United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Crew - 2nd Varsity 8, 1st Novice 8 Post Victories

WORCESTER, MASS.--(3/29/08)--The Coast Guard Academy men's rowing team had mixed results in the start to their 2008 season Saturday against DI Holy Cross and DIII rival Wesleyan University on Lake Quinsigamond.

Competing in wintry conditions the Bears men's varsity 8 matched the early speed of Wesleyan and Holy Cross off the line and through the 500 meter mark in the race but was unable to match the base race speed of its rivals over the remainder of the course. The Bears finished 3rd by five seconds to the winner Wesleyan in a time of 6:08.5.

The men's varsity second has an outstanding performance in their season opener. CGA pushed out to an early lead coming through the 500 meter mark only to find both Holy Cross and Wesleyan leveling the field at the 1000m mark. The Bears responded with a push of their own and took the lead once again, a lead they would continue to build on to win in a time of 6:15.0, beating Holy Cross and Wesleyan by 1.2 seconds and five seconds respectively.

In similar fashion, the men's first novice 8, comprised almost entirely of walk-ons, posted an impressive race in its season opener by leading Holy Cross wire-to-wire over the 2000m course. The Bears were clocked with a winning time of 6:26; 18 seconds ahead of Holy Cross.

The Bears travel to Trinity College next Saturday morning, April 5, to race on the Connecticut River in Hartford.