PRINCETON, N.J. – The Cal men's rowing team sent a freshman eight to the Princeton Chase on Sunday, and the Golden Bears went toe-to-toe with some of the top varsity eight boats in the country on Lake Carnegie.

Cal competed in a pair of varsity eight races. In the first round in the morning, the Bears finished fifth behind varsity boats from Dartmouth, Princeton, Washington and Wisconsin. Cal finished the 3-mile course in a time of 13:14.106, 22 seconds behind the leaders.

The Bears came back with an even stronger finish in the second race, placing fourth behind Dartmouth, Princeton and Wisconsin. Again, Cal's freshman were competing against varsity boats from other schools.

"It was a good first race for these guys as freshmen to go over there and race with Cal on their chest, and finish among some of the top varsities from the east coast," Cal head coach Scott Frandsen said. "It shows good depth in the freshmen class and good things for the future."

Joining coxswain James French in the boat Sunday were Angus Dawson, Grant Person, Dane Halkiw, Campbell Crouch, Adam Stephenson, Angus Gosman, Ed Digby, and Balthasar Issa

Sunday's action completed the fall season for Cal men's crew. The spring season begins Feb. 29 at the Las Vegas Invitational and UC Challenge Cup.