NEWPORT BEACH – The California women's rowing team swept the California Challenge Cup to kick off the 2026 season. Two Golden Bear Crews – "Cal Blue" and "Cal Gold" – won a combined four races in the first two rounds, before meeting each other in the final round to ensure that the Steve Guentz Challenge Cup returned to Berkeley. It was the fourth consecutive year Cal has won all its races at the California Challenge Cup.
 
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.
 
Cal Blue dominated its first race of the day to get the Bears' momentum rolling in round one. The crew took a commanding lead from the jump and finished well ahead of LBSU's 1V8+ in just 3:31.162, which was the quickest time of the day among all of the women's races.
 
Cal Gold also got off to a strong start, finishing with a 4:03.888 time against UC Irvine's 1V8+ to also take the victory in its first-round race. It was the second-fastest time of the entire day.
 
In the second round, Cal Blue faced UCSB's 1V8+ in a tight contest. The two boats traded leads down the stretch, but the Bears edged out the Gauchos by under two seconds in the end, finishing with a final time of 4:41.604.
 
Cal Gold took on the 1V8+ crew from Orange Coast College for its round two dual and finished the race in 4:35.263 to collect its second win of the morning. It was the fastest time recorded in the second round of the women's duals.
 
The two Cal boats squared off in round three to compete for the Steve Guentz Challenge Cup, the top trophy of the women's competition. Cal Gold pulled ahead of Cal Blue in the end to win the Bears' head-to-head.

"We are grateful for the UC Irvine staff and all the volunteers that helped run the racing," Cal head coach Al Acosta said. "We love having the opportunity to sow preseason racing down in Newport. Our Blue and Gold team got in six races and had an epic battle in the final. We're looking forward to getting back to work on Monday and preparing for our last preseason race against Oregon State on Saturday at Redwood Shores."
 
The Bears return to Berkeley to prepare for their dual with Oregon State next Saturday, March 7 at Cal's home venue of Redwood Shores.
 
Results:
Round 1:
1. Cal Blue – 3:31.162
2. LBSU – 4:06.149
 
1. Cal Gold – 4:03.888
2. UCI – 4:47.942
 
Round 2:
1. Cal Blue – 4:41.604
2. UCSB – 4:43.006
 
1. Cal Gold – 4:35.263
2. OCC – 4:54.407
 
Steve Guentz Challenge Cup:
1. Cal Gold – 4:45.190
2. Cal Blue – 4:52.478
 
Lineups:
Cal Blue
Coxswain: Naomi Fandetti
8. Rachel Furtaw
7. Kate Nixon
6. Louisa Molloy
5. Sidney Curven
4. Sadie Batista
3. Alice Gallo 
2. Isabella (Bella) Laddy 
1. Maile Nelson
 
Cal Gold
Coxswain: Sofia Filice
8. Ava Brooks
7. Eve Barrancotto
6. Frieda Cramer
5. Kylee Harrington
4. Amalia Campbell 
3. Lily Bonnem
2. Hazel Campbell
1. Campbell (Cami) Lovell
 
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