WINTER PARK, Fla. --- The Jacksonville men's rowing team got its spring season off right, making a little bit of history along the way. The Dolphins claimed the U.T. Bradley Cup, winning against the Rollins Tars in Central Florida Saturday morning.

"Overall a successful day for the Dolphins. I'm proud to see the varsity 8s and 4s perform well, and I'm proud of the remaining boats for jumping in a lineup for the first time and giving a good effort," head coach Preston Weinard said. "We have technique to sharpen and splits to hunt over the next several weeks, but it feels good to get our first race experience completed in February. I'm glad the Bradley Cup comes home with us - good start to Cup Season!"

This is the first racing of the Bradley Cup since 2008 and is the first of four renewed cup races for the Dolphins this spring.

Jacksonville had four boats take first place in their respective races. The Dolphins Varsity 8+ won on the day with the only sub-six minute time of the entire event across all eight 2,000 meter races. The Varsity 8+ posted a 5:58.0 time, 7.1 seconds clear of the Tars.

The second Varsity 8+ followed suit, as Jacksonville's second Varsity 8+ A crew took first place by 6.5 seconds with a 6:20.1 finish. The Dolphins second Varsity 8+ B crew also rowed well, finishing third with a time of 6:34.8.

Jacksonville took first place in both Varsity 4+ races in addition to their success with the eights. The first Varsity 4+won by the largest margin of any race all day, taking first by nearly 30 seconds with a time of 6:34.2.

The second Varsity 4+ made it two-for-two, taking first by 13 and a half seconds with a 6:57.9 finish. 

The Dolphins battled hard in the other three races of the day. Jacksonville narrowly finished second in the Pair, with the A boat finishing in 7:32.2, less than seven seconds shy of Rollins. The B boat posted a fourth-place finish.

JU rowed a pair of novice crews. The Novice 8+ finished second, ahead of the Tars and behind UCF, with a 6:27.6 time. The Dolphins Novice 4+ crew finished third with a time of 8:16.5.

Up Next
The Dolphins will get the chance to row on home waters next week as they celebrate Senior Day at the Negaard Rowing Complex. The competition is slated for Saturday, March 7.