8/10/2005 - Men's Lightweight Crew
Former Navy Rower Competes at International Regatta

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Recent Naval Academy graduate and former lightweight crew team member Ensign William Vuillet, USN (Saint Mande, France) was a member of the lightweight four boat which represented the United States at the World Rowing Under 23 Championship on the Bosbaan International Regatta Course in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in late July. A total of 51 nations sent over 700 athletes to the championship, with 14 boats entered into the lightweight four field.

A member of Navy's 2004 undefeated varsity eight boat which won titles at the Eastern Sprints and Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships, Vuillet was joined in the U.S. boat by Will Daly (Boston University), Jake Goodman (Rutgers) and Max Litt (Cornell). Each of the four athletes were making their international racing debut.

The U.S. foursome began the championship well, placing third in its initial heat to earn an automatic berth into the semifinal round of racing. The Americans then were in second place with 500 meters remaining in the semifinal race, but Italy and France both overcame the U.S. entry to finish in second and third place, respectively, and drop the U.S. to fourth place and into the 'B' level final. The Americans would finish second to Canada in the 'B' final to place eighth overall at the championship.

An electrical engineering major while a midshipman at the Naval Academy, Vuillet will begin flight school later this fall.