Oct. 25, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The fall racing seasons for the Navy rowing programs will continue this weekend with the heavyweight and women's teams competing Saturday at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in Philadelphia and the lightweight team taking part in Sunday's Princeton Chase in Princeton, N.J.

Navy's heavyweight team posted the program's best finish in over a decade at the Head of the Charles Regatta last weekend in Boston. The Mids placed ninth overall (44 entries) and seventh among U.S. college crews (31 entries) in the championship eight race at the event.

The 2006 Head of the Schuylkill Regatta was canceled due to poor weather. Navy's heavyweight program last competed at the event in 2004, with the squad placing third in that year's championship eight race and winning the club eight contest.

"We always look forward to the Head of the Schuylkill and will look to continue our success at the event this week," said heavyweight head coach Rick Clothier.

Navy's women's program placed 17th overall (39 entries) and 14th among U.S. colleges (35 entries) at Sunday's Head of the Charles Regatta.

Most recently at the Head of the Schuylkill, the Mids won the championship eight race and placed second in the club eight race at the event's 2005 regatta.

"We expect a tough race," said women's head coach Mike Hughes. "We know we are going to have to put together a strong effort to challenge the likes of Penn, Syracuse and Rutgers."

For the second-straight year, Navy's lightweight team saw its eight-oared boat place second among U.S. colleges (21 entries) and fifth overall (29 entries) at the Head of the Charles this past Sunday.

The program accounted for two of the top-five finishing boats at last year's Princeton Chase, with its best crew placing second to Cornell by 0.17 seconds. It marked the second-consecutive season in which the Mids finished in second place at the event.

This weekend will mark the final fall races for the varsity boats from both men's teams, with the women's team slated to conclude its fall varsity season next weekend at the Head of the Occoquan Regatta.