ANNAPOLIS, Md. - One week after opening the 2022 season with sweep of Princeton, the No. 1 ranked Navy lightweight rowing team will have another stiff test ahead of itself this weekend with racing against the No. 2 ranked Yale Bulldogs at Mercer Lake. The Mids (1-0) have one extra week of action under their belts as Saturday's contest will be the season opener for the Bulldogs (0-0). The two Eastern Sprint League rivals will be racing for the Eads Johnson Cup in the first varsity eight contest and the Jon Van Amringe Cup for team points. The five-race slate of action is set to begin with the fifth varsity eight crews taking to Mercer Lake at 2:40 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

The entire schedule of racing between the Mids and Bulldogs will go in reverse order. After the fifth varsity boats start the event, 20 minutes later at 3:00 p.m., the fourth varsities will go head-to-head. The third and second varsity eights are next up at 3:20 and 3:40 p.m., respectively before the highlighted Johnson Cup race wraps up the competition at 4:00 p.m. 

Spectator Viewing
All parents/supporters must view racing from the Mercer Park/marina side of the lake.
    Mercer County Park Marina & Boathouse
    334 S Post Rd
    West Windsor Township, NJ 08550

Most Recent Navy-Yale Matchup: March 31, 2019
The Navy lightweight crew team fought spiritedly against the Yale Bulldogs on March 31 in a neutral-site competition, but came up short in its attempt to take home the Eads Johnson Cup, as well as the newly-introduced Jon Van Amringe Cup. Over the four-race slate at Mercer Lake, Yale collected four wins, all by 4.3 seconds or less. In the first varsity race that concluded the competition, the Bulldogs held on for a 2.5-second margin of victory over the Mids, 6:04.2 to 6:06.7.

What's at Stake
Eads Johnson Cup
Established in 2004 and presented to the winner of the varsity race between Navy and Yale, the trophy is named after Eads Johnson, the captain of the 1934 Yale lightweight rowing team and a 20-year member of the U.S. Navy. In its history, the Bulldogs have earned 12 titles versus four for the Mids. Navy is looking for its first cup win since 2010.

Jon Van Amringe Cup
The Van Amringe Cup is awarded to the team with the highest cumulative finish across all five races. Van Amringe was a Yale lightweight rower, who first served in the U.S. Navy and then coached the Navy lightweights. The trophy was first awarded in 2019.

Last Time Out - March 26 vs. Princeton
With extremely high expectations after winning the IRA National Championship last season, the Navy lightweight crew team had a stellar start to its 2022 campaign as the Mids swept the Princeton Tigers in a three-race slate of contests on Saturday morning. Racing on a 2,000-meter stretch of the Severn River, the Mids earned a pair of five-plus second victories by its second and third varsity crews before capturing their third win over the Tigers with a 1.4-second decision in the first varsity competition with the Murtaugh Cup on the line.

Race Schedule
2:40 PM - Fifth Varsity Eight
3:00 PM - Fourth Varsity Eight
3:20 PM - Third Varsity Eight
3:40 PM - Second Varsity Eight
4:00 PM - First Varsity Eight (Johnson Cup)