UDMC Fields 8 Boats and Advances 5 Boats to the Grand Finals at Knecht Cup
3 min readThis past weekend, the entire University of Delaware Men’s Crew team traveled to Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey to compete in the Knecht Cup. The team fielded eight boats in the regatta, with five advancing to the grand final.
Both the 1st Varsity Heavyweights and Lightweights competed in the Varsity Heavyweight 8 event. Both boats raced in separate heats, late Saturday morning. The lightweights took 2nd in their heat behind Ithaca. The heavyweights also placed 2ndin their respective heat behind Bucknell. Both boats advanced to the semi finals. In the semis, the lightweights finished in 2nd place behind Drexel, to advance to the Grand Final. The heavyweights also took 2nd place behind Ithaca, securing a spot in the Grand Final. The Grand Final included extremely competitive heavyweight crews such as Hobart, Drexel, Ithaca, and Bucknell. Both Delaware boats raced in the outside lanes, 1 and 2. The lightweights managed to sprint through Bucknell in the last 500 meters of the race to finish in 4th place behind Hobart, Drexel, and Ithaca. The Heavyweights crossed the line under 3 seconds behind Bucknell, in 6th place.
The 2nd Varsity Eight event featured both the Delaware Heavyweight 2V and Lightweight 2V. Both Delaware boats were placed in the same heat, Saturday afternoon along with Drexel, United States Military Academy, and Washington College. Drexel took an early lead while the Delaware Heavies and Lights were left to battle it out for 2nd place. In a very aggressive race, the lightweights took 2nd place, with the heavyweights finishing right behind in 3rd place. The lightweights advanced to the Grand Final while the Heavyweights advanced to the Petite Final. In the Petite Final, the heavyweights crossed the finish line in 3rd place behind Rollins College and Boston College and ahead of Rutgers, St. Joes, and USMA. In the Grand Final, the lightweights managed to sprint through Trinity College for 5th place behind Drexel, Hobart, Marist, and Bucknell.
The 2nd and 3rd Freshman 8’s competed in the 2nd Frosh/Novice Eight event. The event was a straight final with just three entries. The 2F finished in 2nd place behind Drexel while the 3F took 3rd. The 3V lightweights raced in the Club 8 event this weekend. The event featured two Saturday Heats with the top two boats from each heat plus the next two fastest times advancing to the final. Delaware was able to win their heat late in the day on Saturday and secure a spot in the Final along with Lafayette, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Fordham, and Boston College. In the final, Delaware finished in 2nd place, behind Lafayette.
The 1st Freshman 8 competed in a field of 17 boats in the Frosh/Novice 8 event. Delaware won their heat to advance to the semi finals. In the semis, Delaware took 1st again, securing a spot in the Grand Final with Bucknell, Marietta, St. Joes, Drexel, and Boston College. In the Grand Final, the 1F managed to beat defending Dad Vail Champs, Drexel to take 2nd place behind a strong Bucknell crew.
With every Delaware boat advancing to a final and five boats qualifying for the Grand final, this weekend shows that Delaware is a serious contender for the Men’s Points Trophy at the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta from May 9-10.
UDMC would like to thank all of the Parents and Alumni who came out to support the Fightin’ Blue Hens this weekend!
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