Columbia University
Navy
Lions Have Two Regattas On Deck This Weekend
4/5/2019 11:02:00 AM | Lightweight Rowing
The Columbia lightweights look to bounce back when they race Navy Saturday and Harvard and Georgetown at Overpeck Sunday
NEW YORK – The Columbia lightweight rowing team has a pair of races on tap this weekend, taking on Navy for the WIT Cup Saturday in Annapolis and making its home debut at Overpeck Park against Harvard and Georgetown Sunday.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
The WIT (Whatever It Takes) Cup was put into rotation by Columbia's Class of '98 and was originally awarded to the winner of the varsity eight race featuring Columbia, Navy and Rutgers. The trophy had been out of commission since 2006 when the Scarlet Knights disbanded its lightweight rowing program, but was revived in 2014 with Columbia earning initial possession of it for three consecutive years before the Mids came up victorious on the Severn River in 2017.
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions check in at No. 3 in the first IRA Varsity Eight Coaches Poll. Last weekend, Columbia was edged by Princeton, falling to the now top-ranked Tigers by 2.7 seconds. In the second varsity eight, the Lions extended their winning streak to nine with a 3.4-second victory over the Tigers.
NAVY'S STATUS
Navy comes into this race at No. 5 in the polls and is looking for its first win after suffering losses to Yale and Princeton in the first two contests of the season. The Mids have retained a majority of their rowers from last season who fell to Columbia at last year's bout.
HARVARD'S STATUS
Sitting tied for fifth in the national rankings, the Crimson compete for the first time this season, facing Penn and Cornell before heading to Leonia to face Columbia and Georgetown.
GEORGTOWN'S STATUS
The Hoyas have been off since racing twice on March 24. Georgetown started the day defeating Delaware before being edged by Princeton. Both regattas took place on Lake Carnegie.
A LOOK BACK… WIT CUP
Last season, Columbia reclaimed the WIT Cup from Navy after a close race where the Lions managed to maintain a lead secured in the last 500 of the V8. Columbia topped Navy by about four seats to reclaim the cup. Columbia won the V8 by a 2.7-second margin and beat out Navy in 2V8 by a 1.7 seconds. Navy pulled ahead of Columbia in the 3V8 and 4V8 contests last year.
A LOOK BACK… VS. HARVARD
Columbia's lone loss last season came to Harvard despite a solid performance, finishing second between the Crimson and Georgetown. The only win for Columbia that day came from the thrilling win of the Lions' second varsity eight, which managed to overcome a three-seat deficit to pick up a one-second victory. The loss in the varsity eight was close, with the Crimson eking out a victory by a length.
NEXT UP
Columbia heads to Philadelphia next weekend to take on Yale and Penn in the Dodge Cup on Saturday, April 13.
PROJECTED BOATINGS
Varsity Eight in the Alex Navab
Cox: Bella Zionts, Stroke: Alexandros Zismidis, 7: Max Amsterdam, 6: Gavin Southerland, 5: Torrance Smith, 4: Sebastian Krappe, 3: John Robison, 2: Jim Stewart, Bow: Sam Melvin
Second Varsity Eight in the Nich Lee Parker
Cox: Judy Liu, Stroke: Aiden Norder, 7: Constantino Khoury, 6: Michael Ritter, 5: Brooks Ralph, 4: Lukas Geiger, 3: Alex Overmeer, 2: George Patterson, Bow: Levi Beckett
Third Varsity Eight in the Michael C. Zimmer
Cox: Simon Osak, Stroke: Pedro Santos, 7: Jake Duffy, 6: Alan Blaesser, 5: Tucker McMullen, 4: Lorenzo Frati, 3: Colm Feeney, 2: Ricardo Pantaleon, Bow: Owen Cordaro
Fourth Varsity Eight in the 2016 National Champions
Cox: Valentina Rojas-Posada, Stroke: Jorge Gonzalez Rey, 7: Richard Taylor, 6: Tim Cervera, 5; Jack Hartman, 4: Ryan Watt, 3: Diego Villadoms 2: Ishan Dirks, Bow: Anthony Cosentino
Fifth Varsity Four
Cox: Caroline Yu, Stroke: Harry Jones, 3: Brendan Burbage, 2: Ali Saliholgu, Bow: Ben Boccara
SATURDAY'S RACING SCHEDULE
7:50 a.m. – Third, Fourth, Fifth Varsity Eight
8:10 a.m. – Second Varsity Eight
8:30 a.m. – Varsity Eight
SUNDAY'S RACING SCHEDULE
9 a.m. – Fifth Varsity Eight
9:20 a.m. – Fourth Varsity Eight
9:40 a.m. – Third Varsity Eight
10 a.m. – Second Varsity Eight
10:20 a.m. – Varsity Eight
Players Mentioned
