ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Coming off a strong end to its 2023 season that saw the program finish third at both the Eastern Sprints and IRA National Championships, the Navy lightweight rowing team will be out to prove itself as one of the nation's best this spring. First up on the Mids' 2024 docket is a Saturday home contest against the Princeton Tigers. The first of a six-race regular season for No. 7 Navy is slated to begin at 7:40 a.m. on a 2,000-meter stretch of the Severn River against a Princeton squad that is ranked third in the preseason IRCA/IRA coaches poll. The three-race slate will culminate at 8:20 a.m. with the Murtaugh Cup battle between both team's varsity eight boats.

The entire schedule of racing on the Severn River will go in reverse with the third varsity eights (with a Navy guest 4V) getting the action going at 7:40 a.m. before the second varsity crews will go head-to-head at 8:00 a.m. Hardware will be on the line to close out the season-opening competition at 8:20 a.m. with the winner taking home the Murtaugh Cup.

Class of 2024 | IRA Returners
Navy will be led by nine members of the Class of 2024. Two-time IRCA Honorable Mention All-American Stephen Frost (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was selected in the off-season and has been serving since as the team's captain during this 2023-24 academic year. Frost, Kelly Bye (Stafford, Va.), Robby Klanac (Strongsville, Ohio), Luke McIntosh (Boise, Idaho) and Sam Sheridan (Portland, Ore.) all return after racing on the national stage last year at the 2023 IRA National Championships. Karl Florida (Wilmette, Ill.), Colson Poillucci (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Chris Volpe (Jupiter, Fla.) and Aaron Xing (Milford, Conn.) round out the Class of 2024 that will be providing leadership and experience to this year's Navy lightweight program.

Trotting out a balanced lineup in terms of age last year at the IRAs, the list of experienced returners is augmented by juniors Mason Banks (Westport, Conn.), Brooks Kirchen (Dallas, Texas), Owen O'Malley (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Jonathan Sauer (Princeton Junction, N.J.) and coxswain Mia Sachs (Herndon, Va.), who all raced in the first varsity eight boat at nationals, as well as junior Andy Fichtel (Wellesley, Mass.) and sophomore Paddy McNamara (Philadelphia, Pa.), who raced to a fourth-place finish in the second varsity eight competition last June.


Most Recent Navy-Princeton Matchup: March 25, 2023
 The Navy lightweight rowing team kicked its 2023 campaign off with a full slate of racing on the road against Princeton in an Eastern Sprints League matchup. Going head-to-head over a 2,000-meter stretch of Lake Carnegie, the Mids (0-1) secured a win by its fourth varsity eight, while the host Tigers (1-0) collected victories by their first, second and third crews. After Navy won the Murtaugh Cup in 2022, Princeton's triumph in the first varsity eight race allowed it re-gain control of the trophy for the next year.
 
Getting on the water in reverse order, the fourth varsity crews raced first on Saturday. Navy was dominant throughout the contest as it sprinted out to a four-plus seat lead over the first 250 meters before completely clearing Princeton by the 500-meter mark. Over the ensuing 1,500 meters the Mids continued pulling away and eventually clocked in 11.8 seconds ahead of the Tigers with a 6:28.3 to 6:40.1 final margin.

With the Murtaugh Cup on the line in the final race of the series, Princeton used a stout initial sprint by its first varsity crew and broke out to a slight three-seat lead by the 500-meter juncture. Advancing up to nearly a full-boat lead by the mid-way point, the Tigers withstood a strong rebuttal by the Mids in the second half of the contest before pulling away during the final push for a 5:55.4 to 6:00.0 final decision.

Murtaugh Cup History
Named after the former Princeton and U.S. lightweight rowing coach Joseph Murtaugh, the trophy has been on the line between the Mids and Tigers since 2008. After Navy won the initial competition in 2008, Princeton countered with eight straight victories in the first varsity eight race until the Mids climbed back on top in 2017. All-time, Princeton leads the Murtaugh Cup series, 11-3.

Race Schedule
7:40 AM - Third Varsity Eight (w/Navy 4V)
8:00 AM - Second Varsity Eight
8:20 AM - First Varsity Eight - Murtaugh Cup

Directions to Navy Boathouse and viewing on Navy's Lower Course
*you will need a photo ID to walk onto Navy campus*

These driving directions will take you to Gate 8 of the Naval Academy. Spectators and guests should park outside of the gate and make the short walk (0.25 miles) to the boathouse. Once at the boathouse, it is another short walk (0.33 miles) to the finish line of the Lower Course.

• Route 50 towards Annapolis
• Take Exit 24, Rowe Blvd, Annapolis
• After approx 1 mile, make a left onto Taylor Ave.
• After passing a 7-Eleven, make a right at the T-intersection.
• Turn right at the second traffic light and then make another immediate right into a parking area and park there. To get to the boathouse, you need to walk down the hill along the practice baseball field and to the guard shack. Show your photo ID to the guard and continue to walk down the hill. The boathouse is the first building that you will see on the right after the guard shack.
• From the boathouse, you can walk to the finish line of the Lower Course. After crossing the road near the boathouse towards the cemetery, take the road that takes you along the water's edge in the creek (Do not cross over bridge). Once you get to the hospital point fields, walk across field to the right corner of the seawall. The finish line is directly at that corner.