SEATTLE – The battle between the No. 1 California men's rowing team and No. 2 Washington for the rights to the Schoch Cup proved to be worth the hype as it came down to the last stroke at the Montlake Cut in Seattle on Saturday morning. Ultimately the Huskies' V8+ was able to squeeze ahead on its last stroke to finish just .3 seconds ahead of the Bears and earn the right to keep the Schoch Cup. The Bears' 4V8+ and freshmen 8+ came away with the sole wins on the day.
 
Both the Cal and Washington V8+ boats were even after the first 20 strokes. Cal was able to take a three-seat lead after 500 meters and slightly extend it to four seats by the halfway mark. The Bears maintained that advantage over the third 500 meters, but the Huskies made a strong charge and pulled even, and the two boats went stroke for stroke over the closing 500 meters until Washington came out on top on the last stroke.
 
In the 2V8+ race, Cal took a two-seat lead after 250 meters and kept that lead at the 500-meter mark. Both boats were even by 1,000 meters but the Huskies made a move and took a three-seat lead over the third 500 meters. Washington's momentum continued as it built an open-water lead over the final 500 meters and took the win in 5:48.342.
 
In the matchup of the 3V8+ crews, Cal got off to a great start and went ahead by just over two seconds at the 500-meter mark. The Huskies walked back to within three seats by the halfway point. Both boats were even with 500 meters to go, but Washington was able to push ahead by two seats over the next 250 meters and ended up winning by a half boat in a time of 5:50.476 – two seconds ahead of Cal.
 
In the 4V8+ dual, Cal took a half-boat lead at the 500-meter mark, but the Huskies got to within three seats by the halfway point. Washington's push continued and it took a two-seat lead at the 1,500-meter mark, but the Bears responded and charged ahead by three seats in the closing 500 meters and edged out the Huskies by just over a second in a time of 5:59.236.
 
In the dual between the freshmen 8+ boats, Cal took a three-seat lead at the 500-meter mark and went ahead bow to stern by the halfway mark. The Huskies maintained contact throughout the second half of the race but were unable to cut into the deficit and the Bears won in a time of 5:47.495.
 
"It's disappointing to lose a race that means a lot to both of our programs," Cal head coach Scott Frandsen said. "It was right there, and it was close, but there are a lot of positives to take away and lots of things to learn from it. How we respond and the speed that we can find over the next couple of weeks will define how the rest of our season goes. I'm really happy for the freshmen to get the win against Washington. That means a lot and I'm thrilled for the 4V to have such a mature race and come out on top in a really close one. I'm happy for all the seniors in that boat. That was a great win."
 
NEXT UP
Cal returns home to compete in the Big Row against Stanford at Redwood Shores on May 3.
 
Results
 
V8+
Washington – 5:49.759
Cal – 5:50.297
 
2V8+
Washington – 5:48.342
Cal – 5:53.562
 
3V8+
Washington – 5:50.476
Cal – 5:52.612
 
4V8+
Cal – 5:59.236
Washington – 6:00.758
 
Freshmen 8+
Cal – 5:47.495
Washington – 5:49.375
 
Lineups
 
V8+
Coxswain: Iliad Izadi
8. Louis Nares
7. Angus Dawson
6. Noah Anger
5. Tim Roth
4. Gennaro di Mauro
3. Harry Manton
2. Frederik Breuer
1. Wilson Morton
 
2V8+
Coxswain: Anna O'Reilly
8. Dan Bradbery
7. Jeremy Beale
6. Tobias Kristensen
5. Maximilian Pfautsch
4. Rory Menzies
3. Matthew Waddell
2. Alexander Baroni
1. Pablo Moreno
 
3V8+
Coxswain: Ethan Nghiem
8. Travis Jorgensen
7. Antonio Distefano
6. Nemanja Luledzija
5. Evan Gold
4. Leonard Brahms
3. Thomas Heerding
2. Farley Dimond-Brown
1. Henry Furrer
 
4V8+
Coxswain: Austin Chen
8. Flynn English
7. Mihajlo Dedic
6. Thomas Barbey
5. Guy Ferrera
4. Florian Unold
3. Peter Spira
2. Jamie Arnold
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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