Trojans Defend Title against Loyola Marymount

April 22, 2006 - Ballona Creek, CA: The Trojan Navy successfully defended the George Gordon Cup against challenger Loyola Marymount University at the USC Invitational Regatta on Saturday morning in Marina del Rey. USC also won the novice eights race, while the Lions won the race for varsity coxed fours.



Racing at low tide and into a light headwind, the Trojan Varsity Eight crew flew off the starting line to take an early and commanding lead over the Lions. “The start was money. I would love to know how fast we were in the first 500m,” said USC veteran oarsman Alan Thesenvitz. “We really had things clicking.”

In the last six hundred meters LMU made a gallant push and began closing in on USC but came up short just at the line, finishing two thirds of a boat-length behind.



USC boated two crews known as ‘Domination’ and ‘Gladi8oars’ in the race for Novice Eights against LMU. All three boats started quickly off the line but ‘Domination’ soon began surging ahead of the competition. After twenty strokes ‘Gladi8oars’ moved into second place, almost half a length ahead of the Lions. With ‘Domination’ well ahead of the other crews after 500m the race was now for second place. Trojan coxswain Kaitlin Solera then called a triple-set of ‘power-10’ hard strokes and her ‘Gladi8oars’ responded by moving out a length on the LMU Lions.



“They just would not go away,” said USC stroke Kevin Stanek. “They kept moving on us and it was all we could do just to hang on. LMU is our boathouse ‘stable mate’ and pride was on the line.”

Under a boat-length separated the two crews as they entered the final 500m of the 2000m race. LMU began surging toward the line. “Things started feeling slow and heavy in our boat and we struggled just to hold our form,” recounted 6’7” Charles Bushby of Great Britain after the race. “But we focused on rowing long strokes and that was enough to keep our bow in front at the end. The Lions gave us a terrific race.”

Following the race, both USC novice crews threw their coxswains into the cold marina waters.






LMU found solace in winning the race for Varsity Fours.

FULL RESULTS:
George Gordon Cup for Varsity Eights
USC 6 minutes 5.93 seconds
LMU 6:07.79

Novice Eights:
USC ‘Domination’ 6:25.00
USC ‘Gladi8oars’ 6:44.87
LMU 6:47.68

Varsity Fours:
LMU 7:09.84
USC 7:16.6

Next Saturday the Trojan Navy takes on cross-town rival UCLA for the Robert Hillen Cup. Races take place in the Port of Los Angeles.

CREW BANQUET:
Twenty seats are still available for last minute bookings for the Crew Banquet on Saturday, April 29th at Ports O’ Call restaurant in San Pedro. Members of the “USC Crew of 1956” will be present to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the one-time USC victory over the California Golden Bears on Ballona Creek. Come join the celebrations! Click here for Banquet details