A Pair of Trophies at Stake for Navy Rowing Teams this Weekend

Heavys compete for Goes Trophy, Lights the Haines Cup

	Navy Heavyweight Crew

April 19, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A pair of historic trophies will be on the line this weekend for the Navy men's crew programs as the heavyweights race against Cornell and Syracuse Friday and the lightweights compete against Harvard Saturday.

The heavyweight team will race for the Goes Trophy against the Big Red and the Orange on the Severn River in Annapolis. The trophy has been presented annually to the winner of the varsity race between the three teams since 1955. Syracuse currently is in possession of the hardware by virtue of its 11-second victory over Navy and 18-second triumph against Cornell last year.

The Orange are ranked ninth in this week's U.S. Rowing Men's Varsity Eight Collegiate Coaches Poll, with the Mids ranked 11th and the Big Red 15th.

"I think Syracuse again comes in as the favorite this weekend," said Navy heavyweight head coach Rick Clothier. "They won last year and are coming off of a great win over Rutgers."

Friday's slate of racing begins at 6:30 a.m. with the 50th Goes Trophy race.

While the heavyweight team will be looking to regain possession of the Goes Trophy, the Navy lightweight team will attempt to maintain possession of the Haines Cup for the fifth time in six years when the Mids compete against Harvard. The trophy has been presented to the winner of the varsity race between the Mids and the Crimson annually since 1958, with this year's race taking place Saturday on the Charles River in Boston.

Navy won just three of the first 41 races for the cup, but has left the water with the trophy in four of the last five seasons, including last year when the Mids posted a five-second victory over the Crimson in Annapolis.

The lone time Navy has won the Haines Cup in Boston was in 2003.

The Navy women's team also will be in action this weekend when the Mids race against Georgetown Sunday on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Navy's varsity boat has posted a 12-2 record this season and recorded a seven-second victory over the Hoyas when the programs competed against each other last season.

"Georgetown has a good coach and very good kids," said Navy women's head coach Mike Hughes. "I expect a spirited race Sunday. If we are able to race the way we are capable of, I expect good results for us."