ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy heavyweight rowing team will get plenty of competition reps this Saturday with action at the 2025 Schuylkill Invitational. A two-session contest with racing in the mid-morning and again a few hours later in the mid-afternoon will feature the Mids going up three ranked opponents throughout the day. Currently standing 17th in the IRCA/IRA National Coaches Poll, Navy will race against No. 13 Georgetown and No. 19 La Salle in the morning session that starts at 10:40 a.m. before challenging itself versus No. 21 Drexel and R/V San Diego beginning at 1:50 p.m. The Mids are slated to have have their top five varsity crews in action at this event.
The lineup of racing on Saturday will go in numerical fashion with the first varsity eights from Navy, Georgetown and La Salle going out first at 10:40 a.m. The ensuing two races will go out in 40-minute increments with the second and third varsity eights competing at 11:20 and 12:00 p.m., respectively. The Mids' fourth crew will race against Georgetown and Temple at 12:40 p.m. before the 5Vs round out the first session with a three-way competition between Navy, Drexel and Hobart at 12:50 p.m. After an hour break the Mids' blue and gold oars will stroke down the 2,000-meter stretch of the Schuylkill River with 1V action between Navy, Drexel and San Diego at 1:50 p.m. The Toreros only have one crew entered in the invitational so the next two races will be head-to-head bouts between the Mids and Dragons at 2:30 p.m. for the 2Vs and 3:10 p.m. for the 3Vs. Mixed 4V and 5V racing will conclude the regatta with the Navy 4V going up against Drexel and Hobart's 5V at 3:50 p.m. and the Navy 5V testing itself against the 4Vs from Hobart and Temple at 4:10 p.m.
Saturday's Complete Field
12 teams are entered in Saturday's competition, seven of whom are ranked in the top-25 with another three programs receiving votes in the most recent IRCA/IRA coaches poll ...
No. 13 Georgetown, No. 17 Navy, No. 18 Temple, No. 19 La Salle, No. 20 Holy Cross, No. 21 Drexel, No. 24 Gonzaga, R/V San Diego, R/V Hobart College and R/V Saint Joseph's. Un-ranked programs at the regatta include, Jacksonville and Marietta College.
Last Year at the Occoquan Invitational - April 14, 2024
Saturday's Schuylkill Invitational replaces the Occoquan Invitational on the schedule for the majority of these teams. At last year's Occoquan Invitational, the Navy heavyweight rowing team had a tremendous program-wide effort as the Mids' top five boats all won twice over two sessions of racing at the Occoquan Collegiate Invitational. Racing over a 2,000-meter stretch of the Occoquan Reservoir, Navy was a perfect 10-for-10 in action versus a nation-wide field that had five ranked members and two more receiving votes among the nine suiting up on Sunday.
The first varsity eight crew was fast throughout the day as they opened the competition with an 8.63-second victory over R/V Jacksonville, 5:55.26 to 6:03.89. The Mids shaved nearly 10 seconds off that initial effort in the afternoon grand final that featured the four winners of morning heat races. Navy withstood No. 19 Drexel's best shot to earn the event final by 2.8 seconds, 5:45.51 to 5:48.31. No. 17 Georgetown and No. 22 Holy Cross rounded out the grand finalists with times of 5:50.67 and 6:54.04, respectively.
Race Schedule
10:40 AM - First Varsity Eight vs. Georgetown & La Salle
11:20 AM - Second Varsity Eight vs. Georgetown & La Salle
12:00 PM - Third Varsity Eight vs. Georgetown & La Salle
12:40 PM - Fourth Varsity Eight vs. Georgetown & Temple
12:50 PM - Fifth Varsity Eight vs. Drexel & Hobart
Afternoon Session
1:50 PM - First Varsity Eight vs. Drexel & San Diego
2:30 PM - Second Varsity Eight vs. Drexel
3:10 PM - Third Varsity Eight vs. Drexel
3:50 PM - Fourth Varsity Eight vs. Drexel 4V & Hobart 5V
4:10 PM - Fifth Varsity Eight vs. Hobart 4V & Temple 4V
Spectator Viewing
- Address: 2200 Kelly Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19129
- There is no parking at the Canoe Club Lot. All parking should occur at the public lot along Reservoir Drive and Edgley Drive in Fairmount Park. Philadelphia Trolley Works will provide a shuttle to/from the public lot along the course route. The shuttle loop will take about 10-15 minutes per run.
