NEWPORT BEACH/REDWOOD CITY – The California men's rowing team had an impressive showing across two separate events to open the 2025 season on Saturday. The Golden Bears swept all of their races at both the Redwood Shores Invitational in Redwood Shores and the California Challenge Cup in Newport Beach. Of note, the course length for the California Challenge Cup was set at 1,400 meters.
 
Redwood Shores Invitational Recap
 
The V8+ wasted no time against the Drexel V8+ in its first race of the day and got out to a big lead off the start which grew to almost two boat lengths of open water as it reached the bridge at the halfway mark of the course. Cal won in a time of 5:48.2. In its second race against Oregon State it was another dominating performance as the Bears jumped out to a fairly large lead going ahead by several boat lengths as they crossed the halfway point of the course and cruised to the win in a time of 6:05.0
 
In the Cal 2V8+ first race against Drexel's 2V8+ the Bears were dominant from the start and took a lead after the first few strokes which rapidly grew over the first half of the race. Cal led by about three boats of open water as it entered the second half of the race and finished in 5:49.7. In the second race against Oregon State, Cal erased all doubt early and led by at least two boats of open water by the 1,000- meter mark to easily win in a time of 6:12.1.
 
The Cal 3V8+ was matched up against the UCSD V8+ in its first race of the day and led from start to finish and went ahead by almost a full boat of open water as it crossed under the bridge at the halfway mark. The Bears won in a time of 5:59.2. In its second race of the day against Oregon State, the Bears controlled the race early and were up by several boat lengths as they crossed under the bridge at the halfway mark and won in a time of 6:11.8.
 
Cal's 4V8+ took on UCSD's 3V8+ in its first race and quickly ran away from the Tritons in the opening strokes of the races and was ahead by several boat lengths of open water after they crossed the halfway mark and won in a time of 6:35.9. Its second race of the day was against the San Diego V8+, which was a close race to open the first few hundred meters before Cal stepped on the gas fairly quickly and generated an open-water lead after the 750-meter mark to coast to the win in 6:18.7.
 
California Challenge Cup Recap
 
Cal's 4V8+ opened the morning against UCLA's V8+. It was fairly even over the first few hundred meters with neither boat being able to break away until the Bears were able to build a four-seat lead by the halfway mark and control the remainder of the race winning in a time of 3:48.967. Its second race of the day pitted the Bears against the UC Irvine V8+. It was dead even in the opening few hundred meters before Cal made a push and took a 6-seat advantage by the 500-meter mark. The Bears were able to break way with an open-water lead by the halfway mark and take the win in 3:51.354.
 
The Bears' freshmen 8+ opened against the Orange Coast College V8+. OCC quickly jumped out to a 2-seat lead in the first 500 meters but the Bears were able to make a charge to close the gap and overtake OCC by almost a half a boat by the 1,000-meter mark. Cal controlled the rest of the race going ahead by open water over the second half of the course and won in 3:54.585. In their second race against the UCSB V8+ the Bears jumped out to a half-boat lead in the opening 250 meters. That lead grew to a full boat of open water as the Bears crossed the halfway mark and cruised to the win in 4:00.119.
 
"I'm happy with how both boats performed," Cal assistant coach Brandon Shald said. "The step from the first race to the second race both boats had a good jump paying attention to the details and working out focuses and moves. For the freshmen it's always a good thing to give them three 1,400-meter pieces to get that part of the race dialed in."
 
As both Cal boats had the two fastest times of the day, they went head-to-head to race for the Henry T. Nicholas III Challenge Cup which the freshmen crew won in a time of 3:58.855.
 
"The freshmen group have legit boat speed and their ability to row with each other all year round is coming together nicely and pretty quick as well," Shald said. "What is fun about that group of eight athletes is that any one of them can sit in any seat."
 
Redwood Shores Invitational Sunday Schedule
 
9:10am – V8+ vs UCSD
9:30am – 3V8+ vs Santa Clara V8+
9:50am – 2V8+ vs Santa Clara
10:20am – 4V8+ vs Santa Clara 3V8+
 
Redwood Shores Invitational Results
 
AM Session
 
V8+
1. California - 5:48.2
2. Drexel – 6:20.4
 
2V8+
1. California - 5:49.7
2. Drexel – 6:08.9
 
3V8+
1. California - 5:59.2
2. UCSD V8+ - 6:12.17
 
4V8+
1. California – 6:35.9
2. UCSD 3V8+ - 7:16.5
 
PM Session
 
V8+
1. California – 6:05.0
2. Oregon State – 6:37.7
 
2V8+
1. California – 6:12.1
2. Oregon State – 6:48.8
 
3V8+
1. California – 6:11.8
2. Oregon State – 6:37.8
 
4V8+
1. California – 6:18.7
2. San Diego V8+ - 6:34.4
 
 
California Challenge Cup Results
 
4V8+ Race 1
1. California - 3:48.967
2. UCLA V8+ - 3:51.24
 
Freshmen 8+ Race 1
1. California - 3:54.585
2. Orange Coast College V8+ - 4:00.928
 
4V8+ Race 2
1. California - 3:51.354
2. UC Irvine V8+ - 4:03.582
 
Freshmen 8+ Race 2
1. California - 4:00.119
2. UCSB V8+ - 4:25.868
 
Henry T. Nicholas III Challenge Cup Final
1. California Freshmen 8+ - 3:58.855
2. California 4V8+ - 4:03.623
 
 
Redwood Shores Invitational Lineups
 
V8+
Coxswain: Anna O'Reilly
8. Louis Nares
7. Angus Dawson
6. Frederik Breuer
5. Tim Roth
4. Gennaro di Mauro
3. Harry Manton
2. Alexander Baroni
1. Wilson Morton
 
2V8+
Coxswain: Ethan Nghiem
8. Robbie Prosser
7. Tomba Morreau
6. Matthew Waddell
5. Rory Menzies
4. Maximilian Pfautsch
3. Thomas Heerding
2. Pablo Moreno
1. Henry Furrer
 
3V8+
Coxswain: Iliad Izadi
8. Dan Bradbery
7. Jeremy Beale
6. Antonio Distefano
5. Oscar Neil
4. Evan Gold
3. Leonard Brahms
2. Owen Keating
1. Nemanja Luledzija
 
4V8+
Coxswain: Jack DiMarzo
8. Jackson Bucklew
7. Giorgio Cecchini
6. Peter Spira
5. Quentin Simenz
4. Jack Carroll
3. William Jett
2. Fritz Wright
1. Flynn English
 
California Challenge Cup Lineups
 
4V8+
Coxswain: Austin Chen
8. Travis Jorgensen
7. Mihajlo Dedic
6. Jamie Arnold
5. Guy Ferrera
4. Thomas Barbey
3. Blake Van Doren
2. Florian Unold
1. Marcus Cameron
 
Freshmen 8+
Coxswain: Jake Bazulto
8. Osian James
7. Nat Gauden
6. Xavier Gagnon
5. James O'Meara
4. Andreas Simoni
3. Johannes Benien
2. Alec Wild
1. Leo Shetler
 
 
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