BOSTON, Mass. - Following a successful performance at this year's Eastern Sprints, the varsity eight crew from the Navy lightweight rowing program was recently selected as the recipient of the 2019 Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) Rusty Callow Award. The prestigious honor is presented each year by the EARC to the crew that best personified the virtues of "spirit, courage and unity." Awarded annually since 1963, the winner of the award is determined by a vote of the head coaches of the EARC. 

The Mids first varsity eight crew earned the Rusty Callow Award after their impressive effort at Eastern Sprints this past May 19. Navy's V8 was originally seeded seventh coming into the championship and outperformed those projections on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. throughout the day. The crew put together the fourth-fastest time in the morning heats to earn a spot in the event's grand final. In that six-team competition, the Mids crossed the line at 6:37.953 for a third-place finish and bronze medal, marking the first varsity eight medal for Navy at the Eastern Sprints since 2006.

"Being awarded the 2019 Callow Award is a tremendous honor, considering both the man it is named for and the crews that were nominated this year," remarked Navy head coach Shawn Bagnall. "We are humbled by this recognition and hope to continually put out crews that are worthy to be considered. Thank you to the EARC head coaches and US Rowing for this distinction, both acknowledging our 1st Varsity 8+, and the hard working team behind it."

About Rusty Callow
Rusty Callow was a legendary rowing coach, whose career spanned the first half of the 20th century. Rusty coached for many years at Washington, the University of Pennsylvania, and Navy. Among his many accomplishments, Callow coached the 1952 Navy crew to an Olympic gold medal.