LEONIA, N.J. - The No. 8 Navy lightweight crew team had a competitive showdown on Saturday morning versus the No. 3 Columbia Lions. Racing on a 2,000-meter stretch of water at Overpeck Park in Northern New Jersey, the Mids and Lions split a four-race schedule with the host Columbia squad taking the top two varsity events and Navy earning victories in third and fourth varsity action.

Racing in reverse order, the Mids opened the league competition with consecutive victories by their lower boats. In the fourth varsity race, Navy's 4V and 5V boats went one-two with times of 6:52.7 and 6:53.9, respectively. Columbia's fourth boat clocked in well off the pace at 7:13.9.

Navy made it two wins in two races as its third varsity crew breezed to an 8.64-second victory, 6:42.48 to 6:51.12.

As the meet advanced into the upper boats, the level of competition tightened up exponentially as the second varsity eight race was decided by just 1.75 seconds. Unfortunately for the Mids it was the Lions on the winning end of the 6:22.15 - 6:23.90 decision.

In the headlining first varsity race, the WIT Cup was on the line for the victor. In a tight back-and-forth race, Columbia edged Navy down the stretch and claimed a 2.7-second win at 6:05.2 to 6:07.9.

"We had some solid, hard fought racing today from across our entire squad," remarked head coach Shawn Bagnall. "The 3V, 4V and 5V had strong efforts. Those young athletes continue to learn each week. In the 1V and 2V races, there was no separation between the teams from start to finish.

"While not all of the results were what we train for, there were lessons learned today to be applied to the rest of our season this spring."

Navy will back in action next Saturday, April 14 with a home meet versus Georgetown. The Mids and Hoyas will be racing for the Forster Cup on the Severn River beginning at 7:15 a.m.

Results

First Varsity 8
Columbia - 6:05.2
Navy - 6:07.9

Second Varsity 8
Columbia - 6:22.15
Navy - 6:23.90

Third Varsity 8
Navy - 6:42.48
Columbia - 6:51.12

Fourth Varsity 8
Navy 4V - 6:52.7
Navy 5V - 6:53.9
Columbia - 7:13.9

Boatings

First Varsity 8
Bow: Matthew Shirey, Andrew Schutta, Sam Haber, Drew Bennett, Chandler Washburn, Kaden Dohm, Duke Brady, Stroke: Hank Forsythe, Coxswain: Tera Geoffroy

Second Varsity 8
Bow: Noah Chaskin, Ben Skinner, Karl Schwarzkopf, Tyler Schatz, Creig Tarrant, Manriki Gagnon, Austin Treubert, Stroke: Clay Jackson, Coxswain: Christophe Theodore

Third Varsity 8
Bow: Matthew Pentaleri, Patrick Watler, Dan Johnston, John Schoenewolf, John Elkins, Ben Capannari, Jesse Hall, Stroke: Max Gelbach, Coxswain: Pat Urrutia

Fourth Varsity 8
Bow: Andrew Grothmann, Chris Greubel, Theo Friedenrich, Leor Golan, Morgan Whetstone, Ben Blakeslee, Brendan Philbin, Stroke: Gracen Glaubitz, Coxswain: Mason Bennett

Fifth Varsity 8
Bow: Kevin Choe, Taylor Porges, Joshua Gable, Alexander Wieman, Jerra Ewing, Brendan Finn, John Feng, Stroke: John Johnson, Coxswain: Maggie Scholl