University of Washington
Husky Open
UW Sweeps All Three Races Vs. No. 6 Brown
April 02, 2016 | Men's Rowing
Husky boats won the varsity, second varsity and third varsity eight races over the Bears.
The UW varsity eight, ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll after having won five straight Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships, finished with a time of 5:39.290, just over one second ahead of No. 6-ranked Brown, which finished in 5:40.648.
Brown, which finished fourth at the IRAs last year, took the lead at the start of the varsity eight race, and crossed the 500-meter mark about one second in front of Washington. But the Huskies, with only one returning rower from last year's IRA champion boat, caught the Bears by the midway point and finished about three seats in front.
"I was excited with how the guys performed," said UW head coach Michael Callahan. "I thought they reacted very well. I don't think we always have to get the lead at the start."
"It might not have been as aggressive or quick as we would have liked in the first 500," said varsity coxswain Rielly Milne, a sophomore from Woodinville, "but that led to a better middle 1,000 when the length really set in and we got some long strokes going. We just stayed collected through the last 500."
"I think it's a great first step for the guys," Callahan added. "This group is young and raw. It's really exciting for me."
Second Varsity Eight (2V8+)
In the second varsity race, Washington's eight won with a time of 5:54.613, six seconds ahead of Brown (6:00.619). The Huskies had held a consistent lead of about three seconds through the 500, 1,000 and 1,500-meter lines before stretching it out at the finish. The Huskies were stroked by freshman Philipp Nonnast in his first collegiate race.
Third Varsity Eight (3V8+)
Washington had two boats – a third varsity eight and a freshman crew – in the 3V8+ race. The freshmen lead early, but in a relatively tight finish, the UW third varsity eight crossed first, in a time of 5:53.737. The Husky freshmen were second at 5:55.102, and Brown's third eight finished with a time of 5:57.412.
Husky Open
Washington won every race it entered in Saturday's Husky Open. In the first Husky Open men's race of the day, three difference UW fours battled to a tight finish, with the 101 Club shell, stroked by Eric Benca, winning (6:32.680), just in front of the Clipper Too (6:33.968) and the Little Husky (6:37.363), as well as a four from Western Washington University. A pair of UW freshman boats won the 2V8+ and 3V8+ races while a fourth varsity boat won the V8+.
Next weekend, the UW men will play host to the Oregon State varsity and the club program from Washington State. After that, on April 23, the Huskies travel to California for the annual dual against the Golden Bears.
Follow Washington Rowing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UW_Rowing for updates and information.
About Washington Rowing
Rowing at University of Washington was established in 1901 with support from the local business community. In 1903, Washington entered its first intercollegiate race and defeated California, starting their storied “Cal Dual” rivalry. From this beginning, UW crews became the champions in the nation, winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics in 1936 as described in the New York Times bestseller The Boys in the Boat. UW has continued its tradition of winning championships and Olympic medals, and today is one of the best university rowing programs in the world. With its state-of-the-art training facility located on the UW campus right on the shores of Lake Washington, surrounded by mountains and in close proximity to the iconic Montlake Cut, Washington Rowing attracts the best men and women student-athletes from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. More information at GoHuskies.com, WashingtonRowing.com and @UW_Rowing.
