NEWPORT BEACH – The California men's rowing team opened the historic 150th season of Golden Bears men's crew with a sweep of the California Challenge Cup races. Cal sent the fourth varsity eight along with the freshmen eight to the competition, both of which dominated their respective dual races to cruise to the Henry T. Nicholas III Challenge Cup to face each other for the top trophy of the men's event.
 
The series of dual races were all 1400 meters in length along the Marina Park on Saturday morning in Newport Beach, with top boats from several Southern California programs in attendance at the competition.
 
The fourth varsity boat started the morning off strong, jumping out to a solid lead over UC Santa Barbara's 1V8+ at the start of the dual. The Bears finished the course in 3:38.35, which was the fastest time of the entire men's competition.
 
Cal's freshmen crew also had a strong first outing, notching the third-best time of the men's competition with a 3:56.488 to take the win over UC Irvine's top boat.
 
The Bears kept their foot on the gas in the second round, with both crews handling their respective opponents with ease. The fourth varsity eight notched a time of 3:57.243 to beat Orange Coast College's top boat while Cal's freshmen eight beat UCLA's top boat with a 3:58.268 final time, completing the Cal sweep of the competition field.
 
It was a head-to-head battle of the Bears for the final race of the day. Cal's fourth varsity boat took a solid lead at the 500-meter mark and forged down the stretch to beat the Bears' freshmen eight boat by a nearly four-second margin and win the trophy with a final time of 3:55.694. It was the second-best time of the entire men's competition. The freshmen eight finished the course in 3:59.955 to lift Cal to six finishes under four minutes, which were the top six times of the men's event.

"Today was a great day of racing," Cal assistant coach Brandon Shald said. "Both boats came down to Newport with the goal of meeting each other in the final race of the day. We achieved that goal, and it was a great start to the season. We are looking forward to racing next weekend at Redwood Shores." 
 
Cal will now return to Berkeley to prepare for the Redwood Shores Invitational on their home waters next weekend, March 7-8.
 
Results:
Round 1:
1. Cal 4V8+ – 3:38.35
2. UCSB – 4:14.459
 
1. Cal Freshmen 8+ – 3:56.488
2. UC Irvine – 4:20.278
 
Round 2:
1. Cal 4V8+ – 3:57.243
2. OCC – 4:06.355
 
1. Cal Freshmen 8+ – 3:58.268
2. UCLA – 4:14.13
 
Henry T. Nicholas III Challenge Cup
1. Cal 4V8+ – 3:55.694
2. Cal Freshmen 8+ – 3:59.955
 
Lineups:
4V8+
Coxswain: Jake Bazulto
8. Travis Jorgensen
7. Alec Wild
6. Andreas Simoni
5. Peter Spira
4. Jackson Cheetham
3. Antonio Distefano
2. Thomas Barbey
1. Charlie Warren
 
Freshmen 8+
Coxswain: Mackenzie Fox
8. Lucas Salazar
7. William McClean
6. Max Campbell-Reide
5. Eddie Bayfield
4. James Young
3. Alex Monissen
2. Forrester Clark IV
1. Nicolas Leach
 
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