PHILADELPHIA – One week after opening its 2025 campaign against Princeton, the Navy heavyweight rowing team was busy with action in two sessions of racing as part of the Schuylkill Invitational. The Mids entered five crews into the competition that saw teams descend upon the Schuylkill River from within the Philadelphia city limits and from as far away as California. At the conclusion of the racing, Navy came away with four victories, including a sweep of its two races in the fourth varsity classification, as well as single event wins by its first varsity eight in the afternoon and third varsity in the morning.
The entire field of Saturday's competition consisted of seven teams that are ranked in the top-25 and three more that are receiving votes in the most recent IRCA/IRA Coaches Poll.
Each of Navy's five crews raced twice on Saturday. The first matchup of the day saw the No. 17 Mids racing against the No. 13 Georgetown Hoyas and No. 19 La Salle Explorers in a 2,000-meter piece down the Schuylkill River in the first varsity eight division. Georgetown and La Salle pulled away over the second half of the race and were separated by just 0.62 seconds at the finish line, 5:21.60 to 5:22.22 with Navy closing out the race in third at 5:27.24. The Mids had a powerful rebuttal in the afternoon session as they shaved over four seconds off their initial time and out-paced both the No. 21 Drexel Dragons and R/V San Diego Toreros. Navy cruised to a first-place result with a time of 5:23.20 versus 5:26.65 and 5:35.56 marks for Drexel and USD, respectively.
In the second varsity eight series of contests, the Mids recorded a pair of runner-up outcomes. In the morning action against La Salle and Georgetown, Navy ended up going head-to-head with the local crew of Explorer rowers as the Hoyas fell behind early. Keeping in touch with Explorers throughout their trek down Schuylkill, the Mids fell just 2.79 seconds shy of the local squad, 5:31.70 to 5:34.49. Georgetown was over 12 seconds back of Navy at 5:47.02. In the afternoon session, Navy went one-on-one with Drexel. Again, the experienced Schuylkill natives clocked in ahead of the visitors, as the Dragons won 5:30.49 to 5:39.50.
Navy's first win of the day came from its third varsity ranks in the morning session. Breaking away into a two-boat race with Georgetown, Navy withstood the Hoyas' best effort and held on for a 2.58-second margin of victory, 5:39.00 to 5:41.58. La Salle was over five seconds back with a final time of 5:47.13. In the second 3V8 contest of the day for Navy it went up against Drexel shoulder-to-shoulder. While not earning the outcome they strived for with a victory, the Mids sliced 5.74 seconds off its initial time with a 5:33.26 effort in the afternoon. The Dragons placed first at 5:25.00 to garner the win.
The most prosperous crew of the day for Navy was it's fourth varsity eight. They dominated both of the competitions they raced in on Saturday as the Mids won by 11.19 seconds in its initial race over the Georgetown Hoyas, 5:43.59 to 5:54.78. The Temple Owls were way off the Mids' pace with a 6:25.36 time to finish third. A little over three hours later, Navy's 4V8 was even faster, clocking in at 5:34.34. In near statistical oddity, the Mids' margin of victory was almost the same as they defeated the second place Drexel Dragons' by 11.21 seconds as they posted a 5:45.55 time. Hobart's 5V8 was in this mixed boat heat and came in third at 5:49.42.
Navy's fifth varsity eight turned in a pair of ultra-competitive runner-up results by a combined 1.22 seconds. In their first race of the invitational, it was a one-on-one true fifth varsity contest between the Mids and Dragons. Stroke-for-stroke and move-for-move throughout the 2,000 meters of action, Drexel edged Navy by under a seat, 5:51.70 to 5:52.28. After that slim 0.58-second margin of defeat, the Mids' 5V8 crew raced against a pair of 4V8s in the final contest of the day. In the mixed divisional race, Hobart's 4V and Navy's 5V were in sync throughout as the Statesmen held on for a 0.64-second margin of victory, 5:44.72 to 5:45.36 over the Mids. Temple's 4V8 came in third at 6:00.52.
Navy will be back in action in one week with a home bout versus Cornell and Syracuse. The Mids, Big Red and Orange will be racing for the Goes Trophy on the Severn River on Saturday, April 19.
Race Results
First Varsity Eight
First Session
Georgetown - 5:21.60
La Salle - 5:22.22
Navy - 5:27.24
Second Session
Navy - 5:23.20
Drexel - 5:26.65
San Diego - 5:35.56
Second Varsity Eight
First Session
La Salle - 5:31.70
Navy - 5:34.49
Georgetown - 5:47.02
Second Session
Drexel - 5:30.49
Navy - 5:39.50
Third Varsity Eight
First Session
Navy - 5:39.00
Georgetown - 5:41.58
La Salle - 5:47.13
Second Session
Drexel - 5:25.00
Navy - 5:33.26
Fourth Varsity Eight
First Session
Navy - 5:43.59
Georgetown - 5:54.78
Temple - 6:25.36
Second Session
Navy 4V – 5:34.34
Drexel 4V – 5:45.55
Hobart 5V – 5:49.42
Fifth Varsity Eight
First Session
Drexel - 5:51.70
Navy - 5:52.28
Second Session
Hobart 4V – 5:44.72
Navy 5V – 5:45.36
Temple – 6:00.52
Boat Lineups
