PRINCETON, N.J. – The Navy heavyweight rowing team opened its 2026 season on Sunday with a neutral site matchup versus Boston University. The Mids and Terriers took part in four-race series on the waters of Lake Carnegie in Princeton, New Jersey. At the conclusion of an action-packed morning of competition, Boston University withstood the constant pressure from Navy and swept all four races.

Sunday marked the collegiate coaching debut of Matt Fluhr, the Tom & Candy Knudson Heavyweight Head Rowing Coach.

Each of the contests between the top-three varsity eight crews were competitive until the final stretches as all three races had margins of 6.52 seconds or less. In the first varsity eight bout, Boston University had an answer for Navy's moves throughout and earned a 6.08-second margin of victory, 5:36.50 to 5:42.58.

The Terriers made it two-for-two as they earned the win in the second varsity eight race by 6.52 seconds, 5:50.86 to 5:57.38.

The closest race of the series on Sunday came courtesy of the third varsity eights. Keeping contact throughout, Boston University held on at the finish line as its crew crossed with a time of 5:51.78, 3.79 seconds ahead of Navy's 5:55.57.

The fourth varsity eight race saw the Terriers lead wire-to-wire and clock in with a victorious 5:55.74 effort versus a 6:11.56 for the Mids.

"We came up short on results today, but I'm encouraged by how the guys executed key portions of the race," remarked Fluhr. "The body of each piece reflected what we've been working on—there was better rhythm, connection, and composure under pressure. Boston University is a very strong program, and racing them exposed areas we can improve. There's a lot to learn from today, and we're confident that if we stay on this trajectory, the speed will come. We want to thank Boston University and everyone who helped make the racing possible today—it's always great to compete against a fellow Patriot League program."

Navy will be back in action in six days when it hosts Princeton on Saturday, April 4 in its 2026 home opener on the Severn River.
 
Race Results
First Varsity Eight
Boston – 5:36.50
Navy – 5:42.58
 
Second Varsity Eight
Boston – 5:50.86
Navy – 5:57.38
 
Third Varsity Eight
Boston – 5:51.78
Navy – 5:55.57
 
Fourth Varsity Eight
Boston – 5:55.74
Navy – 6:11.56

Boat Lineups

	First Varsity Eight	Second Varsity Eight	Third Varsity Eight	Fourth Varsity Eight
Bow	Colin Lang	Mason Wetzel	Austin Campagna	Isaiah Shuchman
2	Luke Hoffman	Beckett Browning	Alberto Grossetti	Sam Kohol
3	Robert Sherman	Zach Lee	Eli Webre	Maddux Routh
4	Nick Duncan	Charlie Tomasi	Luke Welch	Matthew Simmons
5	Ben Vogel	Vladyslav Khanas	Greyson Goddard	Wilford Beck
6	Stan Allman	Nathan Pawlowicz	Wesley Solomon	Everett Sargent
7	Wyatt Campagna	Jackson Fagg	Britton Crockett	Nathan Mehls
Str.	Nathaniel Duffy	Turner Coomes	Ryley Keegan	Gavin Frazer
Cox.	George Bentley	Emily Kraft	Jonathan Leite	Anthony Todd