Race Recaps and ACRA Championship!

Following a strong start to the spring season, UCMC carried its momentum into a busy stretch of racing weekends. From the Knecht cup to new racing experiences at the NCCR championships, the team continued to build speed, compete through tough conditions, and move together as we look ahead to the ACRA championships.

Knecht Cup Recap!

From April 11- 12th, UCMC travelled to New Jersey for a weekend of racing at the Knecht Cup, giving our boys the opportunity to test their speed against strong crews. UConn Men’s Crew put up a strong weekend across all four boats, qualifying for Grand Finals.

The Men’s Novice 4+ Kicked off Saturday racing with a victory in their heat, finishing first in 7:51.53 and earning a spot in the Grand Final. On Sunday, the Novice 4+ crossed the line in 8:39.92 through a gusting headwind, finishing 6th out of 18 crews in the event.

Coxswain J. Cartwright had this to say about the race:

“Knecht Cup was a great time because it was a larger event, and it felt very competitive. We did great in qualifying on Saturday, but windier conditions on Sunday proved to be a challenge. Overall, the energy was high, and it was some fun racing.”

The Men’s Varsity 4+ followed with a strong performance, placing second in their heat with a time of 7:34.54 and qualifying for the Grand Final. In the Final, the 4+ raced against strong crews like Lafayette and Fordham, finishing with a time of 7:52.96, placing 4th out of 11 crews.

S. Gannotti 2 seat of the V4+ reflected on the racing:

“Knecht Cup was a choppy race with less than ideal conditions. We didn’t have a whole ton of time to practice leading up to it, but overall, I am proud of our race and how we did, especially competing in the open weight category as lightweights and still producing strong results. I think as a boat we have so much potential, and I’m excited to see where we can get to by ACRAs.”

Coxwain M. Keenan had this to say about the race:

“Knecht Cup was a lot of fun! It was good to get out on the water and race competitive crews. As our first big race this season, it allowed us to see where we stand against other teams, and it was exciting to see boats perform well. It was a good start to a very promising racing season!”

The Men’s Novice 8+ also put together a strong heat, finishing with a time of 7:34.54 and moving onto the Grand Final. In the Final, the boys battled through the conditions and finished with a time of 7:52.00, placing 6th out of 9 total entries.

C. Kubinsky, 4 seat of the N8+, reflecting on the race:

“Knecht was my first bigger spring race as a novice on the team, and it was super exciting. Spending all day at the race course and getting to cheer for my teammates was the best part. My boat ended up qualifying for the final, which I was super proud of. This regatta taught me what to expect from spring racing and made me excited for the rest of the season.”

The Men’s Varsity 8+ rounded out the weekend with a strong heat performance, finishing third in their heat with a time of 6:44.77 and advancing to the final. On Sunday, 8+ crossed the line in 7:00.74, continuing to build speed and gain valuable experience against tough crews.

D.Charbonneau, 6 seat of V8+, says :

“Wind can be our friend and enemy, Knecht proved that. We flew down the placement race in what many of us felt was our best 2k of the season, and had one of our lesser ones with a strong headwind. We know what to improve upon and are excited for ACRAs!”

Overall, the Knecht Cup was a strong step forward for UCMC. Qualifying for Grand Finals showed the commitment and competitiveness of the team as we continued to push for more speed!

Patriots Cup!

Carrying forward the intensity and the mindset from the Knecht Cup, the boys looked ahead to give their best at our Home race, Patriots Cup.

Unfortunately, due to unexpected weather conditions, the race was canceled. While we were not able to race, the day still gave us the opportunity to connect with many alumni, families, and supporters who came out for the team.

New Regetta Unlocked: NCCR Championships!

Something different, UCMC Competed at the NCCR Championships for the first time in the program’s history.

This race brought very different conditions than what the team had faced earlier in the season. Crews pushed through strong cross-headwinds and rough water conditions(close to being whitecaps). It was a challenging day of racing, but also a much-needed opportunity for the team to gain this kind of experience.

The Men’s Varsity 8+ raced through the tough conditions and finished with a time of 7:23.8.

The Men’s Novice 4+ put together a strong effort, finishing in 8:50.5 and placing 4th out of 6 boats.

For the first time this season, UCMC also entered a single. Josh Driscoll delivered a standout performance, winning gold with a time of 9:18.9, crossing the line 1st out of 3 boats.

The Men’s Varsity 4+ crossed the line in 7:57.0, finishing 5th out of 7 boats.

The Men’s Novice 8+ finished with a time of 7:58.7, continuing to build racing experience as the novice squad moves through its first spring season.

Looking Ahead: ACRAs

Each race this season has led to this point, as UCMC turns its focus to the ACRA Nationals Championships from May 15 -17th. With just a few weeks left until ACRA, the team is getting after it every stroke and every practice.

We’re excited to kick off ACRA camp with our Alumni Banquet on May 2nd, giving athletes the chance to connect with Alumni and celebrate the program together. With Finals week approaching, the team is locked in as we build toward the ACRA Championships.

brought to you by JayD Narasimman