BOSTON – The Navy crew program was well represented at the 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta this weekend as four boats took on a deep and talented field of international, national and regional powers. The first and second varsity crews from both Navy's heavyweight and lightweight ranks were in action on a 5,000-meter stretch of the Charles River in head-style time trial racing. A lightning quick result by the heavyweight 2V crew that broke the previous record in the Club Eights classification and resulted in a silver medal led the program's results.

The Mids' second varsity crew's monumental performance in the Men's Club Eights contest saw the team battle throughout and pick up the pace as the 5,000-meter piece as they initially clocked in sixth of 36 entries at the Riverside checkpoint. A little over four minutes later at the Weld marker, Navy was up to second in the standings with a time of 7:57.944. The crew of Josiah Glynn, Will Holsinger, Matthew Wainwright, Nathan Pawlowicz, Benjamin Vogel, Ethan Barton, Duncan Ayles, Alex Vogel and coxswain Brad Glass held that position in the rankings and cruised through the CBC checkpoint and across the finish line with 14:17.808 result. They ranked only behind Brown's crew that earned gold with a 14:13.412. The previous record for the Club Eights was 14:20.881 set by Harvard last October.

"Our Club Eight entry had a great row on Saturday," remarked Rob Friedrich, Tom & Candy Knudson Director of Navy Rowing. "Beating the course record is quite an accomplishment even if it was for second place. It's a great group of youth and experience and their hard work is really paying off."

The action on Sunday began with Navy's first varsity heavyweight boat competing in the Men's Championship Eights event. Clocking in 15th at the first checkpoint, the Mids moved up the standings over the next sector and settled into 13th on the leaderboard. Over the second half of competition, Navy held that position and crossed the finish line with a time of 14:56.157 that was edged by 12th-place Northeastern by 3.518 seconds. Amongst collegiate competitors, the team of George Wright, Nick Bostock, Connor Feeley, Sam Beach, Matt Lexa, Adrien Richez, William Wright, Nathaniel Duffy and coxswain Ava Izenour ranked 11th in the field.

"Our Champ Eight had a solid row," said Friedrich. "There were parts that could have been better, but it was a good overall performance. We beat some of our closer rivals and are nipping at the heels of some great crews. We have a lot of room to get faster, but we are happy with our progress."

The lightweights joined the action in the ensuing event, the Men's Lightweight Eights. Navy had both its first and second varsity boats entered in the race. The Mids' top crew started off well and cross the Riverside marker in fifth with a 3:34.374 time. Over the next four-plus minutes their pace was overtaken by a pair of teams and the Mids ranked seventh at the Weld checkpoint. Navy's first varsity crew of Paddy McNamara, Sam Sheridan, Robby Klanac, Nani Veluchamy, Stephen Frost, Jonathan Sauer, Brooks Kirchen, Mason Banks and coxswain Mia Sachs finished the race with an ultimate time of 15:11.472 that ranked seventh overall, only 2.362 seconds behind Princeton's top crew, who finished sixth. The second Navy entry placed 14th with a time of 16:05.914. The Mids' 2V lineup on Sunday consisted of Andy Fichtel, Tanner Hamilton, Leo Wagner, Karl Florida, Luke McIntosh, Luca Mezzanotte, Noah Ferguson, Decker Moy-Jacobs and coxswain Kelly Bye.

The teams will split up in action moving forward as the heavyweights are scheduled to race next Saturday at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, while the lightweights will be off next week before competing at the Princeton Chase on Sunday, Nov. 5.
 
Results
Saturday, Event 33 – Men's Club Eights (36 in field)
1-Brown A – 14:13.412
2-Navy A – 14:17.808
3-Dartmouth A – 14:29.106
4-Boston Uni. A – 14:31.495
5-Riverside Club – 14:32.573

Sunday, Event 65 – Men's Championship Eights (27 in field)
1-USRowing A – 14:21.484
2-Harvard A – 14:26.413
12-Northeastern B – 14:52.639
13-Navy A - 14:56.157
14-Harvard B – 14:57.908

Sunday, Event 66 – Men's Lightweight Eights (14 in field)
1-Harvard A – 14:51.920
2-Penn A – 14:52.318
6-Princeton A – 15:09.110
7-Navy A – 15:11.472
8-Georgetown A – 15:16.248
14-Navy B – 16:05.914