University of Virginia Library

Varsity, JV Crews Defeat MHC

By Fred Leffel

Virginia's varsity crew rowed a
smooth and powerful 2,000 meters
to score an easy five-length victory
over Morris Harvey in Saturday's
regatta on the Rivanna River.

The outcome of the race was
never in doubt, as the Cavaliers
tailer and heavier eight pulled
away at the start and continually
lengthened its lead over the
outmatched Golden Bears from
Wheeling. West Virginia, Virginia
also managed a good closing sprint
for the final 400 meters, something
they have not been able to do
successfully in their two previous
outings. In posting a winning time
of 6:01.5, the varsity oarsmen
stroked to their first-place finish of
the young season.

Virginia's junior varsity shell,
rowing in the varsity event because
Morris Harvey failed to bring a JV
boat to Charlottesville, came in
second to the "fat eight," two
lengths ahead of Morris Harvey.
After starting out at a pace of 40
strokes per minute, the JVs let the
stroke drop to a 38-39 and fell
behind by three lengths to the
varsity at the finish. Coach Panos
Eliades felt that his JV eight should
have dropped their stroke to 36
after the first 30 strokes instead of
the 38 strokes per minute that they
rowed for most of the race, causing
them to tire and die near the finish.

After the double victory over
Morris Harvey, thoughts around the
boathouse quickly turned to the
upcoming contest with Navy, this
Saturday at Annapolis.

In what may be one of the
most significant race in Cavalier
crew history, Virginia will be for
the first time facing one of the
nation's major "big time" — or
Class A — rowing powers. Carl
Ullrich's midshipmen, always an
important power in American
intercollegiate rowing, only row
against the best. Last year's plebes
were especially tough, as they beat
both Harvard and Penn for top
honors at the Eastern Sprints. The
varsity was also strong in 1970,
winning the "petito," or
consolation, finals at the
Intercollegiate Rowing
Championships at Syracuse.
Though the Cavaliers have in just
five years established themselves as
a strong member of the
small rowing college community, a
good showing against Navy would
mean for the crew what strong
showings against Top 10
competition would mean for the
University's football team: the
beginning of national prestige and
prominence.

After the Navy trip, the crew
returns home for an intensive
spring-break training program. They
then join several area colleges in
competing for the Easter's Cup at
home on Rivanna Reservoir on
April 17.