CAMBRIDGE, Mass. --- For the first time since 2016, Dolphins invaded the Charles River, and this time they head back south with silverware to show for it. The Jacksonville men's rowing program closed out a successful weekend at the prestigious Head of the Charles regatta with a victory in the Men's Collegiate 4+ race.

The victory is a triumph in the greatest celebration of rowing in North America at the Head of the Charles, and it's another line item in the surging Dolphins program, especially in the 4+. Last spring, Jacksonville posted a program best finish in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championships.

In their first major race of the 2025-26 season, the Dolphins claimed a decisive victory over the likes of Notre Dame, UCLA and in-state rivals Stetson. This is JU's first ever win at the Head of the Charles.

Jacksonville took first place in decisive fashion, finishing the Sunday racing with a time of 16:03.662, 0:02.551 better than the second place Hatters and more than 0:15 clear of any other club. Not only did JU lap the field, they set a course record in the process.

"What an incredible moment for JU," head coach Preston Weinard said. "These guys put together an incredible race and gave an amazing effort to earn this win"

The Dolphins returned two rowers from their IRA crew last spring in seniors Ole Gruenert and Vukasin Resanovic, but they also broke in three new faces en route to this fall triumph. Senior Archie Lockett and first-year freshman Stefan Kuzmanovic stepped into the fold, with sophomore coxswain Mason Bezanis setting the stage for JU's win.

"I'm so impressed with how they prepared for this regatta, especially coxswain Mason Bezanis," Weinard said. "The Head of the Charles is known as a 'coxswain course' and he executed a great line and plan to let the rowers do their thing and race hard the entire race."

When Jacksonville rowed in 2016, the Dolphins finished 23rd of 44 schools in this same event. Now coming back nearly a decade later, Jacksonville rowed more than three minutes faster and finished 22 places better, adding to the growing trophy cabinet at the Negaard Rowing Center. 

In the fall season, the Dolphins have posted first-place finishes in back-to-back events. At the First Coast Head Race, Jacksonville's Varsity 8+ took a first-place crown. JU is the third Florida program to win at the Head of the Charles this decade, joining Stetson (2023) and Florida Tech (2016).

"This is a huge moment for our program and university, and we look to capitalize on this this coming year," Weinard said. "JU's got something to say!"