The tradition will continue for the UW men's rowing team as it prepares to compete against Washington this weekend for possession of the infamous W Cup. The Badgers and Huskies both have high expectations coming into the match-up with their preseason rankings of fifth and second, respectively.
The W Cup has been a tradition between these two teams for the past 12 years. The Badgers have come close on numerous occasions, but last season's meeting on Lake Mendota was the first time the team claimed the cup.
Even though Wisconsin has not been as victorious as frequently as it would like, the W Cup serves as a traditional rivalry and a chance for the Midwest and West to match up.
\It's been going on since I've been here,"" Head Coach Chris Clark explained. ""I think that originally, the coach here wanted an early season challenge against somebody good as opposed to going against some of the Midwest teams and the coach out west ended up only racing Cal all the time, their main rival. So it served both purposes.""
Though the cup is currently in the hands of the Badgers, it might be hard for them to keep it. This season, Washington has many large, athletic and foreign rowers on the squad. Clark explained that because traditional American sports like basketball and football are not as popular overseas, many people turn to Olympic sports like rowing. As a result, the enormous men that are typically on the football field end up in a boat.
""They happen to have a lot [of foreigners] at Washington and they're very good,"" Clark said. ""These are the top rowers from their countries. They're monster guys that you would expect to see on the basketball court or on a football field. They're good. If they tie one [early] on in the way that they can, it's going to be pretty hard to beat them.""
Wisconsin may not have the same size advantage as Washington but it does have experience riding in its boat. Many of the rowers on this year's team competed last season in the W Cup and know what they are going up against. The Badger boat is made up of seven seniors and one sophomore.
Junior Mike Lucey contributes to the boat as the coxswain. Lucey explained that the coxswain is equivalent to the coach on the boat who gives encouragement and direction throughout the race.
The Badgers opened up the 2004 season on a positive note last weekend with their dominant showing over No. 13 Michigan. Wisconsin swept away seven of the day's eight races against the Wolverines.
Even though the team came out victorious last weekend and last season against Washington, Clark and the Badgers knows the Huskies will pose even more of a challenge for the W Cup this weekend.
