ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The
Matt Fluhr Era gets underway for the Navy heavyweight rowing program this Sunday morning with a neutral site matchup versus Boston University. A former Navy rower and assistant coach under previous head coaches Rob Friedrich and Steve Gladstone, Fluhr was elevated in June to the position of Tom & Candy Knudson Heavyweight Head Rowing Coach. The season opener for both the Mids and Terriers will see the two Eastern Sprints League members go head-to-head over a four-race competition that will be contested on Lake Carnegie in Princeton, New Jersey. The Navy-BU event begins at 9:20 a.m. with a fourth varsity eight race and concludes at 10:20 a.m. with the first varsity eights.
The entire slate of Sunday's racing will see the programs' top four boats in action every 20 minutes. Following the 4V8 contest at 9:20 a.m., the 3V8 and 2V8's will head down the 2,000-meter course on Lake Carnegie at 9:40 and 10:00 a.m., respectively before the V8's anchor the action at 10:20 a.m.
Who's Back ... Class of 2026 | IRA Returners
Navy will be led by 11 members of the Class of 2026. Moving up the ranks throughout his career with the Midshipmen,
Colin Lang was selected in the off-season to serve as the team's captain during this 2025-26 academic year. Lang (2V8) and fellow seniors
Greyson Goddard (3V8),
Nathan Pawlowicz (V8),
Robert Sherman (V8) and
Ben Vogel (V8) all return after racing on the national stage last year at the 2025 IRA National Championships. The Class of '26 adds leadership and experience from the rest of its class that consists of
Nick Duncan,
Gavin Frazer,
Emily Kraft,
Chris Spencer,
Anthony Todd and
Robert Trafford.
12 more Mids who were members of the team's IRA lineups from last season will be suiting up again in 2026: juniors
Stan Allman (2V8),
Nathaniel Duffy (V8),
Jackson Fagg (2V8),
Ryley Keegan (3V8),
Jonathan Leite (3V8),
Matthew Simmons (3V8),
Tyler Smolensky (2V8),
Matthew Wainwright (V8) and
Edward Winkler (V8), and sophomores
George Bentley (V8),
Wyatt Campagna (3V8) and
Turner Coomes (V8).
At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Duffy was recognized by the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) as Second Team Empacher-IRCA All-American.
Race Schedule
9:20 AM - Fourth Varsity
9:40 AM - Third Varsity
10:00 AM - Second Varsity
10:20 AM - First Varsity
Spectator Viewing
- All spectators should be directed to the finish line area on Nassau St./NJ State Route 27 adjacent to Lake Carnegie
- There is no parking at the Princeton Boathouse. Any parking near there should occur at the Stadium Parking Garage
