ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The No. 8 Navy lightweight rowing team will head out on the Severn River for its one and only home meet of 2025 this Saturday morning. In their final regular season contest before turning their attention to postseason racing, the Mids (2-6) will welcome the No. 3 Penn Quakers (7-2) for a series of four races over a 2,000-meter stretch of the Severn River with the Callow Cup on the line for the victor of the first varsity eight contest and the 1919 Trophy up for grabs for the most team points. The action on Navy's "Lower Course" will begin at 7:20 a.m. and go through approximately 8:30 with the completion of the third varsity eight matchup.

The entire slate of racing on Saturday will go off in 20 minute increments in the order of fourth varsity eight (7:20 a.m.), first varsity eight (7:40 a.m.), second varsity eight (8:00 a.m.) and third varsity eight (8:20 a.m.).

Most Recent Navy-Penn Matchup: April 27, 2024 in Philadelphia
Navy lightweight crew won two of four races on Saturday in an Eastern Sprints League matchup against number two ranked Penn along a 2,000-meter course on the Schuylkill River. Going head-to-head with the Callow Cup on the line for the first varsity eight victor and the 1919 Team Points Trophy for the cumulative regatta winner, the host Quakers won each of the first and second varsity eight races to collect both trophies. The Mids' lower boats had a successful day of racing as both their third and fourth varsities won their respective events on Saturday.

The Callow Cup was up for grabs in the finale of Saturday's meet as both first varsity eight crews went head-to-head in a competitive 2,000-meter piece. The Quakers flexed their muscle and speed that has them ranked second overall in the country. In control to the finish, Penn clocked in 7.4 seconds ahead of Navy as the teams' respective times were 5:41.2 and 5:48.6.

What's at Stake
Callow Cup
Put into rotation beginning in 1955, the trophy has been given to the winner of the varsity race between Navy and Penn every year except 1973, 2020 and 2021. The trophy is named after Russell "Rusty" Callow, who coached at both Penn and Navy and retired in 1959 after being associated with rowing for more than 50 years. All-time, Navy holds a slim 34-33 advantage. The Mids' last Callow Cup victory came in 2022 in Philadelphia

1919 Trophy
Originally presented at the first-ever meeting between the Mids and Quakers, the trophy now serves as the team points prize for best combined results in the annual meet. That meeting is believed to be the first known record of intercollegiate lightweight racing in the United States.

Last Time Out - April 19 at Harvard w/MIT
Navy was faced with the toughest task in its sport with a road matchup at the nation's top team, No. 1 Harvard, on Saturday. Racing the Crimson on their home Charles River course, the No. 7 Mids also faced stiff and consistent pressure from a game No. 8 MIT Engineers squad that was competing as a guest. At the culmination of Saturday's three-race slate, Navy came through with a victory in the third varsity eight contest and a runner-up result in the second varsity race.

The first of three races on Saturday was the first varsity eight contest. After a competitive start by all three teams, MIT broke out to an early lead, though Harvard quickly overtook the Engineers and had its eyes on securing a dominant open water lead before the mid-way point of the 2,000-meter piece. Navy and MIT battled it out over the second quarter of the race, but the Engineers packed a bit more of a stronger punch and cleared the Mids' bow ball near the half-way juncture. A gutsy Navy squad charged back at MIT and came back in contact over the next 500 meters, though the Engineers had the final answer and held on for a 3.4-second margin for second place, 6:17.7 to 6:21.1. Harvard retained the Haines Trophy over Navy with a victorious time of 6:10.0.

Later on in the meet, the Mids' 2V8 came in second to the Crimson, 6:16.8 to 6:29.0 before their 3V8 was victorious, 6:37.4 to 6:38.5.

Race Schedule
7:20 AM - Fourth Varsity Eight (w/Navy 5V & Navy 6V)   
7:40 AM - First Varsity Eight
8:00 AM - Second Varsity Eight
8:20 AM - Third Varsity Eight

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 at the Halligan Hall lot 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.