University of Minnesota Athletics
2025-26 Women's Rowing Roster
Madeline Fincham
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Position:
- Varsity
- Height:
- 5-9
- High School:
- Iowa City West HS
- Hometown:
- Iowa City, Iowa
2025-26 | SOPHOMORE
Big Ten Boat of the Week (First Varsity Eight - April 7)
CRCA Scholar-Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Took to the water for all six regattas with the Maroon and Gold this season
• Capped off the campaign at the 2026 Big Ten Championships (May 15-17), driving the 1V8 to a race win in the Petite Final after battling to fourth in the opening heats
• Swept the competition at the Twin Cities 2K (May 2), securing back-to-back victories in both the heats and the finals with the 1V8 crew
• Put together an impressive three-race performance at the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18-19), locking down a pair of runner-up finishes alongside a third-place effort as part of the 1V8
• Raced three times in the 1V8 at the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 3-4), placing fourth in the heats and third in the semifinals before finishing fifth in the final round
• Closed the fall portion of the schedule at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 9), earning a third-place result with both the 1V8 and 2V4 boats
• Launched the season with a dominant performance at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 4), capturing a clear victory with the 1V8 boat on home waters
• Earned second varsity letter
2024-25 | FRESHMAN
• Raced in all six regattas for the Gophers during her first year on campus
• Ended the campaign with a second-place performance in the 1V8 Petite Finals at the Big Ten Conference Championships (May 18) after placing fourth during the heats on day one (May 17)
• Turned in third and sixth-place efforts with the 1V8 crew to start the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18) and added a fourth-place finish in the final session (Apr. 19)
• Secured 1V8 race victories over San Diego and Kansas on consecutive days at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Duel (Apr. 11-12)
• Placed second in back-to-back days with the 1V8 boat during the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 4-5) to begin the spring season
• Finished 14th as part of the 2V8 crew and 18th with the 2V4 boat during Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 10)
• Made her collegiate debut at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 5), helping the 3V8 to third place in the season opener
• Earned first varsity letter
PERSONAL
• Daughter of Ben and Heidi Fincham
• Father, Ben, played college football at Luther
• Has a younger sister, Grace
• Graduated from Iowa City West High School in 2024
• Participated in rowing, cross country, track and field and was a member of the orchestra in high school
• Competed with Y Quad Cities Rowing Club and served as a team captain in 2023 and 2024
• Was a teammate of current Gophers Ella Saunders and Alexa Mueller with Y Quad Cities Rowing
• Member of the National Honor Society
• Loves going to church with friends and previously played the violin for 13 years
• Chose to attend the University of Minnesota because "I loved the atmosphere of the rowing team as well as all of the other surrounding teams and the work ethic that was shown by all of the participating athletes. The University of Minnesota also offers a great business school, which was something I was looking for when choosing a school."
Big Ten Boat of the Week (First Varsity Eight - April 7)
CRCA Scholar-Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Took to the water for all six regattas with the Maroon and Gold this season
• Capped off the campaign at the 2026 Big Ten Championships (May 15-17), driving the 1V8 to a race win in the Petite Final after battling to fourth in the opening heats
• Swept the competition at the Twin Cities 2K (May 2), securing back-to-back victories in both the heats and the finals with the 1V8 crew
• Put together an impressive three-race performance at the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18-19), locking down a pair of runner-up finishes alongside a third-place effort as part of the 1V8
• Raced three times in the 1V8 at the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 3-4), placing fourth in the heats and third in the semifinals before finishing fifth in the final round
• Closed the fall portion of the schedule at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 9), earning a third-place result with both the 1V8 and 2V4 boats
• Launched the season with a dominant performance at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 4), capturing a clear victory with the 1V8 boat on home waters
• Earned second varsity letter
2024-25 | FRESHMAN
• Raced in all six regattas for the Gophers during her first year on campus
• Ended the campaign with a second-place performance in the 1V8 Petite Finals at the Big Ten Conference Championships (May 18) after placing fourth during the heats on day one (May 17)
• Turned in third and sixth-place efforts with the 1V8 crew to start the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18) and added a fourth-place finish in the final session (Apr. 19)
• Secured 1V8 race victories over San Diego and Kansas on consecutive days at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Duel (Apr. 11-12)
• Placed second in back-to-back days with the 1V8 boat during the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 4-5) to begin the spring season
• Finished 14th as part of the 2V8 crew and 18th with the 2V4 boat during Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 10)
• Made her collegiate debut at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 5), helping the 3V8 to third place in the season opener
• Earned first varsity letter
PERSONAL
• Daughter of Ben and Heidi Fincham
• Father, Ben, played college football at Luther
• Has a younger sister, Grace
• Graduated from Iowa City West High School in 2024
• Participated in rowing, cross country, track and field and was a member of the orchestra in high school
• Competed with Y Quad Cities Rowing Club and served as a team captain in 2023 and 2024
• Was a teammate of current Gophers Ella Saunders and Alexa Mueller with Y Quad Cities Rowing
• Member of the National Honor Society
• Loves going to church with friends and previously played the violin for 13 years
• Chose to attend the University of Minnesota because "I loved the atmosphere of the rowing team as well as all of the other surrounding teams and the work ethic that was shown by all of the participating athletes. The University of Minnesota also offers a great business school, which was something I was looking for when choosing a school."
Friday, May 08
Wednesday, October 08
Monday, April 21
Monday, April 21
