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May 29, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy heavyweight rowing team will close its regular season Friday by playing host to its traditional season-ending race against Wisconsin on the Severn River. The first race of the day is slated to start at 6 a.m. and will feature the first varsity boats from the two respective programs challenging one another for the Buck Walsh Cup.

With Friday's finish line to the 2,000-meter course not visible from The Yard, a spectator YP boat will launch from the Academy -- where College Creek meets the Severn River, next to the soccer practice fields -- at 5:30 a.m. It will remain out on the water until the conclusion of the slate of races.

The Navy and Wisconsin varsity boats were among the six crews grouped together during one of the trial heats at the recent Eastern Sprints Championship. The Badgers won the heat with a time of 5:57.43, Northeastern placed second with a time of 5:58.532 and Navy finished in third place with a time of 5:59.0. Wisconsin (and Northeastern) advanced out of the trial heat into the grand final, while Navy was relegated to competing in the petite final at the regatta. The Badgers would go on to win the grand final (6:09.719), with the Mids winning the petite final (6:13.697).

Wisconsin was ranked second (by one point to top-ranked Washington) in the May 21 U.S. Rowing national poll, with Navy ranked 10th in the same balloting.

"I think we are getting into a terrific race Friday," said Navy heavyweight head coach Rick Clothier. "We are facing a very good team in Wisconsin. We were close to them through most of the race at the Eastern Sprints before they moved out to a little open water over us at the finish line. We are excited about the opportunity to race them again. A good effort could help our seeding for next week's IRA National Championship."

Wisconsin has won the Buck Walsh Cup in both 2006 and '07 to take a 16-14 lead in the series that dates back to 1967. The Badgers won last year's race by just under nine-tenths of a second.

The Mids and the Badgers will square off in a total of eight races on the day. Members of the Navy lightweight rowing team will help round out the the program's lineup in preparation for the IRA National Championship.

Race Schedule
6:00 a.m. -- First Varsity 8 (Buck Walsh Cup race)
6:15 a.m. -- Second Varsity 8
6:30 a.m. -- Freshman 8
6:45 a.m. -- Varsity 4/with coxswain
7:00 a.m. -- Open 4/with coxswain
7:15 a.m. -- Freshman 4/with coxswain
7:30 a.m. -- Varsity 4/without coxswain
7:45 a.m. -- Varsity Pairs