DELAND, Fla. --- As rivalry season is in full swing and the Dolphins prepare for the meat of the spring racing schedule, Jacksonville added a pair of trophies to the case this spring.
JU defeated Embry-Riddle to win the Ro-Wing Trophy, and downed Stetson to win the inaugural Green Cup. The wins add to the U.T. Bradley Cup won by the Dolphins to open the season against Rollins.
"Stoked to walk away with two trophies this weekend," head coach
Preston Weinard said. "Every rower on the team should take some ownership in the Cup victories; we celebrate two big wins for JU today."
Saturday morning, the Dolphins raced for the Ro-Wing trophy. The finish came down to the wire, with less than a second separating the two crews. In the end, with a 6:13.6 finish, the Dolphins took home the trophy by four tenths of a second.
The morning wave closed with a pair of third-place finishes in the second and third varsity eights.
In the afternoon, the Dolphins made it two trophies in two attempts, taking down Stetson for the inaugural Green Cup. Jacksonville finished in 6:17.1, nearly 10 seconds clear of the Hatters to take home more silverware to the Neegard Rowing Center.
"Major kudos to our Varsity for getting the job done out on the course! Great racing today to Embry-Riddle, Stetson, and Wesleyan in all races," Weinard said. "The men's rowing scene is really heating up in Florida, and I'm looking forward to these new traditions continuing in the future. More work to be done this spring break and more speed to find. GBTW!"
The second varsity eight also bested Stetson, finishing second behind Wesleyan with a time of 6:46.3. Jacksonville's third varsity eight also finished second behind Wesleyan, posting a 7:46.1 finish.
Before Saturday's action, the Dolphins third varsity eight battled UCF in a Central Florida head-to-head before the weekend regatta. It was a heated competition, but the Knights struck first in the re-installment of the Petrakis Cup.
In the first three weeks of the season, the Dolphins have renewed or started four cup races: the U.T. Bradley Cup (vs. Rollins), the Petrakis Cup (vs. UCF), the Ro-Wing Trophy (vs. Embry-Riddle) and the Green Cup (vs. Stetson).
Still on the schedule is one more Florida cup race against Florida Tech. The winner will take home the Bill Jurgens Cup.
