NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – The California Golden Bears men's rowing team's 4V8+ and Freshmen 8+ swept all four dual races at the California Challenge Cup at the Marina Park in Newport Beach Saturday morning. The 4V8+ and Freshmen 8+ both had the fastest combined times from their races and squared off for the Henry T. Nicholas III Challenge Cup.
 
The freshmen 8+ had Cal's first race of the day going up against the 2V8+ from UCLA. It was a tight start, but the Bears were able to open a half-boat length lead about 20 strokes in. That lead grew to open water about 500 meters into the race. As Cal approached the finish line, it was ahead by almost two boats of open water and came in with a time of 4:02.592.
 
The 4V8+ was up next and took on the 1V8+ from UCLA. The Bruins were able get ahead by one seat early on, but the Bears responded and drew even about 25 strokes into the race. Cal continued its momentum and went up by about a half boat at the 500-meter mark. The lead grew to a full boat with 700 meters to go. Cal was able to maintain its lead and finished in a time of 3:59.355.
 
In its second race of the day, the 4V8+ went up against the 2V8+ from Orange Coast College. Cal got off to a great start taking almost a full boat lead just 30 seconds into the race. The lead grew to over a boat of open water just 100 meters in. Cal continued to press and went ahead by several boats of open water and cruised to the finish in a time of 4:01.187, nearly 30 seconds ahead of Orange Coast College.
 
The final dual of the day for Cal saw its freshman 8+ take on the 1V8+ from Orange Coast College. Orange Coast took a one-seat lead about 20 strokes in, but Cal was able to pull even at the 300-meter mark. The Bears continued to press and went in front by about six seats with a few hundred meters to go and extended it to a bit of open water with 250 meters to go, finishing in first in a time of 4:02.595.
 
"It was a good showing from both boats," Cal assistant coach Brandon Shald said. "I think it's a good thing to kind of rehearse and everything to this point and moving forward is just preparing for the national championships. The more opportunities you have to run through a race, more opportunities you have to travel, it just gets everything dialed in for the first week of June."
 
The 4V8+ and freshmen 8+ had the fastest combined times from both of their duals and qualified to race for the Henry T. Nicholas III Challenge Cup. The 4V8+ went in front by about two seats at the 200-meter mark. The freshmen 8+ maintained contact and stayed within six seats with a few hundred meters to go. The 4V8+ was able to keep the lead but was not able to extend it and finished less than two seconds ahead of the freshmen 8+ in a time of 4:02.611.
 
"The guys had a good regatta and for both boats to get to that point was exciting for them," Shald said. "They've been practicing against each other for a week now, so it's been fun to see where things fall and who was able to get their bow ball in front, because racing has been tight back at the [Oakland] estuary right up until we left so it was fun to see it all come together in a final here in Newport."
 
The Bears will next head to the San Diego Crew Classic in Mission Bay from April 6-7.
 
California Challenge Cup Results
 
4V8+
1. Cal – 3:59.355
2. UCLA 1V8+– 4:05.935
 
1. Cal - 4:04.187
2. Orange Coast College 2V8+ - 4:32.581
 
Freshmen 8+
1. Cal – 4:04.536
2. UCLA 2V8+ – 4:18.296
 
1. Cal - 4:02.592
2. Orange Coast College 1V8+ - 4:06.391
 
Henry T. Nicholas III Challenge Cup
1. Cal 4V8+ – 4:02.611
2. Cal Freshmen 8+ - 4:04.087
 
California Challenge Cup Lineups
4V8+
Coxswain - Anna O'Reilly
Stroke – Brody Bottomley
7 - Thomas Barbey
6 - Luuk Rodenburg
5- Nicholas Koudriaev
4 - Alon Gibor
3 - Keith Ryan
2 - Tyler Kurth
Bow: Adrian Enders
 
Freshmen 8+
Coxswain - Jonathan Glantz
Stroke - Peter Spira
7 - Jeremy Beale
6 - Mihajlo Dedic
5 - Antonio Distefano
4 - Evan Gold
3 - Giorgio Cecchini
2 - Blake Van Doren
Bow: William Jett
 
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