Sue Ela, head coach for the past 20 years and a former national coach of the year. Rowing teams have been bringing home trophies for nearly 100 years without jostling the slumbering attentions of Madison sports fans. And that's a shame, because UW rowing is one of the most remarkable athletic dynasties around. It's a simple sport. There's no scoring or judges.
People have no idea how fun it can be to watch.
You'll have that chance next weekend, as the men and women compete in the Midwest Rowing Regatta on Lake Wingra. Fifty teams, a cross- section of men's and women's boats from around the Midwest, will compete in the event, with races slated all day on April 25. Finals will run from about 1-6 p.m. But the gap is narrowing. The women's varsity eight boat, which has won the Midwest every year since 1974, will have to knock off Michigan, which beat Wisconsin and finished second in the first major race of the season.