NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — The University of California San Diego men's rowing varsity 8+ crew finished second overall out of five teams at the UC Cup Challenge last weekend.
The Tritons finished in 6-minutes, 3.88-seconds to finished just behind UC Santa Barbara (6:03.23). UC Irvine took third place (6:06.35), UCLA finished fourth (6:08.46), while UC Davis came in fifth place (6:11.44).
UC San Diego took first at the event in each of the previous two years, and led by a full boat length before UC Santa Barbara out-sprinted the Tritons in the final few strokes.
The Tritons varsity 8+ team rowed together for only the second time all season due to various injuries, making Saturday's performance even more impressive.
The UC San Diego varsity 8+ team was comprised of freshman Kelsey Hirota, sophomore Anthony Morrell, senior Sean Callaghan, freshman Tazio Capozolla, sophomore Steven Bolton, junior Jason Germain, senior Gibb Anella, freshman Grason Hansen and senior Hank Wong.
In other action, the Tritons junior varsity 8+ crew finished first overall with a time of 6:03.1. The boat consisted of senior Lily Ouyang, sophomore Kenny Padden, sophomore Sean Reynolds, freshman Garren Doyle, junior Keith Mielke, junior Greg Coffman, sophomore Alexi Sebald, senior Nick Baltar and senior Gabe Lane.
UC Santa Barbara took second (6:10.15), UCLA placed third (6:21.26), UC Davis was fourth (6:21.58) and UC Irvine came in fifth place with a time of 6:31.56.
UC San Diego's 3rd varsity 8+ crew finished second out of three teams on Saturday, with UCSB taking first at 6:15.80, ahead of the Tritons' time of 6:25.77 and third-place UC Davis (6:43.20). The boat included senior Elizabeth Schmeding, senior Bryan Brennan, senior Anthony Chivetta, junior Adrian Dinescu, junior Nathan Bayardo, junior Garrett Locher, sophomore William Stock, sophomore Jeremy Jaquinod and freshman Brandon Huey.
In addition, the Tritons novice 8+ team took fourth out of five teams with a time of 6:31.03. UCLA was first at 6:14.10, UC Irvine was right behind at 6:14.68, UC Davis was third with a time of 6:17.75 and UC Santa Barbara was fifth at 6:23.68.
The UC San Diego novice 8+ crew was made up of freshman Emma Thomsen, freshman Elijah Beamer-Robinson, freshman Gabe Kunkel, freshman William Lyons, freshman Justin Tahmassebpur , junior Zargai Alokozai, sophomore Saad Awan, freshman Jason Rosas and freshman Kevin Schlitz.
UC San Diego returns to action this weekend with a two-day competition at Mission Bay against the University of San Diego, Gonzaga and Santa Clara. The first race is set for Sunday, March 11, beginning at 5 p.m., with the second race scheduled for Monday, March 12, starting at 7 a.m.
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