hell of a race and they beat us," said Huskies senior Heath Allen, a second-year transfer from Colorado who had never lost a race as a Husky. "They were the faster team. Our goal was to be really aggressive and we did that. We took it to the well and they went harder. Give them credit. We thought they'd be contenders and they were faster than we thought."

Washington junior coxswain Katelin Snyder said she was disappointed the Huskies could not repeat as national champions for the first time since 1940 and 1941, but was satisfied her teammates had shaved nearly seven seconds off their best time of the season.

"I believed in my guys to the end," Snyder said. "I'm proud because we rowed our best. It stinks to lose, but we just got beat by a better crew today."

With Washington graduating just two seniors from its varsity-eight boat — Allen and Toby Dankbaar — and Wisconsin graduating two seniors from its varsity-eight boat — Derek Rasmussen and Joe McMullin — the 2009 IRA Championships promises to be another exciting duel between the Huskies and Badgers.

"It's definitely disappointing for this to be my final race," Dankbaar said. "We raced as hard as we could, but these guys have a lot to look forward to next year."

Notes

• For the second straight year, three Washington boats won national titles. Winning gold were the second varsity eight, the varsity four and freshman four. The freshman-eight boat placed second.

• The three gold medals and two silvers gave the Huskies the overall points title for the second straight year. Washington amassed 214 points, seven more than the 207 tallied by second-place California. Wisconsin was third (191), Harvard fourth (157) and Brown fifth (150).

• Gonzaga's freshman eight won their second race in two days to finish 13th.