ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The No. 2 Navy lightweight rowing team will be action twice on Saturday in Northern New Jersey. The first contest of the day at Overpeck Park will kick off at 8:42 a.m. with a head-to-head bout with Columbia. The Mids (1-1) and the No. 7 Lions (0-0) are scheduled to compete in a four-race regatta that will culminate at 9:54 a.m. with the first varsity eights battling for the WIT Cup. After a five and a half hour break, Navy will be back on the water in Overpeck Park at 3:42 p.m. versus No. 5 Georgetown in a three-event slate that will conclude with a race for the Forster Cup at 4:06 p.m.

The morning session of racing will go in reverse order as the fourth varsity crews from Navy and Columbia will break into four-person boats for a 4V4+ contest at 8:42 a.m. 24 minutes later at 9:06 a.m. the third varsity eights from both schools will take off down the 2,000-meter stretch of Overpeck Park water. The second varsity eights will race at 9:30 a.m. before the competition is capped at 9:54 a.m. with the first varsity eights racing for the WIT Cup at 9:54 a.m. The afternoon session between Navy and Georgetown will start with a 4V4 bout at 3:42 p.m. before the second and third varsity crews get together for a combination 2V8/3V8 race at 3:54 p.m. The Forster Cup will be on the line in the final race of the day at 4:06 p.m. between the top boats.

Spectator Information
Located in Leonia, N.J., Overpeck County Park is an 811-acre county park in Bergen County, New Jersey, with major sections in Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, and Teaneck, surrounding Overpeck Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River. Spectators can enter the park from the Challenger Road entrance by following directions to the Overpeck County Park Amphitheatre. Note that parents/spectators will not be allowed on the side of the lake/park that the team will launch from. The map attached shows the spectator parking, spectator viewing, public restrooms, etc.

Most Recent Navy-Columbia Matchup: April 6, 2019
The Navy lightweight crew team gave its home fans a taste of ultra-competitive rowing with a three-event slate of racing on the Severn River on Saturday, April 6. By the time the last stroke was taken, No. 3 Columbia came away with a pair of hard-fought wins, while the host No. 5 Midshipmen were victorious once. All three races were decided by 4.1 seconds or less, including the second varsity contest going the way of the Lions by 0.3 seconds.

Saturday's meet culminated with the first varsity crews battling for the WIT Cup. For the third time in three races, the Mids and Lions went stroke-for-stroke down the Severn. At the finish, Columbia clocked in 2.4 seconds ahead of Navy at 5:49.5 to 5:51.9

Most Recent Navy-Georgetown Matchup: April 13, 2019
The No. 7 Navy lightweight crew continued its hold on the Forster Cup with an ultra-competitive day of racing on April 13 on the Potomac River. Taking on No. 9 Georgetown in a three-race slate, the visiting Midshipmen won all three contests, though each of the first and second varsity crews clocked in less than a second ahead of the Hoyas. Navy's win by the first varsity secured the Mids their sixth straight Forster Cup victory in a row.

With the Forster Cup on the line in the highlighted first varsity eight race, the Mids and Hoyas were stroke-for-stroke throughout most of the contest. Coming down to the finish, Navy won by a 0.9-second margin at 5:43.2 to 5:44.1.

What's at Stake
WIT Cup (Whatever It Takes)
The WIT Cup was put into rotation by Columbia's Class of '98 and was originally awarded to the winner of the varsity eight race featuring Columbia, Navy and Rutgers. The trophy had been out of commission since 2006 when the Scarlet Knights disbanded its lightweight rowing program, but was revived in 2014 with Columbia earning initial possession of it for three consecutive years before Navy got into in the win column in 2017 at home on the Severn River. Since it was put back into rotation, the Lions lead 5-1.

Forster Cup
Named after John J. Forster, the Forster Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the Georgetown/Navy first varsity eight race. A 1970 graduate of Georgetown, Forster represented the United States at the 1972 Munich Olympics, as well as the 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1977 World Championships. Forster is a United States Marine Corps veteran, who was awarded two Purple Hearts, while serving in Vietnam.

The inaugural cup race was rowed in 2013 and won by Georgetown. Since that first competition, Navy has won six straight meetings.

Last Time Out - April 2 vs. Yale
In a matchup of the top-two teams in the IRA Lightweight Coaches Poll, No. 1 Navy and No. 2 Yale turned in a competitive five-race slate on Saturday afternoon at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey. With the Eads Johnson Cup and the Jon Van Amringe Team Points Trophy up for grabs, each program went home with a piece of hardware as the Bulldogs won the first varsity race and the Johnson Cup, while the Mids took the Van Amringe trophy with three wins.

In the spotlight race of the day with the Johnson Cup on the line, Yale withstood all of Navy's efforts over the contest and won 5:40.5 to 5:44.5.

Race Schedule
vs. Columbia (AM Racing)
8:42 AM - Fourth Varsity Fours (Navy 4+ A, Navy 4+ B)
9:06 AM - Third Varsity Eight
9:30 AM - Second Varsity Eight 
9:54 AM - First Varsity Eight (WIT Cup)

vs. Georgetown (PM Racing)
3:42 PM - Fourth Varsity Fours  (Navy 4+ A, Navy 4+ B)
3:54 PM - Second/Third Varsity Eight
4:06 PM - First Varsity Eight (Forster Cup)