Lightweight Rowing Opens 2025 Season at NCLI in Princeton

The Lions will race three boats this weekend

NEW YORK — Columbia lightweight rowing opens its spring 2025 season on Saturday and Sunday at the National Collegiate Lightweight Invite in Princeton, N.J.

On Saturday, Columbia will race against Princeton for the Campbell Cup. The 3V8 race begins at 3 p.m., the 2V8 race is at 3:10 p.m., and the 1V8 race is at 3:20 p.m.

On Sunday, Columbia will race against Navy for the WIT Cup, with Cornell racing as a guest. The 3V8 race begins at 9:40 a.m., the 2V8 race is at 9:50 a.m., and the 1V8 race is at 10 a.m.

"We've had a lot of healthy internal competition this season — for both rowers and coxswains," head coach Nich Lee Parker said. "The team is responding well and steadily ramping up. Athletes are earning opportunities and learning how to perform under pressure. Every seat is earned, and every day brings new challenges that demand the rower do hard things."

This weekend's racing will be streamed on ESPN+. To watch Saturday's racing, click here. To watch Sunday's racing, click here.

"We're expecting tough racing all around, but that's typical for this league and it's part of what makes the racing so exciting," Parker added.

Lineups

1V8	2V8	3V8
Arin Jaff, CC '26	Amir LaGasse, SEAS '27	William Gokey, CC '28
Ravi Conway, CC '27	Oscar Bletoux, CC '28	Ethan Lee, CC'28
Aidan Walkeryee, SEAS '25	Nitin Rao, SEAS '26	James Moncur, CC '27
Sam Wilson, CC '27	Owen Anawalt, CC '28	Andrew Blelloch, SEAS '26
Finn Regan, CC '27	Alptug Kaynar, CC '26	Tony Valentino, SEAS '26
Owen Geiger, CC '28	Ben Sommer, CC '26	Danny Schaffer, CC '27
Sam Allen, CC '28	Mrin Chilkoti '27	Peter Walter, CC '27
James Dodman, CC '28	Gonzalo Cortes, SEAS '27	Josh Wang, CC '26
Grace Paterson, BC '25	Olivia McDonald, BC '25	Rasa Audejaitis, BC '25

The Lions are back in action next Saturday at Overpeck Park in Leonia, N.J., for racing against Drexel, Harvard, and Georgetown.

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Players Mentioned

Arin Jaff: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Columbia College

Alptug Kaynar: Junior; Columbia College

Olivia McDonald: COX; Junior; Barnard College

Grace Paterson: COX; 5' 4"; Junior; Barnard College

Nitin Rao: 6' 3"; Sophomore; Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

Ben Sommer: Sophomore; Columbia College

Tony Valentino: 6' 1"; Sophomore; Columbia College

Aidan Walkeryee: 5' 10"; Junior; Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

Josh Wang: 5' 10"; Sophomore; Columbia College

Mrin Chilkoti: 5' 10"; First Year; Columbia College

Players Mentioned

Arin Jaff
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Columbia College

Alptug Kaynar
: Junior; Columbia College

Olivia McDonald
: Junior; Barnard College
: COX

Grace Paterson
: 5' 4"; Junior; Barnard College
: COX

Nitin Rao
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

Ben Sommer
: Sophomore; Columbia College

Tony Valentino
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; Columbia College

Aidan Walkeryee
: 5' 10"; Junior; Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

Josh Wang
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; Columbia College

Mrin Chilkoti
: 5' 10"; First Year; Columbia College