CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Navy women's rowing team rounded out its 2023 regular season with competition against North Carolina and No. 9 Virginia at the UVA Invite on Saturday. Racing on a 2,000-meter stretch of the Rivanna Reservoir near Charlottesville, the Mids had a successful set of contests against the Tar Heels as they went 5-0 in the morning before dropping a five-race series to the Cavaliers in the second session.
Navy and North Carolina kicked off the racing with five head-to-head matchups in the morning as three varsity eights and two more varsity four crews were in action. Racing in reverse order, the third varsity eights began the day with Navy overwhelming North Carolina from the start and running away for a 15.5-second victory, 7:21.3 to 7:36.8.
The second varsity fours were next up and once again the Mids were the class of the field as they led wire-to-wire over the Tar Heels. Strong down the stretch, Navy closed out North Carolina by a final 7:55.3 to 8:04.5 decision.
NCAA boats took to the water starting in the ensuing contest as the first varsity four crews matched up on the Rivanna. Navy secured its largest margin of victory on the day in this V4 race as the Mids rolled the Tar Heels by 16.7 seconds, 7:47.3 to 8:04.0.
The second varsity eights took center stage in the fourth race of the morning and for the fourth straight time, Navy was victorious versus its opponents from UNC. The Mids nearly posted its third double-digit margin of victory on the day as they clocked in 9.5 seconds ahead of the Tar Heels, 7:07.5 to 7:17.0.
In the final matchup between Navy and UNC, the Mids crossed the finish line first though the result was unofficial due to technical difficulties and multiple restarts during the course of the 2,000-meter piece.
In the afternoon, Navy was faced with the difficult task of a top-10 Virginia squad that is a perennial challenger at the NCAA Championships, year-in and year-out. Competing in the same five classifications and in the same order, the host Cavaliers went 5-0 against the Mids. In all five races UVA collected wins of greater than 15 seconds as the third varsity eight won 6:56.3 to 7:23.2 over Navy, while the second varsity four went 7:34.9 versus 8:06.4 for the Mids. Over the final three races, UVA won the first varsity four event, 7:33.5 to 7:53.6 and the second varsity eight race, 6:54.2 to 7:24.5. In the closest competition between the Mids and Cavaliers, Virginia knocked off Navy in the first varsity eight contest, 6:39.2 to 6:55.5.
"It was great to get out one more time before final exams and the Patriot League Championships," remarked head coach
Joe Schlosberg. "We continue to get better and fine tune our strategies as we head into the most important time of our season. We know what lies ahead of us these next two weeks and we are ready to put in the work both on and off the water."
Navy will now turn its attention to final exams and postseason racing. Next up for the Mids on the water is the 2023 Patriot League Championship in Worcester, Mass. on Friday, May 12.
Race Results
Morning Session vs. North Carolina
First Varsity Eight
Navy over UNC - No time (race restarted)
Second Varsity Eight
Navy – 7:07.5
North Carolina – 7:17.0
Third Varsity Eight
Navy – 7:21.3
North Carolina – 7:36.8
First Varsity Four
Navy – 7:47.3
North Carolina – 8:04.0
Second Varsity Four
Navy – 7:55.3
North Carolina – 8:04.5
Afternoon Session vs. Virginia
First Varsity Eight
Virginia – 6:39.2
Navy – 6:55.5
Second Varsity Eight
Virginia – 6:54.2
Navy – 7:24.5
Third Varsity Eight
Virginia 3V8 – 6:56.3
Virginia 4V8 – 6:58.9
Virginia 5V8 – 7:10.0
Navy 3V8 – 7:23.2
First Varsity Four
Virginia – 7:33.5
Navy – 7:53.6
Second Varsity Four
Virginia – 7:34.9
Navy – 8:06.4
Boat Lineups
