The Trojan Navy will be looking to improve upon last year's history making performance at the San Diego Crew Classic this weekend. USC has entered an eight-man crew in the California Cup event for varsity crews and the Collegiate Novice Eight event.

In extraordinary circumstances the men's varsity crew qualified for the final of the 2003 California Cup in San Diego but missed the start due to an incorrect posting of the race time by regatta officials. Red-faced officials then allowed the Trojans to race in the final of the Copley Cup, the elite event of the Crew Classic. The race marked USC's only ever appearance in the Grand Final of the Copley Cup.

To qualify for the final of this year's California Cup the Trojans must finish in the top two places in its heat. The heats are as follows:

CALIFORNIA CUP: Saturday Morning Heats
7:00am Heat A
Gonzaga, Minnesota, UCSD, Santa Clara, Loyola, St Marys

7:10am Heat B
Orange Coast, Texas, SDSU, USD, UCSB, Rollins, Long Beach State

7:20am Heat C
USC, Wash St, UCLA, UCI, Colorado, Arizona St

USC is highly favored to qualify for the Grand Final scheduled for 1:40pm on Sunday. The Petite Final is scheduled for 11:20am.

USC is also expected to qualify for the final of the Collegiate Novice Eight event. The Trojan Freshmen must also place in the top two finishing crews to make the final on Sunday.

Men's Collegiate Novice Eight
9:20am Heat B
Stanford, USC, Orange Coast College, UCSD, Sonoma St, Cal, Long Beach State

At 12:00pm on Sunday the Trojan Band will be on hand at the USC alumni tent for the Christening of the Trojan Navy's new eight-man shell AshleySierra. The shell is dedicated in honor of Andrew Westhem '55 for his half-century of support for the Crew. Mr. Westhem has chosen to name the shell in honor of his grand daughters. "If all goes to plan the varsity crew will then launch the shell for the final of the
California Cup," says Mr. Westhem.

More information and directions for the San Diego Crew Classic can be found on the official regatta website at WWW.CREWCLASSIC.COM